- Last Updated on Wednesday, 30 September 2015 00:31
Members of West Mifflin Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 914 Intrepid received some well-earned recognition at the borough’s annual Community Day on August 29. The post was awarded a citation for recently being named an All State Post.
Post 914 Vfw Receives Award |
After the local military veterans were lauded by Mayor Christopher T. Kelly as heroes, Commander Jake Bradich and Quartermaster Gary Ruston graciously accepted the award on the event’s main stage at the Allegheny County Airport.
“The citizens of the Borough of West Mifflin extend congratulations to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 914 Intrepid for its many accomplishments,” reads the citation. “And offer best wishes for success in all of its future endeavors.”
To be selected as an All State Post, Bradich and the other VFW 914 members had to accomplish a long list of service-oriented goals outlined by the Commonwealth’s VFW headquarters. To do these tasks wasn’t easy. This year, less than 15% of Pennsylvania’s 460 VFW Posts were feted during the Department of PA VFW’s state convention for earning the title of All-State Posts.
Examples of good works done by VFW 914 to earn All State honors include supporting student scholarship programs, visiting and engaging with hospitalized veterans, and participating in fund raising to assist the VFW’s network of service officers.
As with other veterans service organizations, VFW state service officers help connect veterans of all ages and all conflicts with assistance programs such as service-connected disability pensions, health care benefits and vocational programs. Fundraising at the post level also provides money for more than $4 million in emergency financial grants given by the VFW to military families annually.
Like other West Mifflin community organizations, VFW Post 914 manned a booth at the airport event to let borough residents know of its mission and to recruit new members. The post also raffled off chances to win hotel stays, restaurant coupons and other items donated by local businesses.
According to Post Ways and Means Chairman James Brickner, more than $850 was raised by VFW Post 914 at West Mifflin Community Day. All of these funds will be used by the post to assist local veterans and their families.
For more information about VFW Post 914 and its activities, contact Commander Bradich at 412-464-9838.
Photo above right: Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 914 Intrepid West Mifflin Commander Jake Bradich, right, and Quartermaster Gary Ruston show the citation that the Post received from the West Mifflin Borough Council at Community Day on August 29. The West Mifflin veterans service organization was recognized for recently being awarded the title of All State Post. (Photo by Michael P. Mauer)