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2022 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 329
Commending Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8469.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 7, 2022
Agreed to by the Senate, March 9, 2022

 

WHEREAS, for 75 years, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8469 has worked diligently to support veterans, active-duty service members, and military families, while promoting a sense of patriotism and community spirit in Fairfax; and

WHEREAS, in early 1946, Karl O. Spiess, a Fairfax native and veteran of World War I, began working with recently returned veterans of World War II to form a local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post, hosting a meeting at his home on North Street in Fairfax; and

WHEREAS, in October of that year, the national VFW organization chartered VFW Post 8469 with Karl Spiess as its first commander, along with charter members Bill Sheads and Vince Sutphin; and

WHEREAS, VFW Post 8469 was nicknamed “the Blue and Gray Post” after the 29th Infantry Division, which is headquartered at nearby Fort Belvoir and is renowned for its valorous performance on D-Day during World War II; and

WHEREAS, by 1947, under the leadership of its second commander, Everett Long, VFW Post 8469’s membership had increased to 118; at the time Howard Stull served as senior vice commander, Vince Sutphin served as junior vice commander, J. Frank Swart was a three-year trustee, and Amos Chilcott was a two-year trustee; and

WHEREAS, since its founding, VFW Post 8469 has provided a welcoming atmosphere to veterans from all branches of the United States Armed Forces, who support each other in the often challenging circumstances of returning to civilian life after service in combat; and

WHEREAS, VFW Post 8469 continues to assist its members and their families by ensuring that they received the benefits and services to which they are entitled, and the members of the post have served the community through numerous charitable events and activities over the course of its long history; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8469 on the occasion of its 75th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8469 as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for the organization’s service to veterans and the Fairfax community.