A sampling of some of the events that Wake Forest Memorial VFW Post 8466 hosts, sponsors, or participates in. Check our calendar to see our upcoming events.
27 May 2023 - Memorial Weekend Veteran Gravesite Flag Placement: Members of Post 8466 along with members of other veteran organizations and civic groups, braved the elements to place an American Flag in front of over 1200 veteran graves in over 15 cemeteries within Wake Forest and surrounding areas. A number of civic organizations, scout troops, family members and neighbors assisted in this enormous venture. It is a wonderful teaching point for the youth of the community and a great reminder of the sacrifice made by so many young men and women over the years. Just prior to dispatching to the cemeteries a group photo was taken in front of the American Legion building located at 225 East Holding Avenue. The flag decoration undertaking usually takes between 2-3 hours depending on the number of volunteers.
4 May 2023 - Wake Forest Purple Heart Foundation Thanks Post 8466: At our monthly meeting on Thursday, 4 May 2023, VFW Post 8466 was presented a Certificate of Appreciation for all that it has contributed to the Wake Forest Purple Heart Foundation. Presenting the award is Greg Harrington, a board member of the foundation and one of its founding members. He is also a member of VFW Post 8466. Accepting the award is Bill Wade, current Post Commander. The Wake Forest Purple Heart Foundation hosts an annual banquet to pay tribute to all Purple Heart recipients. Their mission is to provide a forum for the local community to honor Purple Heart recipients and their families, to foster an environment of goodwill among combat wounded Veterans, to promote patriotism and to encourage the sharing of recipient experiences so future generations will know of the sacrifices made by Veterans and their families. This year's banquet will be held at the Richland Creek Community Church on Saturday, 5 August 2023. For more details or to obtain tickets, email info@WakeForestPurpleHeartFoundation.org.
15 April 2023 - Members of Post Join Residents of Veterans Life Center in a Day of Service: Members of our Post joined with staff and residents of the Veterans Life Center in a Day of Service at the facility in Butner, NC. In one full day of effort, several truckloads of mulch and topsoil were spread around the trees, shrubs and gardens of the facility. Mixing work and camaraderie made for a very pleasant and meaningful day. Post members were pleased to join the residents at lunch and to tour the building and grounds. They all agreed that they would be in favor of conducting more activities with and for the residents. Post Adjutant Al Zack said, "I was very impressed by the Veterans Life Center, staff and the residents. Great bunch of people, and hard workers”. The Veterans Life Center is a purpose-built facility designed to assist returning military members get their lives together and prepare them for rejoining civilian society in a productive way. You can learn more about the Veterans Life Center by clicking here. Pictured are members of the VFW work detail, along with staff and residents of the Veterans Life Center.
6 April 2023 - DAR Provides Tasty Desserts at Monthly Meeting: The General James Moore Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution of Wake Forest helped the members of our Post celebrate National Vietnam War Commemoration Day at our monthly meeting, conducted the evening of April 6, 2023. Dinner is regularly served prior to the scheduled meeting, and the ladies provided a variety of tasty desserts, enough for more than the number of members that normally attend. The Commander invited the ladies to share the delicious meal prepared by Comrade Doug Doster. Everyone was delighted with the meal and the amazing desserts prepared for the special occasion. Standing for a group photograph (from left to right) are Mary Lou Veal, Barbara Bowers, Carolyn Coordes, VFW Commander Bill Wade, Regent Debby Butler, Pauline Bell and Michelle Entrop.
23 March 2023 - Post Honors Canadian Veteran: Twice a month, members of the Wake Forest Memorial Post 8466, Veterans of Foreign Wars, conduct what it calls Veterans Coffee and Community Outreach. The program is designed to assist Veterans, both young and old, who are suffering and might attempt to deal with their pain alone. The self-help approach doesn’t generally provide Veterans the help they require and, unfortunately, can lead to homelessness and suicide. One of the attendees at the recent evening event held on Thursday, March 23, was honored with Post Commander Bill Wade presenting a commemorative T-shirt to Peter Carlos, a 31-year Canadian Army veteran, for his volunteer efforts in the outreach program.
2 March 2023 - Post Presents First Responder of the Year Awards: VFW Post 8466 honored two first responders from the Youngsville Fire Department and Wake County EMS with a special award at their monthly meeting. Youngsville Fire Department’s Lt. Garrett Joyner and Wake County and EMS District Chief Chris Keller received the post’s first responder award, part of the VFW’s nationwide recognition of first responders. After their recognition at the local level, both honorees will be considered at the state level, which could lead to possible national recognition. "It is an honor to serve the community around here,” Joyner said. "And it’s a special part in a lot of people’s lives. And on behalf of myself and a lot of first responders, I’d like to thank the community for being who they are because it makes our job.” On top of serving as a full-time lieutenant, fire apparatus driver and EMT, Joyner also takes time to train and guide volunteers and coordinate the junior firefighter program. Keller began work as a Wake County paramedic in 1997 and now serves on several special operations teams. In addition to his work in the EMS to serve the county, Keller also serves his country. He began his military career in 1989 and served in operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Shortly after 9/11, Keller became an Army reserve soldier and served as a health care specialist combat medic. He deployed to Afghanistan 2006-08. Both honorees emphasized their gratitude to be honored by the veterans in VFW Post 8466. (Photo and article by Laura Browne, Wake Weekly)
1 March 2023 - Veterans Present Experiences of the Vietnam Conflict: Students from Saint Thomas More Academy, Raleigh, are conducting an analysis of the nation’s involvement in the 20 year conflict in the Republic of South Vietnam. Veterans who served in the war during the 1960s and members of Veterans of Foreign Wars from Post 8466, Wake Forest, were asked to present experiences and involvement in the conflict to the students to provide a personal understanding and a frame of reference. The students were gracious for the presentations of Commander Bill Wade (U.S. Navy) and Rich Heroux (U.S. Army). Student questions were thought-provoking and directed to the experiences of the veteran’s involvement in the conflict.
2 February 2023 - Post Presents 2022/23 Voice of Democracy, Patriot's Pen and Teacher of the Year Awards: Post 8466 was pleased to host the winners of its 2022/23 Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Pen Essay Contests as well as the 2022/23 Post 8466 Teachers of the Year at a dinner in their honor prior to the regularly scheduled monthly Post meeting on Thursday, 2 February 2023. In front of Post Members and the honorees' family members, Post Commander Bill Wade and Chairman Lon Smith presented awards to the following recipients:
Patriot's Pen: 3rd Place, Daniel Sanders; 2nd Place, Bobby Anderson; and 1st Place, Bella Pierrette. It was announced that Ms. Pierrette also won the District Competition and will be representing Post 8466 and District 7 at the Department Competition.
Voice of Democracy: 3rd Place, Carson Townsend; 2nd Place, Taylor Hedrick; and 1st Place, Jordon Pittard. All three winners are students at Wake Forest High School, and are members of the WFHS JROTC.
Teachers of the Year: Elementary School, Ms. Amanda Joyner; Middle School, Ms. Darlene Perry; and High School, Ms. Dana Barnes. Ms. Barnes has also been named District 7 Teacher of the Year. We extend our congratulations and a hearty "Thank You" to each of these outstanding educators.
We will be announcing the topics for the 2023/24 contests shortly. Keep an eye out and encourage any Middle School students to enter the Patriot's Pen Contest for a chance at a $5,000 top prize, and any High School students to enter the Voice of Democracy Contest to compete for the top prize of a $30,000 scholarship. And, of course, please honor any teacher who you think excels at promoting citizenship, patriotism and scholarship by nominating them for Teacher of the Year!
1 February 2023 - St. Catherine of Siena School Hosts Flag Etiquette Class: Several members of our Post went to St. Catherine of Siena School in Wake Forest as part of their Catholic Schools Week ceremonies. In a morning session with 6th, 7th and 8th graders, Dan Irons spoke briefly about being a Veteran of the Korean War, and David Martin spoke about his experiences in Vietnam. Several others also spoke about their experiences. Then we presented a class on proper handling and display of our Flag followed by a demonstration of how to properly fold a Flag, with an explanation of what each fold means. The highlight of the morning was the opportunity for many of the students to actually get "hands on" and fold a flag themselves, with proper instruction and guidance by Post members. The afternoon session was for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders, with much of the same content, tailored for the younger students. We were all impressed with how engaged, attentive and respectful each of the students were. The lower grades (K-2) participated in a "dress-down" day in which they were allowed to wear casual clothes to school in return for bringing in a donation to the collection jar, which was then donated to VFW Post 8466. They raised over $400! Thank you to the administration, staff and teachers of St. Catherine for having us come and do this for their students, but especially thank you to the students for their kindness, courtesy and participation!
8 October 2022 - Tunnel 2 Towers 5K Race/Walk Triangle: To celebrate the 20 year anniversary of the National T2T 5K race/walk in Wake Forest approximately 450 participants assembled in front of the American Legion building, waiting for the 9:11 AM start of the 2022 event. Several local area Fire Department teams competed for the Tunnel2Towers trophy that has been won by a team from the Raleigh Fire Academy for the past two years. A number of participant categories were available to make the event more competitive for people depending on age. There was competition for small fries ages 3-5, youths up to teens, and grown-ups. Everyone participating in this year’s event was inspired by the words of race director Lloyd Randle, a New York City Fire Fighter, who was present during the tragedy that occurred on September 11, 2001. Tears rolled down his face as he related the story of his experiences that unbelievable day. The Tunnel2Towers 5K Race/Walk is significant because of the daring actions of Stephen Siller, a New York City Fire Fighter who was barred from driving to Manhattan Island to assist in rescuing people from the burning World Trade Center. Stephen donned his firefighting equipment and ran on foot to the scene where he ultimately gave up his life saving others. Races such as the Tunnel 2 Towers are held all over the United States to raise money to provide smart homes for catastrophically injured military servicemen and first responders that enable our severely injured heroes to live more independent lives. They also provide mortgage free homes for military and first responders who lose their lives in the line of duty.
19 September 2022 - Post Sponsors Fairways for Warriors Golf Tournament: The mission of Fairways for Warriors is to provide hope, healing, and camaraderie for combat wounded Veterans and their families. It is a program intended to help heal these Veterans, both physically and mentally, while surrounded by other Veterans who understand what they were going through. It has been proven that recreational therapy can be used as an adjunct to clinical therapy, and in many cases is successful in its own right as a treatment protocol. The program uses the game of golf to help with the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social aspects of each combat wounded Veteran's rehabilitation process. Most events are no charge to the Veteran, and the organization will even provide clubs, balls, lessons, and more for the novices at no charge. VFW Post 8466 is proud to not only be one of the sponsors of this year's fundraiser at Heritage Golf Club, but also to provide volunteers to help ensure its success. Team VFW also played the tournament and, while we demonstrated that none of us is quite ready for the PGA Tour, we were proud to not finish last. To learn more about Fairways for Warriors, please visit fairwaysforwarriors.org.
17 September 2022 - Post Member Derrick Sharpe Receives New Home: Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) is a publicly funded 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that builds and donates specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post-9/11 Veterans, to enable them to rebuild their lives. On 17 September, they presented Post member Derrick Sharpe with a new home. Corporal Sharpe received life-threatening injuries when he stepped on an IED in Iraq in 2006. He underwent years of surgeries, treatments and therapies, and fell under the influence of what he calls "demons of darkness". Finally, with the help of the Lord and his wife Cara, Corporal Sharpe has emerged to rebuild his life and start a career in cyber technology. After raising over $35,000 on his own toward the cost of the house, HFOT funded the remaining costs. Several members of our Post were present at the ceremony, and we all wish Corporal Sharpe the best in all his future endeavors.
6 August 2022 - Wake Forest Purple Heart Foundation Hosts Purple Heart Recipient Reunion Picnic: The Purple Heart Reunion Picnic is held each year to honor those who have been wounded in battle. In addition to Purple Heart Medal recipients and their families, the picnic is open to all Veterans and military families. The event featured the usual entertainment, patriotic tributes and a catered meal. This year's menu included Hot Dogs, Hamburgers and Bratwurst sandwiches prepared by the crew of the VFW Post 8466 Chuck Wagon which were served with a variety of accompaniments, drinks and desserts. Food items were mostly donated by the Wake Forest Purple Heart Foundation, the Forks Cafeteria and others. The guest speaker was First Lieutenant Patrick C. "Clebe” McClary III, USMC (Retired) and his wife Deanna. The colors were presented by the Wake Forest High School JROTC Color Guard, and the American Flag proudly flew from the Wake Forest Fire Department Ladder 1 Truck. Almost 50 Purple heart recipients were honored by several hundred family members and guests under clear blue skies at the Richland Creek Community Church soccer field.
May 2022 - Post Conducts Its Annual Buddy Poppy Campaign: The Post distributes Buddy Poppies at most of its events throughout the year, but we concentrate our efforts on our annual campaign during the month of May each year, leading up to Memorial Day weekend. We couldn't fulfill our primary mission of providing assistance to local Veterans in need without the donations we receive each year during this campaign. We never miss an opportunity to thank the Walmart stores in Wake Forest and Louisburg for allowing us to conduct this important fundraiser at their stores each weekend in May. We must also thank the chairs of our Buddy Poppy Campaign for their endless efforts to make sure we meet (and exceed) our goal each year. Of course, we couldn't do this without our volunteers, who spend hours of their time distributing the poppies and collecting the donations. Lastly, but most importantly, we must thank the good citizens of the Towns of Wake Forest and Louisburg for their kind support and very generous donations. Thank you all !!! Pictured here, along with some of our donors, are just a couple of our volunteers, Bill and Diana Lancaster. Both are members of our Post and spent many hours at the Louisburg Walmart making sure that our campaign was the great success that it turned out to be. We encourage all of you to wear your Buddy Poppies, especially on Memorial Day weekend, to show that you remember those who sacrificed their lives for our country and your freedoms.
5 May 2022 - Post Installs New Officers for 2022 - 23 Membership Year: As a part of the May 5, 2022 monthly meeting of Wake Forest Memorial Post 8466, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the formal procedure of swearing-in the newly elected Officers for the year 2022-2023 was conducted. Past Commander and current District 7 Commander, David Martin officiated the installation ceremony. Newly installed officers starting from the American flag are; Commander, Bill Wade; Senior Vice Commander, Jim Duguid; Junior Vice Commander, Tony Attina; Chaplain, James Dyer: Trustees, Greg Harrington and Frank Nosal; Service Officer, Brian Hopf; Sergeant-at-Arms, Doran Johnson; Judge Advocate, Howard Lowdermilk; Surgeon, Doug Doster and Trustee, Joe Csuka. Absent from the ceremony are Quartermaster, Charlie Cable and Adjutant, Al Zack. Officers will take command of the Post at the conclusion of the Department of North Carolina Convention in June 2022.
30 April 2022 - Post Presents JROTC Cadet of the Year Award: Wake Forest High School held its annual Army JROTC Military Ball on Saturday, 30 April 2022, presented by the Wake Forest High School Cougar Battalion. The festively decorated high school gymnasium welcomed the formally attired cadets of the JROTC Cougar Battalion, members of the Booster Club, parents, staff and other guests and dignitaries. Colors were presented by the JROTC Color Guard, followed by a welcoming speech by Cadet LTC Catarina Healy and formal toasts. Dinner was provided and served by the JROTC Booster Club followed by the awards ceremony. An impressive number of cadets were presented awards and scholarships from various organizations. Among those honored was Cadet 1st LT Ryan Ortiz (pictured), who received the Veterans of Foreign Wars Citation and Medal from Post 8466 Commander Joe Csuka in special recognition of outstanding achievement and exceptional leadership ability. Cadet Ortiz presently serves as Bravo Company XO and participates as a member of the Raider and Color Guard Teams. Also recognized were Cadet LTC Catarina Healy who has been appointed to the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, and Cadet CSM Lia Stokes who has been appointed to the US Military Academy at West Point. We are bursting with pride at the accomplishments of these young men and women and wish each of them the best of everything that life has to offer in the coming years.
23 April 2022 - VFW "Chuck Wagon" Serves at Bud's Tavern: The VFW Post 8466 "Chuck Wagon" is getting more and more popular as our reputation for good food grows throughout the community. Not only do we serve at each Friday Night on White event from April until September each year, but we participate in many other events around the area. This year we were kindly asked by the good folks at Bud's Tavern in Youngsville to provide the food and snacks for their first annual Spring Fling Arts & Crafts Show. The event featured over 200 local vendors with a variety of wares for every taste and need. The Chuck Wagon served its regular fare of Dogs, Burgers and Brats, and was well-received by everyone.
*** UPDATE *** Our showing at the Arts & Crafts Show was so successful that Bud's Tavern invited us back on 12 June 2022 to serve at their first annual Bike Fest. Several hundred motorcycle enthusiasts and Bike Clubs showed up to swap stories and compare rides. Live music was presented by the band "Automag", and the event featured raffles, prizes and of course, the great food prepared and served by the "Chuck Wagon". Despite the heat, a good time was had by all!
21 March 2022 - Post Awards EMT of the Year: At a ceremony at the Youngsville Rescue Squad and EMS Headquarters in Youngsville, Post 8466 presented its EMT of the Year award to Ms. Abby Garman, a volunteer member of the Youngsville Squad. Ms. Garman was nominated by Assistant Chief Tim Supples because of her dedication to duty and distinguished performance. Additionally, according to Asst. Chief Supples, Abby "has earned the respect and fellowship of the Franklin County EMS staff; something that is not always an easy task". Abby first volunteered in 2021 while a student at NC State and quickly earned her certification to practice as an EMT and has exceeded expectations. She has been accepted to Campbell University School of Medicine, but continues to volunteer with Youngsville Rescue and EMS.
*** UPDATE *** At the Department of North Carolina Convention, held in Greensboro this June, Ms. Garman was awarded EMT of the Year for the State of North Carolina, and presented with a certificate from National Headquarters.
5 February 2022 - Post Voice of Democracy Winner Takes Top State Prize: Miss Elise Perry, winner of the 2021-22 Post 8466 and District 7 Voice of Democracy Audio Essay contests was awarded the 1st place prize in the State of North Carolina at the Awards Banquet of the Department of NC Mid-Winter Conference. Along with her winnings of over $5,000 so far through 3 levels of judging, Miss Perry will now compete against 51 other state and international winners for additional scholarship money up to the top prize of $30,000. After being presented with her award, the members of the VFW and the Auxiliary were able to hear Miss Perry present her award-winning essay in person. Without exception, all present were impressed with her poise, her delivery and her sentiments as she spoke on the topic of "America: Where do We Go From Here?". We certainly wish Miss Perry all the best in this final round of competition and look forward to a very successful outcome! Pictured (l-r) are VFW Department of NC Commander Russ Chambers, Auxiliary Department President Sandra Johnson-Leu, State Winner Elise Perry, Elise's mother Angela Perry, Past VFW National Commander-in-Chief John Smart, and Past State Auxiliary President and Council Member #9 Janice Holm.
6 January 2022 - Post Honors 2021 Voice of Democracy Essay Contest Winners: The 3 top entrants in Post 8466's Voice of Democracy Audio Essay contest for 2021 were honored at the monthly membership meeting on Thursday, 6 January 2022. From left to right are Brandon Howard, a Junior at Wake Forest High School (2nd Place); Elise Perry, a Senior at East Wake Academy (1st Place); and Preston Freeman, a Freshman at Franklin Academy High School (3rd Place). Each winner received a certificate of recognition, a medal and a small cash award. The winners' essays were also submitted up to the District level for judging against all eligible entries from the 11 Posts in District 7. We were proud to announce that Ms. Perry was also judged the winner of the District competition. She received a certificate of recognition and another cash award. Her essay has now been submitted for judging at the Department level against the winners from each District in North Carolina. We extend our hearty congratulations to each of our winners, and send our best wishes to Ms. Perry as she continues in her quest for a National Championship!
8 August 2021 - Post Officially "Adopts" 5/133 FA NCARNG: A formal ceremony was conducted at the Louisburg Armory, Sunday August 8, 2021, at an assembly of Headquarters, 5th Battalion, 113th Field Artillery Regiment, North Carolina Army National Guard. The ceremony included a presentation of a Veterans of Foreign Wars official Adoption Certificate creating a stronger bond between Wake Forest Memorial VFW Post 8466 and the Army National Guard unit as it prepares to carry out the country’s world-wide missions. Presenting the certificate to Unit Commander, Captain Cody Byrd, is Past Post Commander and current District 7 Commander, David Martin, observing the presentation is Post Quartermaster, Charlie Cable and Unit Coordinator, Sergeant First Class, Aaron Jones. Soldiers were then treated to a good old fashioned VFW "Chuck Wagon” cookout. 
July/August 2021 - Post Presents Buddy Poppy Appreciation Awards: The annual Buddy Poppy Campaign is the primary fundraiser for Post 8466. Each year during the month of May, volunteer members present themselves at the entrances to the WalMart stores in Wake Forest and in Louisburg to distribute "Buddy Poppies" to all who will accept them. The poppies are complimentary. We only ask that the recipient wear them proudly (especially on Memorial Day) to show that they remember those who gave their lives in service to our country. We also accept donations to our Post Relief Fund so that we can help Veterans in need throughout the coming year. Each year we increase our expectations, and due to the generosity of the residents of Wake Forest and Louisburg, and the kind permission of WalMart to hold this campaign, each year we surpass the amount of donations from the previous year.
2020 to 2021 - Post Presents Continuous Membership Awards: Post 8466 has begun a campaign to recognize our members who have maintained continuous membership in our organization for notable lengths of time. We began at our March 2020 membership meeting by presenting a certificate and special lapel pin to Al Zack (left) who has been a member for more than 50 years. After a significant hiatus due to the pandemic, the awards returned at our July 2021 meeting, at which we presented Jobe (Kert) Southerland (right) with his awards for 45 years. In August 2021, we celebrated Bob Sargent (top, center) for his 35 years. In September 2021, we awarded David Aldrich (bottom, center) with his certificate and lapel pin for 30 years. We will continue this process of rewarding continuous membership for each 5-year milestone at each upcoming membership meeting. Congratulations, and thank you all for your service and membership. May we see you at meetings for many more years to come! 
1 July 2021 - Member Cookout to Kick Off the July 4th Celebration: Prior to the monthly membership meeting held on 1 July 2021, members and guests were treated to an old-fashioned cookout provided by several members of the "Chuck Wagon" crew, led by Brian Hopf and Al Zack. The attending membership enjoyed a traditional Independence Day meal of hot dogs and hamburgers along with all the fixin's, sides and drinks. This was all topped off with expertly warmed up apple pie. 32 members happily ate their fill, then participated in our regular monthly meeting activities. Pictured at left are Brian Hopf and Al Zack, while Commander Joe Csuka supervises. At right are some of the members preparing for our meeting.
24 June 2021 - Comrade Receives Assistance for Disabling Illness: Dave Frohnapple, a long time member of the Wake Forest Memorial VFW Post 8466 and Marine Corps League Detachment 1257 has experienced an ever increasing inability to bathe because of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) that is affecting his ability to walk. Comrade Dave started action to renovate the master bathroom of his home by installing a minimum evasive walk-in shower. Upon notifying one or two of his comrades of his situation a plea was made for assistance to the VFW and Marine Corps League. Upon hearing of the intended remodeling, both organizations along with help from Military Missions in Action, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping veterans in need, of Fuquay-Varina; pooled their resources and recently delivered a check to pay in full for the equipment and remodeling of the bathroom. Joe Csuka, Commander of VFW Post 8466, stated this is just one more example of how we live out the VFW motto; "No One Does More For Veterans”. Comrade Frohnapple, almost speechless, thanked everyone for the kindness and consideration exhibited by the three organizations. Presenting the check to Dave Frohnapple is from left to right; District Commandant Marine Corps League William Brown, VFW Post 8466 Commander Joe Csuka and Executive Director, Military Missions in Action Michael Dorman.
24 June 2021 - Rolesville Chamber of Commerce Receives High Marks from Veterans: The June 24, 2021 Military Appreciation Luncheon was a huge success for the Rolesville Chamber of Commerce sponsoring the event. A large number of local veterans and their spouses attended the second annual version of the event. The veterans from Rolesville and surrounding areas listened as representatives of civic organizations and Chamber members spoke about the unpaid liability due veterans for serving in the military during periods of calm and conflict. The appreciation luncheon is an attempt to demonstrate the heartfelt gratitude rendered by the men and women of the Rolesville community for the attending veterans. Speakers related examples of veterans who contributed so much to the stability of the community while exemplifying robust traits of patriotism and courage. In the comments of the veterans; the luncheon was a significant achievement. 
7 June 2021 - Post Presents High School Teacher of the Year: When agriscience students return to the Franklinton High School classroom this fall, they’ll have a newly crowned winner of the "Teacher of the Year". Tommy Kemp has been a career and technical education teacher at Franklinton High School for his entire 21-year career. Ever cognizant of his patriotic duties to his students, he instills classroom studies with his desire to promote good citizenship and perpetuation of America's noblest traditions and highest ideals. He recently received the Wake Forest Memorial Post 8466, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Teacher of the Year Award representing the best in education promoting civic responsibility, flag etiquette and patriotism. Along with the winners Certificate Tommy also received a cash award and a commemorative plaque to display in the Franklinton High School with the names of previous winners. Standing in front of the school gymnasium are from left to right; VFW Commander Joe Csuka, Teacher Tommy Kemp, High School Principal Dr. Russell Holloman, and VFW Member Rich Héroux. 
25 May 2021 - Post Presents JROTC Cadet of the Year and Voice of Democracy Awards: Post 8466 was pleased to present several awards at the Wake Forest High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) Awards night on 25 May 2021. Under the leadership of Col. Don Joyner and CSM Ginger Cribb, Wake Forest High School JROTC has produced many award winning Cadets over the years, with this year being no exception. All of Post 8466's Voice of Democracy (VOD) Essay Contest winners came from this unit. Third place was awarded to Loral Hills-Paulson, second place to John Price, and first place to Paige Weatherford. Each winner was presented with a certificate, a medal and a small cash award. These awards were presented by the Post VOD Chairman, Lon Smith. The JROTC Cadet of the Year Award was presented by VFW Department of North Carolina District 7 Commander David Martin to Cadet Tristin Dillingham. We congratulate each of these fine students and wish them well in all of their future endeavors. Pictured is the cadre of members from Post 8466 who attended the awards ceremony.
24 May 2021 - Post Presents CAP Cadet NCO of the Year: Cadet SMSgt Miriam Debelak was selected by her advisors and fellow members to receive the VFW Post 8466 Civil Air Patrol Cadet NCO for the 2021 year. According to her letter of nomination, Cadet SMSgt Debelak "performed her assigned duties and responsibilities in an outstanding manner for the 2020 term". Despite the restrictions placed on the squadron during the pandemic year, she excelled in leading her Flight through constant communication via email and Teams chat. She set the example for her flight members by working exceptionally hard to progress through the ranks from Cadet Senior Airman to Cadet Senior Master Sergeant in less than a year. She participated in several Search and Rescue exercises and completed several courses to advance her ability to serve the squadron and her community. Post 8466 is proud to honor such a deserving Cadet. Picture are: VFW Post 8466 Commander Joe Csuka, Cadet Debelak, and Awards Chairman Rich Tedesco.
5 May 2021 - Post Presents Patriot's Pen Essay Contest Winner: Wake Forest Memorial VFW Post 8466 is pleased to announce that Wilhelmina Johnson, a 7th grade student at Rolesville Middle School, is the Post's first place winner in the annual Patriot's Pen youth essay contest. She wrote her winning essay based on this year's theme of "What is Patriotism to Me?" The award was presented at a brief ceremony at the American Legion Hall in Wake Forest in front of Wilhelmina's family and several members of the Post. We are proud to have Wilhelmina represent our Post in the Patriot's Pen competition and are confident that she will have a very bright future. Pictured (left to right) are: Patriot's Pen Chairman Lon Smith, Jerry Johnson, Wilhelmina Johnson, Makula Johnson and Post Commander Joe Csuka.
23 April 2021 - Post Presents EMT of the Year Award: As part of its annual First Responder Recognition Program, Wake Forest VFW Post 8466 has awarded its EMT of the Year Award to Paramedic Kehoni Green of the Franklin County EMS. The award was presented to Paramedic Green in the Commissioner’s Chambers of the Franklin County Administration Building during a brief ceremony on Friday, April 23. The attendees included several members of Paramedic Green’s family, including his wife Victoria, son Maverick and daughter Paisley. The ceremony was arranged and emceed by Richard Tedesco, Colonel USAF, Retired, and the award was presented by Joe Csuka, Commander of VFW Post 8466. Paramedic Green is a member of the Haliwa Saponi Indian Tribe and has always shown an interest in firefighting and lifesaving. After joining the Arcola Volunteer Fire Department in 2004 as a Junior Firefighter, he rose through the ranks to reach the rank of Lieutenant. After completing the Fire Academy at Nash Community College while simultaneously obtaining his EMT certification, he joined the Nashville Fire Department as a full-time firefighter. He found his true calling, however when he joined Wake Mobile and the Franklin County EMS. He has continued to show his drive and ambition, becoming one of the outstanding young members of Franklin County EMS. He has shown a deep commitment to service and the betterment of himself, his coworkers and the community throughout his career and his life. Wake Forest Memorial VFW Post 8466 commends Paramedic Green on his achievements and is proud to honor him as its EMT of the Year. Pictured (left to right) are: Franklin County Emergency Management Director Hendrix Valenzuela, Commander Csuka, Paramedic Green, Captain Richard Lynch, Captain Heather Enroughty and County Manager Kim Denton.
16 April 2021 - Post Presents 2021 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award: Born in Jamaica, Patrol Sergeant Alphanso James had a difficult road through his early years. But once he found his calling in Law Enforcement, he pursued it with all his heart. He has risen to the rank of Sergeant in the Franklin County Sheriff's Office and spends his time, as he put it, "reaching out to the community and helping citizens one call at a time". He spends many of his off-duty hours volunteering at community youth centers, coaching, mentoring, being a friend to local youth and encouraging them to follow their dreams by working hard. He is currently attending Gateway Community College, working toward a degree in Criminal Justice. He has a goal of being Chief of Police some day. Franklin County is fortunate to have such a dedicated officer and Post 8466 is honored to name him as its Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for 2021. Pictured are Franklin County Sheriff Kent Winstead, VFW Post 8466 Commander Joe Csuka and Sergeant James.
12 April 2021 - Post Presents 2021 Scout of the Year Award: VFW Post 8466 was proud to present its Scout of the Year Award for 2021 to Jackson Hutchison of Troop 399 in North Raleigh. On hand to make the presentation were David Martin, District 7 Commander and Charlie Cable, Post 8466 Quartermaster. Jackson has been involved with Scouting since he joined as a Cub Scout in 2009. He has risen through the ranks to attain his Eagle Scout Rank in 2018. Since then he has participated as Junior Assistant Scoutmaster and currently as Unit Scouter Reserve. A lifelong member of Soapstone United Methodist Church, Jackson has participated in numerous church, school and community groups and projects. He has mentored younger scouts and showed positive leadership at all levels. Jackson plans to enter Appalachian State University in the Fall to study History Education. We are extremely honored to have Jackson as our Scout of the Year, and look forward to following his future endeavors as he becomes a leader in our community and perhaps even beyond.
12 April 2021 - Post Presents Firefighter of the Year Award for 2021: In a semi-formal ceremony at the Wake Forest Fire Department Station 1, on E. Elm St. Wake Forest, a group of people gathered to celebrate the selection of the VFW Post 8466 First Responder – Fire Fighter of 2021. His name is Captain Ian Moffatte, a veteran of thirteen years serving first as a member of a Fire Truck for 10 years prior to being assigned to administrative duties. Ian is married to Michelle and they have a lovely 9 year old daughter, Lily. Pictured after accepting the award from VFW Post 8466 Commander Joe Csuka, are from left to right: Fire Chief Ron Early, Captain Moffatte, Cmdr Csuka, Rich Tedesco, Chairman of the First Responder Program, and Battalion Chief Ed Barrett. A heartfelt thank you is shouted out to a valiant, patriotic, resourceful fireman, husband, father and First Responder Fire Fighter of the Year. 
10 April 2021 - Members Represent Post at Veterans' Resource Fair: The Chuck Wagon crew prepared and served Hot Dogs, Hamburgers and Bratwurst for all while other members tended to our recruiting table to inform attendees about the VFW and sign up new members. The Fair was hosted by the Joel Fund among others and had a number of booths to provide assistance to Veterans looking for information about benefits, insurance and many other topics. The event took place at the Cree Campus in Durham.
12 November 2020 - Post Presents National Firefighter of the Year Award: In a very moving ceremony, VFW Post 8466 was honored to present the VFW National Firefighter of the Year Award to the family of the late Firefighter/Traffic Officer Douglas Young of the Rolesville Rural Fire Department. On hand to accept the award was Patsy Young, the widow of the recipient along with several family members. Speakers included Rolesville Mayor Ronnie Currin, Rolesville Fire Chief Rodney Privette and Mrs. Young herself. Many members of VFW Post 8466 were on hand, including Emcee and First Responder Award Committee Chair Rich Tedesco, Post Commander Joe Csuka and District Commander David Martin. Firefighter Young was the recipient of the Post 8466 Firefighter of the Year award last February, and his nomination advanced all the way to National, resulting in this very prestigious award..jpg)
24 Oct 2020 - VFW Post Presents Certificate to Border Restaurant: Joe Csuka, Commander of Wake Forest Memorial VFW Post 8466, presented an official Certificate of Appreciation to Jerry Ammon, owner of the Border Restaurant for the support he and his patrons have given to our organization over the past year. The restaurant has actively participated in collecting funds in support of the VFW programs that assist local veterans needing help resulting from injuries sustained while in military service. The patrons dining at the North Main Street restaurant regularly deposit extra pocket cash in the Veteran container while paying their food bill. Periodically, the cash is retrieved and deposited in the VFW’s Relief Fund where disbursements are made to worthy veterans..jpg)
16 Oct 2020 - Veteran Receives Home Repair Assistance: The North Wake Chapter of Purple Heart Homes is a national organization dedicated to assisting disabled veterans receive help in making improvements to their home to accommodate their disabilities. Meet Henry (Hank) Pierwola. Hank is a Vietnam Veteran and has been awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. "It was an honor to serve a man that served for our country and our freedom”, said Joe Sheehan, Chapter spokesman. Hank is a member of Walter E. Cole American Legion Post 187 and Wake Forest Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8466. Purple Heart Homes was able to fix a few unsafe things in his home that he is not able to do for himself. They put in some Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters, (GFCI) to fix some wiring issues. They also installed a new bathroom fan, outdoor flood lights and fixed a dilapidated deck. Thanks to Home Depot Foundation for providing materials and for the crew in giving their Sunday to do this work! Local veterans are delighted that "Hank” is the recipient of this assistance..jpg)
9 Oct 2020 - Post 8466 "Chuck Wagon” Provides Refreshment for Local Neighborhood Events: After months of forced inactivity, the "Chuck Wagon” was able to find employment at several local neighborhood events. While observing all recommended COVID-19 precautions, the residents still managed to have a good time while enjoying good food prepared fresh by our crew of dedicated volunteers. The folks at the Villas of Wake Forest put on an Octoberfest celebration with decorations and extra goodies provided. This was our second visit to the Villas, and we look forward to many more. The "Chuck Wagon” also visited the residents of Winston Ridge in Youngsville and the clubhouse at Del Webb Traditions. We are scheduled to return to Del Webb in November. These smaller events, although not generally as lucrative as a Friday Night on White concert, help to provide much needed funds to support local Veterans in need, as well as provide exposure for our Post in its attempt to recruit and sustain members. We are so grateful to these very generous and friendly residents of our wonderful area! We would be happy to visit your neighborhood to serve up some of our delicious Hot Dogs, Burgers and Brats!
