The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697 is celebrating its 30th Anniversary of chartering. Originally Chartered on Oct. 13, 1994, VFW Post 1697 officers, members, family and friends will celebrate this milestone during the regularly scheduled October community meeting on Thursday. Six of the 15 past post commanders will discuss the outstanding record of service to the community, veterans,
and to the nation over the past 30 years.
Thirty-three applicants who met the membership criteria certifying they were a (1) U.S. Citizen or U.S. National, (2) had honorable service in the Armed Forces of the U.S., (3) service entitling a recognized campaign medal of the U.S. government, or received special pay for duty subject to hostile fire or imminent danger, or 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days of service in Korea as set forth in the VFW Manual of Procedure organized themselves in accordance with Section 201 of the National Bylaws and Manual of Procedure, and applied for a charter of a Post of the Veteran of Foreign Wars of the United States to be located in Ooltewah. Having met all application criteria and being recommended for approval by the Department of Tennessee District 3 Commander and the 1994-1995 Department of Tennessee Commander, Sydney Brown, were approved for charter as Ooltewah Post 1697 by the 1994-1995 VFW National Commander-in-Chief, Allen F. “Gunner” Kent.
The charter members of Post 1697 desired to participate with other VFW Posts in preserving the memory of the sacrifices of all veterans for freedom around the world while having a unique quality about the Post: community. Over the past 30 years this quality has been achieved and observed through active impacts in the community. Some of the Post’s activities directly relating to the veterans and community include visiting veterans and families in local assisted living facilities and hospitals, supporting the Samaritan Center through food and donation drives, sending care packages to deployed service members, assisting widows and housebound members, adopting and supporting Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps programs at Central, East Hamilton and Ooltewah High Schools, and bringing awareness to SportClips Haircuts’ Help a Hero Campaign. Lasting impact activities bringing patriotic awareness to the community include donating the flagpole monument at Collegedale’s City Hall, Flag Retirement ceremonies and flag donations to the Veterans Memorial Park of Collegedale, Memorial Day honors to veterans buried in local cemeteries, Veterans Day and 4th of July ceremonies. VFW Post 1697 was an early and enthusiastic supporter of the Veterans Memorial Park of Collegedale with several members having served on the park’s committee and members continuing to volunteer with its upkeep.
As VFW Post 1697 enters its fourth decade, it does so with enthusiasm and renewed dedication to the same objectives that the founding members supported decades ago - to honor those who over the years have sacrificed for the freedoms that we enjoy daily and to positively impact our local community.
Originally meeting at the Collegedale Municipal Building, the post moved to its new home and current location on Oct. 14, 2021 to Chestnut Hall at The Commons in Collegedale. Facility use is graciously provided by the Collegedale Tomorrow Foundation. Veterans and community members are welcome to enjoy dinner and fellowship at the Post’s monthly community meeting the second Thursday of every month at 6:30 p.m. in a family friendly, smoke and alcohol free environment.