Vacaville VFW POST 7244

Happy Independence Day!

It is with great sadness that we heard today of the passing of Past Commander Bob Vigil’s wife. They moved to Florida 4-5 years ago. Please join us in praying for him through this difficult time.

SBA Announces First Online Veteran-Owned Small Business Entrepreneurial Training Program WASHINGTON The U.S. Small Business Administration today announced the first online Veteran Entrepreneurial Training and Resource Network Streetwise MBA program to provide virtual training for veteran small business owners and their immediate families beginning in August 2020. Thanks to the funding of $100,000 from President Donald Trump’s donated salary, this will be the second cohort ...of the Veteran Owned Small Business Growth Training Pilot Program, following the successful completion of the first cohort in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in March 2020. The award-winning VETRN Streetwise MBA program, powered by Interise, was created exclusively for veterans to provide them with the skills, resources, mentoring, and networking necessary to grow their own small business. The program is free and open to veterans and family members of established small businesses in all New England States, New York, and New Jersey. To date, 57 VETRN participants have graduated from the program. We’re pleased to have the opportunity to continue offering such an impactful program to our veteran small business owners and their families throughout the Northeast, said Larry Stubblefield, Associate Administrator for SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development. And now, more than ever, the SBA is dedicated to finding new and innovative ways to provide virtual support for our veteran-owned small businesses during these trying and unprecedented times. The demand for the VETRN program has increased, and the upcoming training will be held virtually. The online program content is designed to help veteran entrepreneurs build operational capacity, increase revenues, manage cash flow, and create sustainable jobs. Addressing the Covid-19 economic impact, VETRN has added classes on crisis management, and training on how to work with lending institutions and other stakeholders when facing financial difficulties. The VETRN program is open to veteran-owned businesses (or be a veteran immediate family member), located in New England, New York or New Jersey, have been in operation at least one year, and generate at least $75,000 in annual revenues. Exceptions may be considered on a case by case basis. To learn more about the VETRN Streetwise MBA online program, see testimonials and videos, or to apply, visit www.vetrn.org. Applications may be completed on the VETRN website or by sending an email to either [email protected] or [email protected]. For more information about other SBA programs and resources for veterans, visit www.sba.gov/veterans.

One of the hardest things that happens at our Post is to see one of our most active and engaged members move away. Marian Collins and her husband are moving out of the state for a new job opportunity. We honored Marian last night with a social gathering and a special presentation of this declaration of all that she has done for the post and our community. Marian was our post adjutant for the last 4 years and recently retired from serving as the Vanden JROTC Senior Instructor.... She will be greatly missed! At the same gathering I was presented with my past commander hat from our incoming commander Al Guerra. I had the pleasure and honor of serving as commander for the last three years. We could not have this amazing post without all our dedicated members and the support of our community. Thank you Marty and Sandy Welch for hosting a great party! Mike Little See more

As we begin another week following Memorial Day, we would like to thank all those volunteers that came out to help us with flags! A special thanks to Jake Germeraed, Marty Martinez, Marty Welch, and Al Guerra for leading us. Many organizations came out to help with flag placement and pickup. We had members from the American Legion and it’s auxiliary, and Boy Scouts who came on their own with their families. We also had some outgoing Senior JROTC students who wouldn’t let thei...r school closure stop them from supporting our efforts. Wives, husbands, and children all came out to remember those who served our county and now lay to rest in the Vacaville Elmira Cemetery. It’s a cause that the VFW has been leading for years. We are proud to do this and always appreciate all the support we get from our community and the other Veterans organizations. We don’t do it for ourselves, we do it for their memory! See more

Gone but not forgotten!

Hello! As you know, most small businesses have been closed during these shelter at home times! I want to tell you about Josh and his company Outer limits VR. They have been a supporter of all our fundraisers and we can show them support now. Please check out their website and if you have ever thought of trying Virtual Reality, now is your chance to do it in your home. Our family has enjoyed going to their storefront many times before and will be renting a headset this week. Thank you Mike Little

Check out these new wheels! Richard is a life member of our post and is an Army 82nd Airborne disabled Vietnam Veteran. He is barely ambulatory (needs the assistance of a walker) and has filed an application for permanent residence at the Yountville Veterans Home. He recently requested and just received a new walker from VFW Post 7244 to allow him to get around. He shares his gratitude to the Post for this much needed assistance.... Marty Welch Quartermaster! See more

It is with great sadness that we will be cancelling our Freedom Isn’t Free charity poker tournament this year. It is always one of our favorite events and we get so much support from our community. During these uncertain times, we must still support those who have supported veterans from our community. If this blows over quicker than we expected, watch for our smaller tournament to come. Our Past sponsors should be recognized and if their doors are still open, please suppor...t them any way you can. Our local law enforcement and city staff are doing so much as well. In no particular order. Thank you to: Ron Rowlett Vacaville Mayor Council Member Nolan Sullivan Recology Vacaville Solano-Dixon Sheriff Tom Ferrara Digital Dynamite Productions Daedalus Creative Design + Marketing CFI - California Firearm Insurance Bryan-Braker Funeral Home Primo’s Barbershop Vacaville Texas Roadhouse - Fairfield, CA I-80 Forklift Inc. Heretic Brewing Company Realty ONE Group FOX Raymond Beaty Vacaville City Council Dee Conroy Vacaville VFW Poker Tournament Tim Green and Greenlight poker tournaments. We couldn’t do all that we do for our veteran community without these individuals and companies. Thank you. Mike Little Commander VFW Post 7244

Veterans Affairs takes steps to protect veterans from COVID-19 outbreak. Stay healthy out there! https://www.kron4.com//veterans-affairs-takes-steps-to-pr/

Recently the post approved a check to support an organization that takes Veterans on Recreational Therapy through hunting and fishing. Here is post member Joe Reekers handing it over. We are so thankful for our community who supports our post and allows us to help more Veterans.

Edited: within minutes of this post, we got two separate offers for chairs. Thank you all for your generosity. We need your help!! I got a call from a lady who said her neighbor is a 94 year old Veteran and refuses to get any handouts. But seems he is in need of a wheel chair. Just a super basic one with no electronics. Does anyone have one that they can part with? Please let me know! ... Thank you. Mike Little Post Commander See more

Thank you to everyone who came out to support! Another great event in the books!

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to, and including my life." That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it. --Author Unknown Wreaths Across America Project is happening Saturday, December 14, 2019 at 9am. Volunteer opportunities are listed. ... https://www.freewebs.com/wreathproject/