Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
  • Article Image Alt Text

VFW Post places flags at Rose Hill

Dwindling coffers at the VFW Post 5398 - Camp County Memorial resulted in the post placing significantly less American flags at the graves of county veterans for Memorial Day this year.

The post and its auxiliary were only able to purchase 250 flags, which they placed at Rose Hill Cemetery May 25.

“We generally put out 750 to 800 flags. This year has been a bad year for everyone with donations,” said Post Commander Larry Nichols.

In 2017, the post placed 752 flags at cemeteries throughout the county, and for the past six years, the approximately $800 cost has come out of the members’ own pockets, rather than from donations.

“Nobody wants to participate in the VFWs anymore. People used to donate here and there to help the post out and now we’re struggling because all of our older veterans are dying, and the younger ones are staying home and raising their families,” Nichols said.

Iris Campbell, president of the VFW Auxiliary said they help the post with fundraisers from the community dinners, shuffleboard tournaments, and other fundraisers they host, but the auxiliary is also low on funding this year.

The auxiliary also visits the local nursing homes and assisted living centers to provide goody bags for veterans, other residents and staff at Christmas and Easter.

“That’s out of our pockets, too,” said Campbell, whose late husband, Lyle J. Campbell, served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam.

Campbell comes from a military family and has deep-rooted patriotism and a heart for veterans.

“It started with my Dad because he was in the service for 28 years in the Army. I was not born an American citizen. I became a citizen when I was 10 years old and my Dad taught me the importance of the rights that I have,” she said.

The VFW Post places the most flags at veterans’ graves for Memorial Day, but also distributes the flags for Flag Day, Patriot’s Day, and Veterans Day.

Nichols is a U.S. Army Vietnam veteran. He encouraged residents to help build up the flag fund to honor fallen heroes.

“These veterans “fought for our freedom and they need to be recognized. They may be dead, but they are still our past and our future,” he said.

To donate to the flag fund, you can stop by the post at 5398 FM 21 in Pittsburg or mail a check to VFW Post 5398, P.O. Box 622, Pittsburg, Texas 75686. The post is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to midnight.

The Pittsburg Gazette

112 Quitman
Pittsburg, TX 75686

Phone: 903-856-6629