I hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving. This year, the Windham Business Community, led by Alana and Chris, owners of The Main Street Market, hosted a complete turkey dinner with all the trimmings.
The event, held at VFW Post 1545, ensured that no one had to spend the holiday alone. A dedicated team of volunteers helped serve the delicious meal, and I was truly impressed with the entire day.
As we turn our attention toward Christmas, the Hensonville tree-lighting ceremony will take place on Friday evening and the Windham tree-lighting ceremony will take place on Saturday evening.
These annual events always draw a great crowd eager to meet Santa. The tree, as usual, is located at the Center Church, and a festive parade featuring Santa will accompany the celebration.
Windham Hose Co. #1 will once again escort him as he prepares for his long night of delivering toys to children on Christmas morning.
Recently, I had a conversation with a gentleman who spoke about what he considered “useless wars” our country has been involved in — conflicts he felt we did not win.
This was not a discussion I had intended to have, but I shared my perspective, which he didn’t fully agree with.
The notion that we “lost” in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, or the War on Terror is not a reflection of our troops. In war, victory comes only when an enemy is forced to surrender. World War II is a clear example of that reality.
In Vietnam, concerns about collateral damage consistently influenced our decisions. Unfortunately, civilian casualties are a tragic by-product of war.
We bombed Germany into ruins during WWII, resulting in tremendous civilian loss, while the enemy did not hesitate to inflict civilian casualties themselves.
Let us hope and pray that we never face such conflict again. Decades of fighting have left many returning veterans with the heavy burden of feeling that their missions were left incomplete.
The chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan only deepened that sense of frustration and confusion.
VFW National Veterans Service Director Michael Figlioli submitted a statement for the record to the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs for an oversight hearing on VA’s Medical Disability Examination Office.
He explained that although the VFW has repeatedly identified and offered solutions for persistent shortcomings in VA’s examination and contracting processes, the system remains overly complex, burdensome and difficult for many veterans to navigate, especially those without accredited representation.
Figlioli urged Congress and VA to modernize and stabilize the examination infrastructure and outlined recommendations for improvement in five key areas.
Should you have relative or friend serving overseas, the U.S. Postal Service is preparing for the holiday season as many families spend holidays apart due to military service.
To ensure overseas packages are delivered before Dec. 25, it has provided the following deadlines: Dec. 9 for all Air/Army Post Office (APO), Fleet Post Office (FPO) and Diplomatic Post Office (DPO) addresses with AE zip codes using Priority Mail and First-Class Mail; and Dec. 16 for APO/FPO/DPO addresses using USPS Priority Mail Express Military Service. Actual delivery dates may vary.
Since 1947, Marine Toys for Tots has been bringing the joy of Christmas to America’s less-fortunate children and fostering community engagement.
Every holiday season, new unwrapped toys are distributed to children in need. Donated items may be dropped off at designated locations, or you may make go on line to the Capital Region Toy for Tots.
The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity which was created at the behest of the U. S. Marine Corps in 1991, and 97% of every donation goes directly to providing toys to children.
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced 18 identifications and 10 burial updates for service members who have been missing and unaccounted for from World War II and the Korean War.
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced today that U.S. Army Technician Fifth Grade Daniel Wyatt, 39, of New Orleans, Louisiana, killed during World War II, was accounted for May 7, 2025.
In the summer of 1944, Wyatt was assigned to Company E, 364th Engineer General ServiIn October 2021, the private owner of a bunker in the Crisbecq Battery contacted DPAA to report that, while removing soil and debris from the structure, he discovered possible fragmentary human remains, as well as two identification tags from Soldiers who were killed in the explosion. In 2022, a DPAA investigation team surveyed the bunker and took possession of the remains the landowner had recovered. In 2023, a recovery team returned to the site and located additional remains and material evidence, which were accessioned into the DPAA laboratory for analysis.
Wyatt's name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, along with others still missing from WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for. Wyatt will be buried in Dallas, Texas on a date yet to be determined.
We are all thankful for our nation and what it gives us. Let us keep our veterans and those still serving our nation in our thoughts and prayers to keep them safe. God bless America.
Marc Farmilette, PDC ~ Commander VFW Post 1545
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