LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Mattydale VFW
Post 3146

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those illustrious individuals of distinguished organizations
that have been committed to the pursuit of excellence and that bring
great pride to the citizens of our great State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to cele-
brate the 75th Anniversary of Mattydale VFW Post 3146; and
WHEREAS, Under the leadership of Commander Tom Grigson, the mission of
Mattydale VFW Post 3146 is to honor the dead by helping the living
through veterans' service, community service, national security, and a
strong national defense; and
WHEREAS, In 1899, veterans of the Spanish-American War created the
American of Foreign Service in Columbus, Ohio, and veterans of the
Philippine Insurrection formed the Army of the Philippines in Denver,
Colorado, to secure veterans' rights as a response to the lack of
medical care and pensions; in 1901, an Eastern branch of the American of
Foreign Service was founded in Altona, Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, In 1914, the three organizations merged together to form the
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States that we know today; after
seeing posts open in Ohio, Colorado, and Pennsylvania, the VFW movement
spread quickly across the country; in 1915, membership grew to 5,000, by
1940 it had peaked at 200,000, and by 1946 there were over 1.5 million
members; today, there are 2.2 million members in 8,100 posts worldwide;
and
WHEREAS, The Mattydale VFW Post 3146 was officially chartered by the
VFW National Office on October 20, 1934, and it has honorably served all
local veterans and the United States of America ever since; and
WHEREAS, As part of the VFW, Post 3146 has been instrumental in fight-
ing for and protecting veterans' rights and benefits, including creating
the GI bill, improving veterans' medical care and VA medical centers,
advancing educational benefits, and developing the national cemetery
system; and
WHEREAS, The VFW has also been active in helping to create veterans'
memorials by funding the creation of the Vietnam, Korean War, World War
II, and Women in Military Service memorials among many others; and
WHEREAS, Members of the VFW continue to live a life of service to
their country by performing millions of hours of volunteerism in their
community and throughout the nation each year; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor and thank Mattydale VFW Post 3146 for 75 years of service; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Tom Grigson, Commander of Mattydale VFW Post 3146.