Squaw Creek VFW Post 674, Ames, Iowa

08/12/2026

12 August 2026

Greetings Comrads!
It is with a heavy heart that I must provide the news that our local VFW Post 674 is in the process of shutting down. At our last formal meeting on April 22, 2026, the few members that showed up for that meeting voted to close the post. As post commander, I was the only one opposed to that vote. It really came down to not enough members to show up and keep our post running efficiently. And many of those members had valid reasons. Our post just couldn’t manage the many programs we wanted to be involved in when many times, we did not have even enough members for a quorum at our meetings.
I even sent out personal letters to all members providing information on our situation but only had a few that responded back.

Our national VFW is still working through the process of closing our post. One of our last order of business was to liquidate our VFW Post 674 funds by donating to several worthy causes as follows:

HVS (Homeless Vets) $1000
ISU ROTC $150
Dollars for Scholars (Ballard Comm Schools) $400
American Legion Post 37 $400
Dept of Iowa American Legion $300
Iowa Gold Star Museum $320
Iowa Veterans Home$320
Assault Center of Ames $320
Food at First (Ames) $320
Puppy Jake $350
VA Central Iowa Health Care System $673.68

With the help of Alex Fejfar at the Ames History Museum, I was able to find some interesting historical news about our post. As far back as 1922, there was a mention of the Women’s Auxiliary for Post 674 in the Ames Tribune. But it wasn’t until 1984 that Squaw Creek VFW Post 674 was formed. There was even a mention of our post’s 5 year anniversary in 1989 at Inis Grove Park. One of the newly installed officers that I knew and was still serving when I became a member of this post was Jack Cook.

I will now list the officers for our Post 674 at time of closing:
Post Commander: Richard Morrison
Senior Vice: Jon Borg
Jr. Vice: Brooke Stapes
Quarter Master: Brenden Hoffman
Adjutant: Dan Divine
Service Officer: Brett McClain
Trustee 1: James Olberding
Trustee 2: Brian Anderson
Trustee 3: Robert Pokorny
Chaplain: Richard Morrison

It truly has been an honor serving in our post with these members. Many will be transferring to other VFW Posts in Iowa. I, Richard Morrison, have transferred to the Maxwell post. I chose this post to continue to serve Story County.

Last, I shared the recent acceptance speech by National Commander Cory Geisler. Also want to thank American Legion Post Commander Cliff Barker for allowing our post to have our meetings at the Legion!

Sincerely,

Richard L. Morrison, Squaw Creek Post Commander

https://youtu.be/47-sO-eqdM8?is=-jsi_YdcGgI1ZONN

Cory Geisler delivers his acceptance speech to VFW convention deleg...

05/21/2026

From: Ames Patriotic Council
Date: May 20, 2025
Contact: Tim Gartin, APC President. Phone: 515-291-2586. Email: [email protected]
Herman Quirmbach, APC Treasurer. Home Phone: 515-292-8984. Email: [email protected]

Memorial Day Parade and Program Announced

The Ames Patriotic Council is pleased to announce the annual Memorial Day parade and ceremony on Monday, May 25, to honor those who have fallen in service to our country. Everyone in Ames is invited to attend. At 10:15 a.m., the parade will step off from City Hall and proceed north on Clark and then east on 9th Street to the Ames Municipal Cemetery, where the ceremony will begin at 11:00 a.m.
Our featured speaker will be Colonel Reggie Richardson, U.S. Army (Ret.). Originally from Chicago, Richardson rose from a Private First Class in 1986 to the rank of Colonel. Along the way he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Iowa State and received advanced training from several major military programs including the U.S. Army War College. In his career, Col. Richardson served in a wide variety of posts, both foreign and domestic, including duty in Wiesbaden, Germany, and Kabul, Afghanistan, as well as Des Moines, New Orleans, and Belton, MO. He earned many decorations for his service and retired in June 2021. He currently serves on the Iowa Commission for Veterans Affairs and lives in Ames with his wife Michele.
Any veteran or anyone else wishing to walk or ride in the parade is welcome. Parade participants should begin gathering at 9:45 a.m.—fifteen minutes earlier than in some past years—in the parking lot on the west side of City Hall, 515 Clark, and along 5th St. on the south side of City Hall. The parade will step off at 10:15. Due to the solemn nature of the holiday, the Patriotic Council asks that parade participants refrain from distributing candy or promotional literature along the parade route.
The program at the cemetery begins at 11:00 a.m. with Ames Mayor John Haila offering a welcome from the City and American Legion Post 37 Commander Cliff Barker greeting the audience on behalf of the Legion. The program will be introduced by Tim Gartin, President of the Ames Patriotic Council.
A color guard from the Des Moines Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol will present the colors. The Ames Municipal Band under the direction of Mike Golemo will play, and Jim DeHoet will sing. Student Avary Jones will offer a patriotic reading. A list of the local veterans interred since last Memorial Day will be read, followed by a salute from the American Legion Honor Guard.
In case of rain, the parade will be cancelled, and the program will move indoors to the Ames City Auditorium at 11:00 a.m. For those not able to attend in person, the program will also viewable online at youtube.com/AmesTelevision and facebook.com/AmesPatrioticCouncil both live and on subsequent days.
After the program at the Municipal Cemetery, American Legion Post #37 will provide lunch at the post, 225 Main Street in Ames. Later that afternoon, the American Legion Honor Guard will render honors at the Ontario Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. and at the Story Memorial Cemetery at 1:30 p.m.
Volunteers are also needed to help the American Legion put up flags along Main Street for the Memorial Day weekend. Anyone available to help can simply show up at the Legion, 225 Main St., at 7:15 a.m. on Friday, May 22, to put flags up and/or at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 25, to help take them down.

04/14/2026

This is to let our Post VFW 674 members know of an important meeting that I have scheduled for 19:00 hours on Monday, April 20th at the Legion. We will be discussing recent donations among other things, as well as the future viability of our Post. So I am hoping we have a good turnout. Our District Commander as well as our Department Compliance Officer will be attending.
I also invited Commander Cliff Barker from the American Legion Post 37 to offer his suggestions as to how our two organizations can work together.
Looking forward to seeing our members at this upcoming, important meeting.

Sincerely,
Richard Morrison
Commander VFW Post 674

11/24/2025

Annual VFW “Buddy” Poppy Drive

Earlier this month, (November), our post held its annual VFW “Buddy” Poppy Drive at the Lincoln Center Hy-Vee store in Ames. Despite a number of our VFW members being out-of-town, we still were able to make a good showing and the funds received will go to help some local veterans’ programs. I do want to thank Hy-Vee #2 store manager, J.J. Hesnard for his backing for this event. His team provided the tables and the space to setup for our drive. Really appreciate his support!

We also had great help from the ISU ROTC and I especially want to thank CDT Johnathan Erdmann for his help in getting volunteers to help us with our shifts. They all were great to work with!

Here are a couple of photos from our event:

11/08/2025

Tomorrow, November 8, our Squaw Creek VFW Post 674 will be at the Lincoln Center Hy Vee from 8am to 12pm for our Buddy Poppy Drive to help local Veterans causes such as the VA Hospital, the Iowa Veterans Home, Puppy Jake plus others using the donations received. We will also have some fine folks from the ISU ROTC helping us too! Hope to see many of you there tomorrow!

As the largest and oldest war veterans service organization, we have a long history of supporting service members, veterans, and their families. Learn more about us.

11/08/2025

Veterans Discounts for Veterans Day Nov 11, 2025:

VETERANS DAY DISCOUNTS 2025*
DO NOT FORGET TO PICK UP FREE MEAL TICKET BOOKS AT:
TEXAS ROADHOUSE, 11/09/2024, FROM NOON UNTIL 4PM.
Proof of service includes U.S. Uniformed Services ID Card, U.S. Uniformed Services
Retired ID Card, current Leave and Earnings Statement (LES), Veterans
organization card (e.g., American Legion, VFW), photograph of yourself in
uniform, wearing uniform, DD214 and citation or commendation.

LOCAL VENDORS WITH VETERANS DAY DISCOUNTS
Casey’s
On Nov. 11, veterans can receive any size coffee or fountain drink and a car wash for free. Active-
duty military and on-duty, uniformed first responders can enjoy the offer year-round.

Fareway
On Nov. 11, Fareway is offering 15% off to all military personnel, active or retired.

The Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens
Veterans and active-duty military members can get free admission into the gardens from 9 a.m. to
4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8.

Hy-Vee
Enjoy a free dine-in breakfast for veterans and active-duty military members on Nov. 11, from 6 to
10 a.m. Veterans and active-duty military members can also get 15% off grocery purchases in-store
and online on Veterans Day.

Jethro's BBQ
Veterans Day.
Jethro's is offering a 50% discount on any entrée for veterans and active-duty military members on

Prairie Meadows
Join a celebration ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. at the Prairie Meadows Casino & Racetrack in Altoona. Enjoy a free lunch, live music, and military displays.

11/08/2025

Veteran’s Supermarket Nov 8 at the Plex!

Supermarket of Benefits
Don't forget, the annual Supermarket of Benefits is tomorrow, November 8th!

Location: The Plex
5501 George Washington Carve Ave.
Ames, IA 50010

Time: 9am - Noon

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

11/04/2025

Announcing information about the upcoming Veterans Day program here in Ames on November 11: