Diamond Jubilee Memorial
VFW Post 2385
Gratz, PA
History of the Diamond Jubilee Memorial VFW Post 2385
Serving the Community and Our Veterans for over Fifty Years, 1974 - present
Organizational meetings were held at the Gratz Fire Co., Gratz Community Center and the Fuzzy Bunny starting April 1971. Some of the Veterans in the area interested in establishing a Veterans of Foreign Wars in the Gratz area included: Martin Erdman Jr., Gerald Cox, Richard Hartman, "Josh" Lenig, Joe Laudenslager, Roy Neagley, Jim Masser, "Gummy" Rothermel, Earl Hoffman, Jack Shade, Clarence Welker, Lester Welker, Paul Wolfgang and Paul Byle. Fund raiser picnics were held at the Gratz Boy Scouts in 1971 and 1972.
On March 8, 1974 the National Headquarters of the V.F.W. sent a letter approving the application for a V.F.W. charter. The application was submitted on February 28, 1974.
The first meeting of V.F.W. Post 2385 was held April 24, 1974. The meeting was called to order by John H. Slesser Jr., 18th District Commander. The Post was instituted at 1445 hours. Commander Slesser called for a recess for members to discuss a name for the post. The meeting was called back to order 1500 hours. A nomination was made and seconded to name the post the "Diamond Jubilee Memorial Post 2385" motion carried. The instituting officer moved to the nomination and election of officers for the post, the members agreed to election by "standing vote".The following officers were elected:
Commander: Earl P. Huffman, Sr. Vice Commander: Paul G. Byle, Jr. Vice Commander: Gerald E. Cox, Quartermaster: Ray L. Leitzel, Post Advocate: Marlin W. Erdman, Post Surgeon: Lester R. Welker, Post Chaplain: Joseph Schmink, Trustee 3 yr: Mark V. Long, Trustee 2 yr: Jay C. Troutman, Trustee 1yr: Daniel E. Ferree.
In 1978 a 3.25 acre track of land was purchased from Charles Kissinger on Specktown Road. Construction began in 1979 the first meeting of Diamond Jubilee Memorial Post was held in the new building on December 23, 1979.
Brief History of the Veterans of Foreign Wars
The VFW traces its roots back to 1899 when veterans of the Spanish-American War (1898) and the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service: Many arrived home wounded or sick. There was no medical care or veterans' pension for them, and they were left to care for themselves. In their misery, some of these veterans banded together and formed organizations with what would become known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. After chapters were formed in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Colorado the movement quickly gained momentum. By 1915, membership grew to 5,000; by 1936, membership was almost 200,000.
Since then, the VFW's voice had been instrumental in establishing the Veterans Administration, creating a GI bill for the 20th century, the development of the national cemetery system and the fight for compensation for Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange and for veterans diagnosed with Gulf War Syndrome. In 2008, VFW won a long-fought victory with the passing of a GI Bill for the 21st Century, giving expanded educational benefits to America's active-duty service members, and members of the Guard and Reserves, fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.