Commander Aretha Spurlock;
We are the comrades of Benjamin O. Davis Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 311. Our Post is named after both the father and son, Benjamin O. Davis Sr. and Benjamin O Davis Jr. So, our Post name is without a suffix. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr was a graduate of WestPoint, was the first African American Brigadier General in the U.S. Air Force, and a Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. Benjamin O. Davis, Sr was the first African American Brigadier General in the U.S. Army. After World War I, he escorted mothers, wives, and children to Europe to visit the gravesites of loved ones lost in the war. Both General Davis’, strived to desegregate the military. Yet, at one point during both their military career, Benjamin O. Davis Sr. and Benjamin O. Davis Jr were the only two African American officers in the military. On our uniform shirt is the Cross of Malta, it originated with the Knights of St. John, men that fought against oppression and took a pledge of unwavering courage and compassion while they cared for the sick, needy, and poor. The actions of General Davis’ and the Knights of St. John align with the VFW’s current mission – to foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts; serve our veterans, the military and our communities; and advocate on behalf of all veterans.
Our VFW is a 501 (c)(19) nonprofit veterans service organization comprised of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, guard and reserve forces that proudly served our country. Multiple times over the years, Post 311 has received the honor of being identified as an All American and All State Post demonstrating our teamwork and accomplishments made in serving our veterans. Our VFW Post and its Auxiliary have proven its dedication to veteran’s service, legislative advocacy, and military and community service programs.
I am proud to be the first African American female Commander at my Post and in my District. It is due to the efforts made by General Benjamin O. Davis Sr. and General Benjamin O. Davis Jr., and others that fought for our democracies.
I invite you to view our past and upcoming events. Next, I invite you to come to our Post to visit or support one of our events. Finally, come again and come often as a fellow Comrade, Auxiliary member, or a Friend of the Post. I expect you will find our warmth, greetings, and customer service pleasing and actions are complementary to our mission. Let’s work together, as we continue to serve our veterans and communities, and stand for those things that will make our children and grandchildren’s lives better.
