The Woodson Terrace Veterans Memorial is located inside the parameters of the John L. Brown Park (Stansberry & Calvert Avenues). The Memorial was dedicated in honor and memory of the late Bob Madden and is known as the Robert J. Madden Veterans Monument. Bob served on the Veterans Committee from its inception in February 2004 and continued to serve until health issues plagued him. Bob died on March 8th, 2008.
The Veterans Committee consists of 10 energetic and concerned folks who want all Veterans, whether they have served, or are currently serving, in the Military to know the sacrifice each has made for the freedom we have is never taken for granted or gone unnoticed. The Committee meets on the 1st Tuesday of the month at the Woodson Terrace City Hall. The program agenda is posted several weeks prior to the meeting outside of City Hall; attendance is welcome; however you are encouraged to check the posting as periodically the Committee will reschedule due to the Committee’s participation in military related events, etc.
The Committee orchestrates two ceremonies each year ... Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Although Memorial Day is set aside to honor those who have died while serving in the Armed Forces, and Veterans Day for all those who are, or have, served in the Armed Forces, these folks are acknowledged on each of these days. We recently hosted the Memorial Day Ceremony and thanks to all the local and surrounding area dignitaries who took time from their busy agendas to join us in honoring our Armed Forces. We’re already in the planning stages for the Veterans Day Ceremony which will be held on the Saturday prior to Veterans Day. Veterans Day (November 11th) falls on a Thursday this year so the ceremony will be on Saturday, November 6th and will begin at 9:30 AM. We look forward to seeing you. We’re adding a new item to the Program that we think you will truly appreciate and enjoy … come see!
The Committee continues to send C.A.R.E. Packages and the next mailing will be in August. We expect to receive, shortly a list of items that our recipients could use and just as soon as this information is available, it will be documented and put on the City’s web site; flyers will be available at City Hall. The August C.A.R.E. Packages will be going to Senior Master Sergeant Steven R. Counts who was recently deployed on a special assignment to Iraq. When time permitted, Senior Master Sergeant Counts represented the Air Force and spoke at the Committee’s ceremonies.
We will again be participating in the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program and always appreciate the dedication of Committee Members Caroline Martin and Bill Holcomb who oversee and orchestrate this service project for the Committee. Caroline and Bill spend many hours with this service project and their delegation of contacts, pick ups, etc. is how the Committee is able to produce the huge and large assortment of toys.
Additional Veterans Committee activities and service projects include the “WW2 Honor Flight Program” of which the Committee has sponsored several resident Veterans and several Committee members assist in the departing/arriving Honor Flights at Lambert International Airport. Several members collect toiletries, etc. and package for “hand outs” at the U.S.O. Also, the Committee has a collection container for used and damaged United States Flags in front of the Woodson Terrace Police Station located at 4305 Woodson Road.
Yes, the Woodson Terrace Veterans Committee is quite busy and another service project we have taken on is “MOCHIP” (Missouri Child Identification Program). On Saturday, July 31st from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM the Committee will sponsor this program made available by the Grand Lodge of Mason’s of Missouri. Caroline Martin & Bill Holcomb have arranged for representatives from the Masonic Children’s Foundation to do this in Woodson Terrace. The Committee, along with Officers from the Woodson Terrace Police Department, will be on hand and assist the Foundation representatives in an array of tasks. MOCHIP is available to Woodson Terrace residents as well as non residents and is free … absolutely no cost is involved to you or the children. The Veterans Committee will provide the volunteers to assist the Foundation representatives and we’ll have an activity for the children as well. Flyers are available at City Hall detailing the identification process or contact Rita Martin at rmartin@woodsonterrace.net to have a flyer emailed to you.
Thank you to those who donated items at the Committee’s “flea market/tailgate” fundraiser sale on June 12th. The Veterans Committee is a “self funded” committee and monies raised through fundraisers and/or donations are used for C.A.R.E. Package postage, donations to Veterans approved facilities such as the Missouri Veterans Home, Fisher House, etc.
The Committee is looking for Veterans, as well as those currently serving in the Military to add to the Memorial of names. We’ve heard from a number of WW2 Veterans but would like to acknowledge also, those who served in Vietnam, Korea, Bosnia, and the Middle East. Please contact City Hall (427-2600) or Rita/Carl Martin (427-2692) with this information.
