VFW District 8 Newsletter
CWO5 Randle M. Tolliver, USN (Ret)
Commander
For veterans in crisis, the Veterans Crisis Line's number is "988” then press "1”.
Homebound veterans requiring assistance please contact any member.
Veterans experiencing or at risk for homelessness, please contact any member or the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at (877) 424-3838.
Buddy Check! Please call or go visit elderly or homebound veterans and see how they are doing and if they need help.
We are always looking to have veterans who are eligible and want to continue serving our community to join us. If you are interested, please contact any member or post.
For your information:
The reservation deadline for the Annual National Home Trip has been extended to October 11th, 2025. For more information contact or Nancy Jones at (314) 495-8879 / qmgirl@gmail.com or Andre KillKelley at (605) 939-5877 / nationalhomechrm@movfw.org
The next meeting of the VFW Department of Missouri Council of Administration will be held on October 10-12, 2025, at the Resort at Lake of Ozarks 3076 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Lake Ozark Missouri. All members are encouraged to attend.
Veterans in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system can receive free vaccinations through the Community Care Network in-network retail pharmacies and urgent care partners. Just present a valid, government-issued ID.
Veterans, their families and caregivers should contact their local VA for information about eligibility and how to apply for burial benefits. For more information, visit https://www.choose.va.gov/burials-memorials , or call 800-827-1000.
Our annual youth scholarships programs, Patriot’s Pen, and Voice of Democracy are underway. Patriot’s Pen is open to 6th, 7th and 8th grade students and this year’s theme is "How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?” The Voice of Democracy audio-essay is open to students in grades 9-12 and this year’s theme is "How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?” Children who are home schooled are also welcome to participate. These programs promote civic responsibility, patriotism and help students develop a better understanding of American values and beliefs. For more information, please contact your local VFW Post, the District 8 representative Dan Brown at (636) 677-2892, or visit https://www.vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarships .
Hopefully by the time you read this, the Government shutdown has been resolved. But if not, the following is the impact to Veterans and the VA. The majority of the VA will continue operating without interruption. 97% of VA employees continue work during a shutdown.
These services are not impacted:
•VA Medical Centers, Outpatient Centers and Vet Centers will remain open, providing all services.
•VA benefits will continue to be processed and delivered, including compensation, pension, education and housing benefits.
•Burials will continue at VA cemeteries.
•The Board of Veterans' Appeals will continue decisions on veterans' cases.
•VA's primary call center and the Veterans Crisis Line will remain open 24/7. The VA Benefit Hotline will remain open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.
•Suicide prevention programs, homelessness services and caregiver support will continue.
These services are impacted:
•VA will stop providing transition program assistant and career counseling.
•VA's GI Bill and National Cemetery Applicant Assistance hotlines will be closed.
•VA benefits regional offices will be closed.
•Public affairs and outreach to veterans will cease, including social media, VetResources emails and responses to press inquires.
•No grounds maintenance or placement of permanent headstones at VA cemeteries.
•Applications for pre-need burial at VA cemeteries won't be processed.
•No printing of new Presidential Memorial Certificates.
•No outreach to state, county, tribal, municipal, faith-based and community-based partners by VA Center Office.
Local events:
The time and place of local post meetings and events are provided on each post’s Facebook site; come join us!
Legislative news:
Please contact Senator Eric Schmitt (www.schmitt.senate.gov / (202) 224-5721) to include the "Major Richard Star Act” language as an amendment to the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act. This will stop the "wounded veteran tax” by ending the reduction of military disabled retirement for veterans with less than 20 years of service to offset VA disability compensation.
Please support fully funding the Missouri Veterans Commission. Don’t wait for the new session; contact your Senator and Representative to voice your support.
Now let’s talk a bit about our history:
24 years ago "Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF),” the invasion of Afghanistan, began. The invasion was the opening salvo in the United States-led war on terror and a response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C. OEF primarily referred to the War in Afghanistan, but it was also affiliated with counterterrorism operations in other countries, such as OEF-Philippines, OEF-Horn of Africa (HOA), and OEF-Trans Sahara. OEF officially began 7 October 2001 with American and British bombing strikes against al-Qaeda and Taliban forces in Afghanistan. Initially, the Taliban was removed from power and al-Qaeda was seriously crippled, but forces continually dealt with a stubborn Taliban insurgency, infrastructure rebuilding, and corruption among the Afghan government, National Army, Afghan National Police, and Afghan Border Police. OEF officially ended on 28 December 2014, although coalition forces remained on the ground to assist with training Afghan security forces. The US withdrew from Afghanistan on 30 August 2021. To learn more about OEF, I recommend the two volume "Modern War in an Ancient Land: The United States Army in Afghanistan 2001–2014” prepared by the Army Operation Enduring Freedom Study Group. You can purchase print copies at https://bookstore.gpo.gov/
I offer this from Sir Winston S. Churchill, solder, statesman, historian, and one of my personal heroes "success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
Bulletin Board:
The VA one-stop telephone number is 1-800-698-2411 and press "0” for immediate assistance. The VA one stop website is VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs .
Veterans can no longer use usernames / passwords to access "My HealtheVet.” To regain access, you must create a new account at www.va.gov/sign-in-changes.
For more for information concerning VA "End of Life” benefits and services see www.va.gov/initiatives/end-of-life-benefits/
Veteran employment opportunities! Please visit https://news.va.gov/138283/hiring-veterans-job .
The Missouri Veterans Commission (MVC) one-stop Benefits and Resource Portal is (573) 522-4061 or www.veteranbenefits.mo.gov .
To pre-certify for burial in a Missouri Veterans Cemetery, apply at https://my.mo.gov/gsp?id=vcp_preapplication . For information on burial eligibility, visit https://mvc.dps.mo.gov/cemeteries .
The Missouri Job Center offers no-cost employment assistance for veterans and spouses. Contact (417) 257-2630 or visit jobs.mo.gov/vets.
The TRICARE Online (TOL) Patient Portal has been replaced by MHS GENESIS. See https://health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Technology/MHS-GENESIS/
To order military service documents such as a DD 214/Separation Document or Official Military Personnel File (OMPF), contact the National Archives, National Personnel Records Center at https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records, or call (866) 272-6272.
For more information, follow us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/967395123712841 or visit movfw.org
"Here to Serve”
