By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
For 75 years Cass County Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1855, 472 E. Division St., Dowagiac, has "kept alive the hopes and dreams of that group of veterans who gathered here and founded this post," state Commander Gary Paulin said Saturday. "Did they have any idea that what they started would grow and thrive and do well in serving the veterans, their families and this community? … We honor the dead by helping the living. You can take great pride in what you have done."
Paulin presented Commander Jim Sylvester with Post 1855's Diamond Jubilee Award in recognition of "mustering in" on May 23, 1930.
Paulin's home post in the Battle Creek area, which like Dowagiac is part of District 7, is celebrating its 85th anniversary this year.
Nationally, membership stands at 2.1 million.
Lyons spent time afterward talking with keynote speaker Rick Herter, the nationally-known aviation artist who grew up in Dowagiac.
Don Reed, past commander of 75-year-old Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1855, reprising remarks he made at City Hall on Memorial Day, asked, "Do you feel safe? I bet everyone in those twin towers felt safe that morning right up until those flying bombs with innocent people onboard blew their world apart. This horrific attack (on Sept. 11, 2001) killed thousands of innocent civilians from many countries, as well as many of our finest who, without regard for their own safety, went to their aid and were injured or perished.
Lest anyone wonder about the stained American flag raised over the proceedings, Reed pointed out, "It's got a few miles on it. My son brought it back from Kuwait."