The History of
Highlighting the
years 2013-2016
Thank You to VFW Auxiliary 10483 for 28 years of faithful service!
1989-2017
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
"When we assumed the Soldier, we did not lay aside the Citizen."
- George Washington
June 26, 1775
Chartered July 31, 1988; P.O. Box 9479, Hot Springs Village, AR 71910
VFW Post 10483
Hot Springs Village, Arkansas
Veterans Serving Veterans & Our Community
PROGRAM HISTORY
VFW Post 10483 has been recognized as a 2008, 2014 and 2015 VFW National Outstanding Community Service Award post.
Child ID Program
The post has expanded its Child ID Program adding a third school last year. Twenty-seven volunteers from the post and auxiliary continue to do outstanding work for our community by fingerprinting and photographing all kindergarten students at Jessieville, Mountain Pine, & Fountain Lake Schools. These cards are then sent home for parents to keep in case of emergency.
Our VFW Auxiliary provided crayons and coloring books to every student at the event.
The washing crew at Jessieville 2014
Rich Croson & Vicki Fritz
The washing crew at Jessieville 2014
2016-2017 Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen Themes Announced
Voice of Democracy: My Responsibility to America
Patriot’s Pen: The America I Believe In
Voice of Democracy
Each year, nearly 40,000 high school students from across the country enter to win a share of the $2.2 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the VFW’s Voice of Democracy audio-essay competition.
The VFW established the Voice of Democracy program (VOD) in 1947 to provide students grades 9-12 the opportunity to express themselves in regards to democratic ideas and principles.
The national first-place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. Other national scholarships range from $1,000-$16,000, and the first-place winner from each (State) VFW Department wins an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.
YOU TOO CAN WIN $30,000!
WHO CAN ENTER
The Voice of Democracy Program is open to students in grades 9-12 (on the Nov. 1 deadline), who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program in the United States and its territories.
HOW TO ENTER
The deadline for submissions for the 2016-2017 program is November 1, 2016. Download the application.
If you experience problems with printing the application, please try to print the document from Internet Explorer. If you continue to experience problems, contact the VFW National Headquarters at kharmer@vfw.org for assistance.
The theme is: Why Veterans are Important to our Nation's History and Future
Students should record their reading of the draft to a CD. The recording can be no shorter than three minutes and no longer than five minutes (plus or minus five seconds).
Entries begin at the Post level. Once the student creates their essay and completes burning the audio version to a CD, they can submit their typed version, CD and the Voice of Democracy entry form to their local participating VFW Post by the November 1 deadline.
JUDGING CRITERIA
Originality is worth 30 points: Treatment of the theme should show imagination and human interest.
Content is worth 35 points: Clearly express your ideas in an organized manner. Fully develop your theme and use transitions to move smoothly from one idea to the other.
Delivery is worth 35 points: Speak in a clear and credible manner.
ATTENTION Home School:
Please email our VOD/PP Chairman Scott Hornbruch for information!
Scott Hornbruch VOD/PP Chairman, Post Commander Dave Yard, Jessieville High School students Skylar Davis & Mitchell Hoover, & Aux President Laurie Herman. (2014)
Patriot's Pen
Each year more than 100,000 students in grades 6-8 enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest. The first-place winner from each state competes to win one of 46 national awards totaling $46,000. The national first-place winner wins $5,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., in March.
The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief.
YOU TOO CAN WIN!
WHO CAN ENTER:
The Patriot's Pen program is open to students in grades 6-8 (on the Nov. 1 deadline), who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial school or home study program in the United States and its territories.
HOW TO ENTER:
The deadline for submissions for the 2016-2017 program is November 1, 2016. Download the application.
If you experience problems with printing the application, please try to print the document from Internet Explorer. If you continue to experience problems, contact the VFW National Headquarters atkharmer@vfw.org for assistance.
The theme is: Why I Appreciate America's Veterans
Students can ask a teacher or youth group leader to supervise their progress in the competition. Then students can contact a local participating VFW Post and establish a contact person who is a member of that Post or its Ladies Auxiliary.
Essays must be no less than 300 words and cannot exceed 400 words. They should be submitted to the Post, along with the completed Patriot's Pen entry form no later than the November 1 deadline.
JUDGING CRITERIA:
Knowledge of the theme is worth 30 points. You must show a thorough knowledge of the theme in your work. Demonstrate you have researched the issue extensively.
Theme development is worth 35 points. Answer all relevant facts about the theme such as the who, what, where, when and why. Relate the theme to your own experiences.
Clarity of ideas is worth 35 points. Write your essay in an easy-to-understand format. Leave your reader with a clear understanding of your explanation of the theme.
ATTENTION Home School:
Please email our VOD/PP Chairman Scott Hornbruch for information!
Veterans in the Classroom 2015
Post members participate in a high school classroom setting providing students a first hand account of their service in the U. S. Armed Forces. From World War II to Afghanistan and all the conflicts between; post members give the students a full appreciation of the meaning of service, sacrifice, honor, and freedom.
Bob Whipple
Memorial Day
Every year Post 10483 conducts a Memorial Day Ceremony. The day begins with post members raising U.S. Flags at Cedar Vale Cemetery followed by a ceremony. All post members who died during the previous year are recognized in the program with the striking of the bell and reading of their names. The post could not complete this solemn ceremony without the help and support of its members, the VFW Auxiliary, and in cooperation with The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Akansa Chapter HSV, Cedar Vale Cemetery, guest speakers, musicians, and many volunteers. All veterans graves are marked with a U. S. Flag by the DAR.
Cedar Vale Cemetery
Nick Bacon Memorial Scholarship
The Nick Bacon Memorial Scholarship Fund awards annual college scholarships to selected and deserving children and grandchildren of veterans who have been rated 60% or more service-connected disabled by the Department of Veterans Affairs and are a current member of an Arkansas Veteran of Foreign Wars Post or was a member of an Arkansas post at the time of their death. Applicant should be junior year high school thru sophomore year college.
Nick Bacon (1945-2010)
Nick Bacon Scholarship Todd Willey, Chairman, send to VFW Department of Arkansas 4210 East Kiehl Ave, Sherwood, AR 72120.
VFW National Home for Children
Veterans Memorial Clean Up
Feb. 20, 2016
Rich Croson 10/18/14
Village Pride Day
Auxiliary Military Fishing Day
Good Samaritan Veterans Meeting
This program was the brain child of Doug Beed and Rick Martin and was started shortly after the death of Doug's mother who was a resident of Good Sam in 2014. Even though the current post commander has "discontinued" the VFW program in Nov. 2016, Past Commanders Rick Martin and Gene Rasure continue to meet on the 2nd Wednesday every month with our veterans at Good Sam; we owe these veterans our time and our respect. Although their ranks from the first meeting has diminished due to deaths there are still veterans attending and thankful for our being there! Semper Fi!
All Village veterans are welcome to visit with our veterans living at the Good Samaritan Complex, 121 Cortez Rd. HSV, AR 71909 on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. for coffee, snacks, and conversation. Email Rick Martin for info. at spikehsv@me.com
VFW Buddy Poppy
The post distributes Buddy Poppies every year prior to Memorial Day. Proceeds are used directly to help veterans and veterans programs. (photo - Raymond Ambrozich)
Flag Education
Americanism is important to Post 10483. Each year the post conducts a Flag Education Program at Jessieville, Mountain Pine, & Fountain Lake Elementary Schools for the 3rd grade class. Led for the past several years by Jake Christopherson & Rick Martin, post members educate the students in proper flag etiquette, the Pledge of Allegiance, and display a variety of early American flags. The students are always full of questions and at the conclusion of the program they are given a flag coloring book, patriotic pencil & ruler to take home. Our VFW Auxiliary also presented the students with a 4" x 6" US Flag. Thank you to post member Rick Martin for allowing his personal flags to be used for the flag program from 2013 thru 2017.
NJROTC Recognition Program
Each year for the last 20 years the post has presented a JROTC medal, certificate, and check to a deserving Hot Springs High School NJROTC cadet. The program was started by Comrade Marlin Roberts, a Naval Aviator during WWII.
2013 Cadet Westmoreland
& Rick Martin
Dave Yard, 2014 Cadet Cox, Rick Martin
Rich Croson & 2015 Cadet Wallace
Gene Rasure & 2016 Cadet Kevin Latting
Eugene Towbin VA Hospital Visits
Post & Auxiliary members visit hospitalized veterans regularly at the Eugene Towbin VA Health Care facility in North Little Rock. Veterans are treated to free ice cream cones and a lot of smiles. The Yeti cooler was presented to Post Commander Rick Martin at the Dept. of Arkansas Convention.
Dept. of Ark Judge Advocate Ashley Little, Rick Martin, Gene Rasure, Rich Croson, & Ron Fritz
Chili Dinner Fundraiser
Our Annual Chili Dinner Fundraiser is held each year in October to raise funds which enable us to provide ice cream visits to the Eugene J. Towbin VA Hospital & Hot Springs VA CBOC.
Honor Guard
The post maintains an active Honor Guard and participates in numerous community patriotic & civic events and conducts final honors during veteran funerals. Requests for funeral honors must be coordinated thru the funeral home/director.
St. Francis House - Homeless Vets
Located in Little Rock members of VFW Post 10483 & its VFW Auxiliary have participated in volunteer work at the St. Francis House for Veterans Without Homes. “Hot Meal” nights are scheduled with members serving and socializing with the veterans. The post has collected donated toiletries, food, & clothing items for the home and its residents. A fundraiser in September/October and luncheons are ongoing with the help of our VFW Auxiliary.
10/25/14 Jim Albright
VFW Auxiliary Patriotic Arts Contest
Fountain Lake
Jessieville
Patriotic Arts - Fountain Lake 2014
Fountain Lake
Teacher of the Year 2013-2014
Post Commander Dave Yard, Teacher of the Year Katie Curry, Rich Croson, & Jessieville School Principal Melissa Speers.
Teacher of the Year 2014-2015
Post 10483 takes pleasure in announcing our 2014-2015 Citizenship Education Teacher of the Year, Grades 9-12, Jeffery A. King of Hot Springs High School. Jeff has also been named the District 9 Teacher of the Year and the Department of Arkansas Teacher of the Year (High School). Congratulations Jeff!
Teacher of the Year 2015-2016
Post Adjutant Rick Martin, Auxiliary President Monica Martin,Teacher of the Year Cindy Crumpler, Jessieville School Principal Kendal Glomski, Post Commander Gene Rasure.
Post 10483 takes pleasure in announcing our 2015 Citizenship Education Teacher of the Year, Grades K-6, Cindy Crumpler of Jessieville Elementary School. Cindyf has also been named the District 9 Teacher of the Year. Congratulations Cindy!
POW/MIA Ceremony
Post & Auxiliary members conducted a POW/MIA "Missing Man Table" Ceremony on Sept. 19, 2014, & National POW/MIA Recognition Day, at Jessieville High School and at the Fountain Lake High School on Sept. 21, 2015.
Monica Martin & Gene Rasure
Monica & Rick Martin
Monica Martin
Monica Martin & Gene Rasure
Head Start Program
Head Start promotes the school readiness of young children from low-income families through agencies in their local community. Post & VFW Auxiliary members read a story each week to young children.
Vicki Fritz
Annual Turkey Shoot Fundraiser
A yearly fundraiser held to raise funds for needy families during the holiday season. All funds collected are given to the Harvey's Chapel Food Bank in Mountain Pine and the Jessieville Relief Fund.
National Park College
Student Veterans Outreach
Post 10483 began a Student Veterans Outreach Program in 2013. Though off to a slow start the program is gaining momentum and we hope that we will be able to assist the veterans in organizing a Student Veterans of America group at National Park College and providing advice and guidance to student veterans.
NEW!!!! Beginning in the Fall 2016 Post 10483 awarded a $1000 Scholarship ($500 voted by the post and $500 contributed by two post past commanders) to a student veteran enrolled at NPC. The first scholarship was awarded to Marine Corps veteran James Clark a Desert Storm/Iraq/Afghanistan veteran. Contact Nathan Looper, NPC Veterans Rep. at (501) 802-0050 to apply.
Gene Rasure listens to Dr. Hogan, President, NPC
Rick Martin, Nathan Looper, Donald Stokes, James Clark, Sara Brown, Ron Fritz, Gene Rasure presenting $1,000 Scholarship to 1st recipient James Clark on 11/29/16.
Gene Rasure listens to Dr. Hogan, President, NPC