Sembach Blood Drive

On 25 April 2023 members of VFW Post 12139 Donnersberg supported the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) by volunteering at the Sembach Blood Drive held in the Sembach Fitness Center. The ASBP - also known as the Military Blood Program - is the official military provider of blood products to U.S. armed forces. Post members donated over three gallons of blood during the event. The donated blood and blood products are used for patients of all ages for many reasons—from cancer patients to those with battlefield injuries, military members and their families depend on blood donors every day. The post also conducted a Buddy Poppy drive and partnered with the Kaiserslautern Military Community Girl Scouts to hand out snacks after people donated.

Cemetery Visits

On 27 May 2023 members of VFW Post 10708 Illesheim, Germany, visited four local cemeteries. At the grave site of each former soldier a fresh flag was placed on the grave followed by the reading of two short sermons, then taps were played, followed by a 3rd and final sermon. Each member, Commander Norbert Issak, Comrade Dale Nagan, and Comrade Patrick Murphy rotated the reading of the sermons. The cemeteries visited were St Peters in Furth, the Furth City Cemetery, the city cemetery in Unterasbach, and the Zirndorf Forest Cemetery in Zirndorf.

VFW Post 10708 from Illesheim divides the responsibilities of various cemeteries with VFW Post 9342 Ansbach, Germany, each post replacing the flags on graves prior to Memorial Day. On June 11th, a ceremony will be held at Post 10708 where the old flags will be disposed of properly.

VFW Post 27 members took part in Ceremonies on Clay Kaserne, Wiesbaden and Meuse Argonne American Cemetery.

Memorial Day

Remember and Honor to Mr. and by at the ceremony rendering honors to the 25 American Soldiers that drowned in Lake Garda on April 30, 1945. Their dedication to this event is unparalleled.

VFW Post 605 members paid tribute to fallen comrades during official Memorial Day services and poppy drives throughout France and the United Kingdom. With its members spanning multiple European countries and North America, Post 605 comrades paid tribute wherever they were to remember those who paid the ultimate price for the freedoms of today.

On 24 May 25, 2023 VFW Post 10708 Illesheim, VFW Post 9342, and American Legion Post 1982 partook in the Memorial Day Ceremonies at Stork Barracks, Illesheim, Germany. Narrator Captain Hildebrand opened the event by welcoming Senior Military Personnel, Local Dignitaries, and distinguished guests and soldiers to the United States Army Garrison-Ansbach Memorial Day Celebration.

Army Garrison Ansbach Deputy Chaplain, Chaplain Halladay, provided the Invocation and was followed by the posting of the colors by the Ansbach High School 9th JROTC Battalion.

After the playing of the German and American National Anthems, Captain Hildebrand gave a brief history on the history of Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day.

Quilts of Valor were then presented to Comrade Clary and Comrade Murphy, both from VFW Post 10708, and SSG Mincey currently assigned to the 5/4 ADA Battalion. Remarks were then given by Ansbach Garrison Commander Colonel Aaron B. Dixon and 12th Combat Aviation Brigade Commander Patrick Schuck.

Five wreaths were then placed at various memorials in the park by representatives of the two VFWs, the American Legion, 12th CAB, and from Garrison.

The ceremony closed with the Reading of Roll Call, playing of taps (rendered by VFW Post 10708 Commander Norbert Issak), and the retirement of the colors.

Afterwards there was a cake cutting ceremony in the Community Center and served with coffee and soda.

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Mediterranean Post 8862 members, family members and friends traveled to the Florence American Cemetery yesterday to participate in the annual Memorial Day ceremony. After formation of U.S. and Italian organizations, posting of the colors, speeches from American and Italian dignitaries, wreath laying, and prayer, a touching series of coordinated events included the firing party‘s three volley salute, bugler sounding Taps and a two jet flyover.

On 28 and 30 April 2023, VFW Post 8862 supported the 173rd Airborne Brigade, Vicenza, Italy and the Village of Torbole, Italy in the annual Colonel Darby Challenge 40 Mile Run and ceremony for remembrance of the 25 Soldiers that were killed in an accident along with COL William O. Darby and his Sergeant Major, John Evans.