VFW serves veterans and the community

The Wahkiakum Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 5297 operates in Cathlamet. Currently there are 62 members in the Post with 273 veterans listed in Wahkiakum County. We believe there are many more veterans living within Wahkiakum County but have not contacted us, and we would like to hear from you.

Our Post seeks donations to help local veterans and their families in need, to contribute to local causes, and to recognize and make cash awards to local students and first responders. We donate to various local and veteran causes such as Girl Scouts, National Veterans Children’s Home, Wahkiakum County Search and Rescue, Cathlamet Fire Department, Cowlitz Stand Down for Veterans, Heroes of the Ballpark (attended by hospitalized and disabled veterans), Honor Flight (for WWII, Korea, and Vietnam veterans), Northwest Battle Buddies (service dogs for combat veterans), Veterans Homeless Fund, USO, Special Olympics, and VMS (Veterans and Military Support.)

We are heavily involved with our local schools. We recognize and make cash awards to winners of the Voice of the Democracy essay program for grades 9-12, Patriots Pen essay program for grades 6-8, and the Youth Essay program for grades 3-5. Each year students are given patriotic themes to write about; the essays are evaluated, judged, and winners receive recognition and cash awards. All essay winners move up to district and state levels of competition. The Voice of Democracy and Patriots Pen winners move up to the national competition level and are recognized and awarded cash awards. We also recognize and provide a cash award to a local teacher for the Teacher of the Year competition in which winners go up to district, state, and national levels. We also educate our local youth about patriotism and respecting the flag. Prior to each Memorial Day ceremony, we sponsor a middle school class to come out and plant American flags on veteran gravesites while teaching them about the importance of the special day. We participate each year in the Veterans Day ceremony hosted by each of our high schools and share our experiences with the students.

We facilitate working with veterans in accessing the Wahkiakum County Veterans Relief Fund. If a veteran contacts us and needs funds to help pay for utility bills, fuel, food (or personal items), rent, funeral assistance, prescription medicine, medical transportation, or the cost of building or purchasing required accommodations for handicap or aged veterans, we complete an assessment of the situation and initiate a voucher to access those county-controlled funds. The county funds have limits, and we can help with supplementing those funds from our Post account.

We refer all veterans to the appropriate agencies to get help with navigating through the Veterans Administration to get their benefits and entitlements. We participate in ceremonies honoring our veterans and those that have fallen.

We are supported by the VFW Auxiliary, made up of veteran spouses and family members. They help with fundraising, special events, and logistics.

Our primary fundraisers are donations from the public and our annual year-round poppy distribution. This year we have begun a raffle conducted during booth operations. We are encouraging your support by donating to Wahkiakum VFW Post 5297.

Please donate what you can by calling our Quartermaster, Justin Tawater, at (564) 262-2011, or email him at vfwpost5297@outlook.com. You can mail your donations to Bill Tawater, 80 North Welcome Slough Road, Cathlamet, WA 98612. Your donations are very much needed, and they are tax deductible. If you have any questions about the VFW, please contact the Post Commander, Bill Tawater, at 360-849-4151 or email him at vfwpost5297@outlook.com.