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, the VFW, is an organization of war veterans, our mission is to assist veterans, their families and to serve our local community. To promote Americanism and be a voice for veterans in Washington, and Jeff City where we advocate for veterans, service members and military families. We support veterans of all wars in matters of government compensation and pension claims, hospitalization, and other issues.
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 126th VFW National Convention will be held Aug. 9-13, 2025, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. Convention delegates will elect new leadership, as well as recognize prominent individuals and organizations for their support of veterans and military personnel. For more information, please visit www.vfw.org/media-and-events/126th-vfw-national-convention .
Veterans, their families and caregivers should contact their local VA for information about eligibility and how to apply for burial benefits. Too often, no preparations are made and the families are left searching for the required documents and other information at the worst time. For more information, visit https://www.choose.va.gov/burials-memorials , or call 800-827-1000.
Local events:
The time and place of local post meetings and events are provided on each post’s Facebook site; come join us!
On 1 August, Post 3777 will hold "Friday Night Live” with Monte DeClue from 7-10 pm. For more information call (636) 937-5400.
On 2 August, Post 3777 in Festus will hold a "Texas Hold Em” tournament. Registration starts at 1 pm, play at 1:30 pm. For more information call (636) 937-5400.
On 9 August, VFW Post 2426 in Desloge will be conducting a "Fund Raiser for Conrad. The event will start at 11 am at 399 W Oak St, in Desloge. The event will feature food and beverages, live entertainment, children’s activities and a silent auction. All proceeds go to the fund raiser. For more information or to donate directly call Joe Cerchi at (573) 734-8048.
On 29 August, Post 3777 will hold "Friday Night Live” with Josh Driskell from 7-10 pm. For more information call (636) 937-5400.
Legislative news:
The Senate has passed the "VA Home Loan Program Reform Act” and is sending it to the president for approval. The House approved H.R. 1815 in May and provides the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)’s a new home loan safety net program designed to prevent veterans from facing foreclosure. It replaces the "Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase” (VASP) that was canceled in May. The legislation also allows VA to provide direct funding to transitional housing groups through the Grant and Per Diem program, a move that advocates for homeless veterans said will simplify the assistance process.
Legislative news: The VFW supports the "Veterans’ Caregiver Appeals Modernization Act.” H.R.3833 will require improvements to the VA’s comprehensive assistance for family caregivers. This program allows eligible veterans to elect in-home care from a caregiver to whom VA provides a monthly stipend. Unfortunately, the VA’s use of multiple electronic systems causes gross inefficiency in the application process and ultimately delaying or depriving caregivers from receiving this vital benefit. This legislation would require the VA to implement a single electronic application system to streamline the process. Please contact Senator Hawley, Senator Schmitt, and your Congressman / Congresswoman and ask for their support.
Additional, we are still asking for your support for the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act” (S.478/ H.R.1041) to stop veterans, who receive VA fiduciary assistance, from losing their constitutional rights without a court ruling or due process. Also, the "Major Richard Star Act” (H.R. 2102 and S. 1032) to ensure that combat-injured veterans receive full Department of Defense (DoD) retirement and VA disability pay.
Now let us talk a bit about our history:
227 years ago this week the two-year undeclared Quasi War with France began. We had remained neutral during the war between Great Britain and revolutionary France. The French displeasure with this position grew with the Jay Treaty and after Congress approved a trade deal with Great Britain. Finally, we refused to continue repaying the Revolutionary War loans to France because the debt was to the previous government, not to the French First Republic. In response, France authorized privateers to seize U.S. ships as prizes to be sold. That was bad, but the "XYZ Affair” was the event that made the Quasi-War inevitable. Remember, the American diplomatic commission consisting of Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, John Marshall, and Elbridge Gerry was sent to France in July 1797. They were "informally” approached by agents of French foreign minister Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, demanding bribes before the beginning of formal negotiations. Although other nations had paid these bribes, we refused, and left France without formal negotiations. The commission's dispatches were published in America with the letters X, Y, and Z in place of the names of French diplomats Jean-Conrad Hottinguer (X), Pierre Bellamy (Y), and Lucien Hauteval (Z). The results were predictable; the Federalists called for
war, and the pro-French Democratic-Republicans had no effective argument against them. Although President Adams did not ask Congress for a declaration of war, he increased military readiness. The Navy and Marine Corps were reestablished by Congress who authorized twelve ships (frigates), and the refit and arming of several merchantmen as ships of war. The 1778 Treaty of Alliance with France was nullified on 7 July 1798. The Navy was authorized to attack French warships, focusing on French forces in the Caribbean and escorting American merchant ships. Efforts by the US Navy, the unofficial support of the Royal Navy and a softer diplomatic position by the government of First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte led to the Convention of 1800 that ended the Quasi-War. It confirmed we would remain neutral toward France and ended the French alliance that began in 1778. For more information I recommend Alexander DeConde’s "The Quasi-War: The Politics and Diplomacy of the Undeclared War with France, 1797–1801.”
I offer this from John Adams who said in 8 December 1798 letter to congress, "an efficient preparation for war can alone ensure peace”.
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”