[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 20, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E782]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS (VFW) POST 805 
                         IN O'FALLON, ILLINOIS

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                             HON. MIKE BOST

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 20, 2021

  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Centennial 
Anniversary of SGT. Charles A. Fricke VFW Post 805 in O'Fallon, 
Illinois. On July 25, 1921, 25 members of the United States of America 
VFW established the Erwin L. Dann VFW Post 805 in Waterloo, which moved 
to East St. Louis and consolidated with two other posts in 1927. 
Sergeant Dann, a Waterloo native, was 22 years old when he was killed 
during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive on September 26, 1918. A generation 
later, a separate group of East St. Louis veterans returned home from 
World War II and established SGT. Charles A. Fricke VFW Post 8475 on 
October 15, 1946. Sergeant Charles A. ``Chub'' Fricke was one of 18 
employees of the city's Alcoa Aluminum Ore Factory who perished during 
the war. He was mortally injured by a mortar shell during the Battle of 
Anizo, passing away four days later at the age of 20. On April 29, 
1987, the two posts were consolidated into one, based in O'Fallon. In 
order to preserve the legacy of both posts, they maintained the number 
from the longer-tenured post, 805, and carried the name from the other, 
SGT. Charles A. Fricke. Today, SGT. Charles A Fricke VFW Post 805 has 
about 600 members and is the largest VFW Post in the 14th District of 
the Department of Illinois. Several times over the last 100 years, VFW 
Post 805 has been designated as an All-State and All-American VFW Post, 
including in 2021. In 2018-2019, Post 805 was selected as one of 61 
posts out of 6200 worldwide to be recognized as a National Outstanding 
Community Service Post. One of the most active and successful VFW Posts 
in Illinois, members work together to serve and support fellow 
veterans, their families, and the community. They have organized blood 
drives and maintain one of the most active and prestigious Honor Guard 
and Color Guard teams in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Madam 
Speaker, please join me in honoring the SGT. Charles A. Fricke VFW Post 
805 on their milestone Centennial Anniversary. On behalf of Southern 
Illinois, I thank them for their service, and happy anniversary.

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