VFW Post 7507 held flag raising ceremonies on Patriot Day and Day of Service and Remembrance (September 11).

The day started early for VFW Post 7507’s Color Guard as VFW members and the Fountain Hills Charter School teamed up for Patriots Day and Day of Service and Remembrance with a 9/11 anniversary commemorative flag raising at 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 11, to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the horrific terrorist attacks upon our nation on Sept. 11, 2001.

The Charter School student body was assembled, a selected group of students each read part of a special tribute in honor of 9/11, and the VFW Color Guard marched on then attached the American Flag to the school's tall flagpole.

After the flag raising, the assembled student body, faculty, VFW members, parents and general public present all sang the national anthem as it was played by the school’s music teacher and then together all recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

The flag was then slowly lowered to the half-staff position as “Taps” was played on a bugle in honor of the victims of the 9/11/2001 terrorist attacks.

It was a touching ceremony, valuable for the students and others in attendance. Afterwards, some students, teachers, parents and spectators thanked the VFW members present.

Later in the morning, the Post Color Guard and members conducted another ceremony at Fountain View Village for the residents and public. Inside Fountain View Village, the residents assembled. The VFW Color Guard marched into the lobby. The assembled residents, VFW members, and general public present all sang ‘America’ as it was played by Marty Baxter and led in voice by FHPC’s Tom Martin and Bud Fuls.

Together all recited the Pledge of Allegiance. The ceremony was to honor victims of the 9/11/2001 terrorist attacks. It was a very touching and patriotic atmosphere and greatly appreciated by the Fountain View Village residents.

Post 7507 is the local Fountain Hills and Verde Communities chapter of the national VFW organization. The VFW's mission is to “honor the dead by helping the living” through veterans’ service, community service, national security and a strong national defense.

Post 7507 participates in a number of activities to help veterans and/or their families that are in need, while also promoting patriotism among the youth of our community, including the Patriots Pen and Voice of Democracy essay programs in the local schools.

Post 7507 has a continuing relationship with patients at the local VA hospital and the Arizona Veterans Home. Members of VFW Post 7507 have also contributed time, money and tools to various programs for the homeless veterans, including the Madison Street Veterans Association in downtown Phoenix.

In addition to monetary contributions, and the contributions of time and effort by member veterans, Post 7507 operates a beer garden during each of the town’s festivals and hosts and annual golf tournament in November to raise the funds required to carry out its mission of helping others.

VFW Post 7507 also provides a Color Guard for various town events. The VFW will accept used flags for dignified retirement at its HQ in the Kiwanis building each Wednesday between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Annually, the VFW and its Auxiliary nationally contribute more than 13 million hours of volunteerism and provide over $2.5 million in college scholarships to high school students.

The VFW is there --honoring the dead by helping the living. VFW Post 7507 meets for coffee and camaraderie the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 9 a.m., and holds business meetings at 7 p.m. the third Thursday of each month in the Sunset Kiwanis building. Veterans interested in joining or determining eligibility to join the VFW can get additional information by contacting the Post’s Membership Chairman Roy Goode at 836-7287 or rdg0812@aol.com or by leaving a message on the post’s voice mail at 836-5520.