The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697 will hold a renaming and dedication ceremony on June 12 at 6:30 p.m. at Founders Hall at The Commons, 4950 Swinyar Dr. in Collegedale, to honor a local fallen hero.
Originally chartered on Oct. 13, 1994 as Veterans of Foreign Wars Ooltewah Post 1697, VFW Post 1697 will be renamed and dedicated as Veterans of Foreign Wars PFC Travis F. Haslip Memorial Post 1697.
Members of VFW Post 1697 began the official renaming process on Feb.
20 through post name change proposition, member voting, VFW Department of Tennessee Commander approval and VFW National Headquarters approval. VFW Post 1697 leadership was informed on April 29 of the official approval from the VFW commander-in-chief to rename the Post.
Members of VFW Post 1697 voted to rename their Post in honor of U.S. Army Private First Class Travis F. Haslip, who was the first Hamilton County resident to be killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. PFC Haslip, 20, was killed by a roadside improvised explosive device in Baghdad, Iraq on May 19, 2007 while assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood), Tx. A native of Pontiac, Mi., PFC Travis had been a resident of Ooltewah since 1990. He attended Ooltewah High School, Collegedale Academy and Chattanooga State. He attended Ooltewah Seventh Day Adventist Church.
PFC Haslip is buried in Chattanooga National Cemetery in Sec BB Site 441-C. PFC Haslip was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Marksmanship Badge and Combat Infantryman Badge.
Hors d’oeuvres will follow the program.
Event attendance is free. Donations will be received to help cover the cost of catering and event setup. All donations support VFW Post 1697's veteran and youth programs. Suggested donation is $15 per person. Donations can be made at the door through cash, check or online.
RSVP
here by Thursday, June 5.