VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post number 5632 was organized in January 1946 with 116 (25?) members, led by Commander Truman Hedwall and Cyril C. Doyle, adjutant. The motto of the group is "Honor the Dead by Helping the Living," which they fulfill with community service.

Members first met in the band room of the Senior High School (Central) in 1946-47. Meetings were held in the basement of the Village Hall until 1948 when the basement of the building at 5605 W. 36th Street was completed.

The VFW Auxiliary was instituted on March 10 1946 with 33 charter members.

In March 1948, the VFW requested a permit to hold boxing exhibitions.

In 1949 and 1950, the VFW held carnivals, the money to go to their building fund so they could put a second story on their basement clubhouse.

The VFW presented a fireworks display starting in about 1952.

In March 1954 they received a permit to complete the building, and it opened on September 16, 1954.

Membership went from 49 members in 1957 to 104 members in 1961, to more than 1,600 members in 1983.

The VFW remodeled their building in 2004, but the time came in 2005 that they had to close down. The American Legion, which had been meeting at the VFW building for about ten years, stepped in and took over operations on July 1, 2005.

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This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.