Spaghetti Dinner Considered a Success

The spaghetti dinner Friday, February 20, was considered a success with 75 attending. This is very good considering the advance notice was very short and publicity was minimal with not much more than "word of mouth." Sometimes good news travels fast and effectively. Just think what an ad or notice in the paper would have done.

It did get a short notice on this website. It wasn't much more than a day. Watch this space for more interesting things to come. The Thursday "Food Night" will gradually return. So will other menu options. Watch for announcements here and elsewhere.

Calendar Added to List of Site Features

We would like to point out the Calendar page we've recently added to the website. You can find it in the top menu in the 'News' dropdown. For the public, we hope you'll utilize this to keep track of upcoming events, ceremonies, and ways to interact with or assist the veterans in your community. For veterans and other members of the various Posts, it's an agenda to keep meetings and get-togethers in order.

Once you're on the calendar page, you can click on events to get basic what/where/when information, and sort events by Post by clicking the colored tabs at the top. Please bookmark it for future reference.

WAVP Veterans Center Receives Boost from Vision Iowa

Vision Iowa approved a Community Attraction and Tourism grant in the amount of $675,000 toward the completion of the WAVP Veterans Center. Thank you, Vision Iowa board! The news was published in the Waverly Democrat Thursday, September 11.

Now comes the challenge to reach the fundraising goal so construction can begin next Spring. The question is no longer if we can begin construction, but when we can begin. Meanwhile fundraising continues to meet a goal completion date to receive the funding. Anyone interested in donating should contact Hank Bagelmann at 319-352-1198 or use the DONATE tab on this website.

We need to especially thank Carol Jahnke for her many hours and hard work in pursuing and acquiring this grant. Without that we probably would not have gotten it. She also did a lot to help the rest of us through the application process. Thank you, Carol!

We've Made Some Changes

Some changes are good, and we think this is one of them. If you haven't already noticed, the design of this website has changed. It should be easier to navigate and easier to find what you're looking for compared to the previous design. It should also display better on smaller devices, too. We hope you will visit our site often and we will keep giving you reasons for doing so, besides user friendliness and pleasing design.

We'd like your feedback. You may do so by visiting our Facebook page and leaving your comments. You may also visit the 'Contact Us' page and send your comments using the form there, or email our editor directly. If you have something to contribute to the website, whether it's pictures, a story, or a call to the community, those can be sent to our editor as well.

How are we doing?

WAVP Fourth Annual Meeting Report

Three Directors were reelected. They are Richard Miller by the Waverly American Legion, Jim Brandau by the AMVETS, and Darrell Blasberg for VFW. Their terms will be from 2014 to 2017. Terry Goro of the Marine Corps League chose to not be reelected. Robert Davidson was elected to succeed him for a term from 2014 to 2017. Jim Smith resigned after two years of his term and Hank Bagelmann was elected to serve the balance of his term from 2014 to 2015.

Two retiring board members were recognized and thanked for their service. It was also noted that one newly elected member of the board, Robert Davidson, was a previous member of the board and welcomed back.

At the board meeting following the general annual meeting the following officers were elected: Darrell Blasberg, Chairman; Carl Benning, Vice Chairman; Larry Buchholz, Vice Chairman; Richard Miller, Secretary; and Lee Schissel, Treasurer.

WAVP Breakfasts

Sometimes pictures are worth at least hundreds of words. People preparing and enjoying the WAVP breakfast this past July 12 at the VFW Hall would be among those. Richard and Janell Miller in the kitchen preparing breakfast with obvious enthusiasm would be among those.

As Mike Kukral wrote, "Lots of smiles and full tummies." Please enjoy the pictures he shared.


Thanks for the Ride, Frank!

10:30 AM —

Not so young retired members of the armed forces are already foot weary before the parade begins. The presence in the parade is still effective even if the mobility is a bit more mechanized. Along comes Frank Wilkens with the appropriate equipment and the problem is nicely solved and the presence of the color guard is still as effective and impressive.

Oh, and a trailer hitched behind the truck gave some of us a chance to follow close behind in the company of a very young lady chaperoned by her military father. I believe the last name is Hennings. At least we were convinced that there are those that respect us and are willing to continue where we had to leave off, retire or whatever.

The crowds along the way were great and convinced us that we are in a community we can be proud of and that shares that same feeling with those in the parade.

— A view from the parade

Waverly Heritage Days Parade

Grand Marshals this year represent the four Waverly veterans service organizations and the veterans service facility (WAVP). They are Bob Davidson (VFW), Ted Lanske (AMVETS), Roger Metzger (Marine Corps League), Richard Miller (American Legion) and WAVP Campaign Chairman Marvin Schumacher. This is a great tribute to the veterans in our community after the tribute to our auxiliaries last year. We thank them for the recognition and ongoing support for meeting the special needs of some as a result of their service.

In addition to the above we provide a color guard, collectively or individually, for all of the parades to patriotically lead the parade.

"Saluting Freedom" is the theme this year. The parade will line up on the grounds of Waverly Sales Company and begin at 10:30 am. Participants should arrive there by 10:00 am or soon after.

Frank Wilkens will have his military truck and trailer in the parade near the front and invites veterans not involved elsewhere to ride on it wearing identifying head gear if possible. It is preferred that you come as part of a group or have someone else drop you off there. Space for parking cars is very limited.

For more information visit waverlyheritagedays.com/parade.

Surprise? Retirement Party

It was supposed to be a surprise party. Did it succeed? Ask Nancy Edwards who was supposed to be surprised. Better yet read the following submitted by Neal Jarnagin, her co-worker who helped arrange it.

If we thought we knew Nancy Edwards, many of us didn't know her as well as we thought we did. Neal included the following in the invitation to her surprise retirement party. To give you a portrayal of her life the following is submitted with Neal's permission:

To provide some insight into the lives she's affected, we've provided a brief resume as a tribute to all she's touched.
 
• Daughter of a World War II veteran
• Brother of a Vietnam veteran killed-in-action in Vietnam
• Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education
• K-12 Teacher and Substitute Teacher including Special Education
• Self-employed as a Family Farmer
• Director of Religious Education/Youth Ministry
• Volunteer at La Leche League
• Raised four boys
• Spouse of a Vietnam veteran who died of Agent Orange related lung cancer
• Director of Religious Education/Youth Ministry
• Coordinator of Family Resource Centers in Jones County, IA
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) 2nd Vice-Chairperson
• Bremer County Case Manager
• Bremer County Veterans Affairs Administrator
 
Certifications Held:
• Lay Ministry Formation
• Healthy Families America Training/Family Support Worker/Supervisor
• Child and Adult Abuse Reporting
• Jones County Leadership Program
• NAMI Family to Family Teacher, State Trainer
• NAMI State Provider Education Team
• NAMI Parents and Teachers as Allies Team
• NAMI Support Group Leader
• First Aid, Adult/Infant/Child CPR, AED
• Iowa Association of County Veteran Service Officers
• National Accreditation, National Association of County Veteran Service Officers

Memorial Day Activities 2014

On the morning of Thursday, May 22, small flags were placed on the graves of all veterans in Harlington Cemetery. Eighth-graders from Waverly-Shell Rock Middle School were among those who helped and were recognized in the May 27th edition of the Bremer County Independent.

On Saturday, May 24, the Avenue of Flags was put up at Harlington Cemetery.

The Memorial Day parade was held Monday, May 26 at 10:00 AM, followed by a lunch at the Legion Hall north of the cemetery. That afternoon, the small flags were gathered and the Avenue of Flags was dismantled.

The WAVP extends its thanks to those who came out to help.

In Closing...

The WAVP Veterans Center honors the Veterans of yesterday, today and tomorrow. It recognizes and celebrates the sacrifice of those who served in past conflicts, those who serve today, and those whose service awaits them. These men and women and their families are ever mindful of the reality that freedom is not free. It is in this spirit that we build this very special home "Where Patriots Gather"