Blogs From the 89th Texas VFW Convention Front

Jim Van Rite(6/26): Things have gone swiftly here. All State Post, and Districts have been awarded. Honor Roll Post have been awarded. State and District Chairmen have been awarded and reports made.

The first round of VFW Nominations have been completed, and now we approach the rest of our awards at the Awards Banquet tonight.

It is all pretty exciting when you are in a well rewarded District, and you get to sit (as Commander Heady says) at the front of the Bus.

What will tonight bring in the way of awards???

Jim Van Rite (6/27): Well, we didn't get as many awards as we wanted and expected and we even got sandbagged on the number one district award by last minute membership additions of another district(this is part of the game and is done every year..we should have seen it coming).

Still, many were disappointed, and others were downright angry as we waited for District 21 and it's Post to be called up for awards (mostly others got the call). In the end, politics is still politics, and we will I am sure, pull together again in 09-10. We will be Heard from Again!!!

Jim Van Rite (6/28): Yesterday was election and Installation day, and now our officers are all installed and the new year begins. Jim Lacker is our District Commander, Pete Kinson is the new Sr. Vice Commander, and I am the New Jr. Vice Commander. We and the rest of our District Officers, Post officers and Posts, have a high hill to climb just to do as well as last year; much less to surpass it.
We do what we do for Veterans and our Troops without regard for thank you's or rewards. It is enough to serve, and have the satisfaction of doing that service. The Awards we may get at District and Dept. level are enjoyable, and can serve as reminders of our achievements. Never-the-less, we know in our own hearts if we have given all that is required of us and more. It is that inward glow of knowing, YES! ,we did that to the best of our ability. We pushed ourselves to the limit and it was absolutely worth it for ourselves and those we served.
So what of awards? At Dept. level politics is just a part of the game, and always will be. Sometimes you win and sometimes you don't, but as I have said, our real rewards are in the serving of comrades, our Troops, our community, and our Nation.

God Bless the USA, our Troops, and all of our comrades in District 21 and around the world.