VFW Post 5109 Auxiliary

08/05/2026

From flying CH-47 Chinooks in Vietnam and guarding the Cold War border to serving at the Pentagon on 9/11, Lt. Gen. John Riggs’s 39-year Army career is nothing short of extraordinary. But after rising from an 18-year-old enlisted private all the way to a three-star general, his most profound briefing isn't about military strategy—it’s about the importance of family, faith, and home. We are honored to feature our neighbor and local hero in this month’s VFW Post 5109 Veterans Spotlight!

Read General Riggs’s full story on our Chaplain's Corner page: https://vfw-lewisburg.com/chaplains-corner

08/03/2026

08/03/2026

When a ship is navigating rough waters in the pitch dark, it doesn’t look for another ship out in the storm—it looks to the shore for a lighthouse. That steady, unmoving light is a signal that says, "You are not lost, you are close to home, and safety is right here." At Bill Lowe Wheatley Post 5109, our Auxiliary family aims to be that lighthouse for veterans and our members when life gets stormy.
When illness, sudden injury, or an unexpected hospital stay knocks us off course, it can feel like we are drifting in deep, dark water. It is incredibly easy to retreat inward and feel like we have to weather the waves in absolute isolation. But a lighthouse never asks the ship to fix itself before shining; it just stays bright to show the way. Our Post is built to be a permanent harbor of care, reassurance, and practical outreach. We don't want anyone in our community struggling to keep their head above water when a whole family is standing on the shore ready to throw out a lifeline.
We want to make sure that our light reaches directly into every hospital room, recovery center, and quiet home where healing is taking place. If you are currently facing a difficult medical season, or if you know a fellow veteran or member who is:
• Navigating a difficult medical challenge or staying in the hospital
• Resting and fighting to recover at home
• Going through a tough, lonely week and just needs a prayer or a friendly voice to check in
Please, let us know. We want the privilege of sending a card of encouragement, checking on your well-being, and wrapping you in the genuine support of this Post.
How to share updates:
• Comment directly below this post
• Send me a private message on this platform
• Email us anytime at [email protected]
Your trust means everything to me, and all updates are always kept strictly confidential.
"The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble." — Psalm 9:9

07/26/2026

Check out what they did with Poppy's at the National Convention. They did a really good job.

07/26/2026

Hey everyone,

There is a relatable, chaotic kind of stress that rolls around every single year right about now, and its weight is felt by so many families in our community: the back-to-school scramble.

With August 3rd right around the corner, schedules are shifting, supply lists are piling up, and orientations are being checked off the calendar. At Bill Lowe Wheatley Post 5109, we know that transitions like this can bring a lot of hidden pressure. If your current family status looks exactly like our Auxiliary Chaplain assistant, Foz, here—completely surrounded by a scramble of school supplies, staring at a lesson plan, and wondering where the summer went—please know you are in good company!

Being part of an Auxiliary family means understanding that "burdens" don't always look like giant emergencies; sometimes they look like the everyday exhaustion of juggling family schedules, work, and community life. We all experience seasons where the routine gets steep, and it is a deeply human thing to feel like we have to carry our stress in silence. But we were never meant to walk these busy paths alone. Extending a little extra patience, grace, and support to the parents, grandparents, and educators around us binds us closer together. Our loads are always lighter when shared, and no one in our community has to stand alone.

If you’re a veteran who is currently carrying a heavy load, or if you know a fellow veteran who is:

• Navigating a stressful transition from or at the hospital or dealing with a difficult medical concern

• Resting and trying to heal or recover at home

• Going through a tough, lonely week and just needs a prayer or a friendly voice to check in

Please, let us know. We want the privilege of sending a card of encouragement, checking on your well-being, and wrapping you in the genuine support of this Post.

How to share updates:

• Comment directly below this post

• Send me a private message on this platform

• Email us anytime at [email protected]

Your trust means everything to me, and all updates are always kept strictly confidential.

"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." — Benjamin Franklin

07/24/2026

As July comes to a close and we prepare to welcome August—along with a new feature for our Veteran Spotlight—we want to make sure you don't miss the chance to read about one of our own.

Before our next spotlighted veteran takes center stage, take a moment to learn about Bobby Toothaker, Vice Commander of VFW Post 5109. You can read his story now on the Chaplain's Corner.

A Soldier at Heart: The Journey of Bobby Toothaker
Some veterans can list the places they served. Others can tell you the jobs they held. Bobby Toothaker's story is about something deeper: the people he met, the lives he touched, and the lessons he carried with him long after the uniform came off.

Today, Bobby serves as Vice Commander of VFW Post 5109 in Lewisburg, Tennessee. He is a life member of multiple veteran’s organizations, a retired facilities coordinator, former park ranger, fisherman, traveler, and devoted family man. Yet when he talks about his military service, he rarely focuses on himself.

"I've often found myself in the right place at the right time for others," Bobby says. "And often found myself in the worst place at the worst time for myself." That simple observation may be the best summary of a military career that took him from isolated mountaintops in Germany to the battlefields of the Persian Gulf, and ultimately into a lifetime of service to fellow veterans.

07/23/2026

If you have any questions reach out to the VFW Auxiliary Department of Tennessee page.

NEW Deadline Alert!!! Contact Department of TN Youth Chairman Channa Cole if you have questions!

07/19/2026

Hey everyone,
There is an old and powerful phrase that gets thrown around a lot, but its true weight is found right here in our community: “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
At Bill Lowe Wheatley Post 5109, our answer to that question is always a resounding yes. Being our brother’s keeper isn't just a phrase—it is the foundation of our entire auxiliary family. It means that when the noise of the world gets loud, or when life gets quiet and isolating, we are actively looking out for the person standing next to us.
We all experience seasons where the road gets steep, and it is a deeply human thing to feel like we have to carry our struggles in silence. But we were never meant to walk these paths alone. Reaching out a hand to a fellow veteran or Auxiliary member doesn't just support them; it binds us closer together and reminds us that our burdens are always lighter when shared. We are a family, and that means making sure no one has to stand alone.
If you are currently carrying a heavy load, or if you know a veteran who is:
• Navigating a difficult medical challenge or staying in the hospital
• Resting and fighting to recover at home
• Going through a tough, lonely week and just needs a prayer or a friendly voice to check in
Please, let us know. We want the privilege of sending a card of encouragement, checking on your well-being, and wrapping you in the genuine support of this Post.
How to share updates:
• Comment directly below this post
• Send me a private message on this platform
• Email us anytime at [email protected]
Your trust means everything to me, and all updates are always kept strictly confidential.
"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." — Galatians 6:2