VFW Post 9943 honors past commanders and presidents

James Simpson II, Mansfield News Journal
·2 min read
Commander Bill Myers speaks at the Past Commanders/Past Presidents banquet on Sunday at Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Mohican Post 9943.
Commander Bill Myers speaks at the Past Commanders/Past Presidents banquet on Sunday at Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Mohican Post 9943.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States at Mohican Post 9943 held a banquet to honor past presidents and commanders who have served throughout the long history of the organization on Sunday afternoon.

The vision of the VFW Post 9943 is to bring needed services, information and assistance to veterans and service members, their families, and communities.

There have been 38 past commanders and 42 past presidents throughout the history of Post 9943. .

The five past commanders who were present Sunday afternoon were Bill Myers, the current Post 9943 commander, Daniel Reed (1967-68), John Kemplin (1998-99), Billy Walker (2003-04) and Murray Konves (2018-22).

Five Past Commanders of VFW Post 9943 who were honored Sunday for their service are, from left, Bill Myers, Daniel Reed, John Kemplin, Billy Walker and Murray Konves.
Five Past Commanders of VFW Post 9943 who were honored Sunday for their service are, from left, Bill Myers, Daniel Reed, John Kemplin, Billy Walker and Murray Konves.

Seven of the past presidents were in attendance, that included current president Susan Hale, along with Ginny Fisher (1998-99), Laura Walker (2002-04), Joyce Sparks (2006-07, 2008-11, 2015-20), Rita Scheurer (2007-08, 2013-15), Margaret Strong (2011-13), Kim Reed (2020-21) and Dawn Tackett (2020-21).

Two Men's Auxiliary members were present in Gearold Smith (2006-07) and Brad Strong (2010-13).

The keynote speaker was Myers himself, who spoke on learning from the past and applying it to today.

"Never forget the past," Myers said in the beginning of his talk.

Past Presidents and Past Men's Auxiliary members at Post 9943 pose for a group photo: Gearold Smith, Brad Strong, Ginny Fisher, Laura Walker, Joyce Sparks, Rita Scheurer, Margaret Strong, Kim Reed, Dawn Tackett and Susan Hale.
Past Presidents and Past Men's Auxiliary members at Post 9943 pose for a group photo: Gearold Smith, Brad Strong, Ginny Fisher, Laura Walker, Joyce Sparks, Rita Scheurer, Margaret Strong, Kim Reed, Dawn Tackett and Susan Hale.

Past commander Billy Walker and past president Joyce Sparks spoke on what this occasion means to them to be able to gather with former presidents and commanders.

"I was district commander for two years. I served in Vietnam in 1970-71 and I was in the military eight years before I got out," said Walker. "This place has a lot of history and good people. It's an honor to be here with these people. It made me a better man than I used to be."

"This is something we used to do every year. It kind of got pushed to the side and because of Covid we were unable to pick up a lot of stuff," said Sparks. "Bill suggested it this year and I think it was a really good idea. I think its great that we all did get together."

The Veterans of Foreign Wars stands by its mission to foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts. To serve their veterans, the military, their communities and to advocate on behalf of all veterans.

jsimpson@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: VFW Mohican Post 9943 honors past commanders and presidents in banquet