TEAMWORK- at VFW Post #3485

Address: 1866 160E-4 (Ball Park Road to locals) Phone: 573-996-3016 Post & Auxiliary Meet third Monday monthly

This first appeared in my Close to Home column in the June 5, 2019 edition of The Prospect -News. That was before COVID-19 interrupted daily life as we knew it. The VFW closed for several months as did other area businesses. Even Bingo was put on hold. We are now - in 2021 - taking on the challenge of recovery. We invite all to visit.

Post #3485 is dealing with the same challenge other organizations face. Membership is comprised mostly of older citizens scrambling to attract younger affiliates. In spite of the smaller active-members list, the Post and Auxiliary continue to contribute to the community. Examples: The Post bought and installed the flag pole at the new football field. It has purchased military flags that will be displayed at the military monument on the courthouse lawn. Recently Coach Jeremy Stout received 300 flags that were displayed by some of his athletes at veteran graves in the city cemetery for Memorial Day. The Auxiliary - open to both male and female members - makes regular contributions to the local food pantry and fire department, nursing homes and the VA Hospital in Poplar Bluff. Both the Post and Auxiliary offer scholarships to graduating seniors annually.

Tied – in thought and deed,

Energized – to succeed for the greater good,

Activated – by need, not greed,

Motivated – by service, not mood.

Winning – for all, not one,

Optimizing – the contribution of each,

Relaxing – with pals after a task well-done,

Kindness – increases the impact of outreach.

Teamwork isn’t just for ball teams, couples and corporate sales. It’s also for friends and neighbors gathering to do what needs to be done, not for awards, monetary gains or acclaim, but for sharing in the pride of a job completed no matter who benefits. It is alive and well in our small town. Consider these examples shared in the order I thought of them.

*Efforts to re-establish the football program at Doniphan High School.

*The Unity in Community event to clean up the trash in our city.

*Events to revitalize Doniphan’s downtown.

*Monumental cleanup efforts after the historic 2017 flood.

*Locals who help weekenders floating our river

*Feeding the hungry in our area

*Summer youth ball programs

*Civic organizations with charitable focus

*Helping children in need/foster care

*The community-wide effort to build a scout facility – then later to revive it

We have an organization in town that is a superb example of teamwork – the J.A. Ashby VFW Post #3485 at 1866 160E -4 which is Ball Park Road to locals. (573-996-3016) All officials of the Post and Auxiliary on the local level are volunteers. So it is on the state and national level as well. When you see VFW members displaying flags on the Doniphan streets for appropriate holidays, then returning several days later to pick them up – those are volunteers. It doesn’t make the news, as it shouldn’t, but the mission of the Post is veterans helping veterans and that they do, whether or not those in need are members of the local Post. Veterans in hospitals and nursing homes are not overlooked. Sharing with the community is another focus evident when the VFW hosts community picnics, open houses and fish fries free to the public. Many in the area enjoy Bingo on Tuesday nights sponsored by the Post and operated by volunteers. The cleanup involved after Bingo is one of two paid positions, though it is a part-time duty. A part-time bartender/canteen manager is the other paid position.

When I first began visiting the canteen, to have a meal and watch Cardinal baseball, I was not a member. Do you know the canteen is open to the public? One does not have to be on the Post or Auxiliary roll to enjoy the bar, the abbreviated menu, playing the juke box or a game of pool. The canteen is open Tuesday thru Saturday, 3 pm till closing. Daily Happy Hour 4 – 7 pm. Pool play is free on Saturdays. Watch the Prospect-News and Facebook for special events like MEAT SHOOTS hosted for public participation. Later I discovered that I qualified to be an Auxiliary member due to the dates my dad served during WWII. I am proud to be involved with the service and camaraderie of the VFW.