[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 40 (Monday, March 7, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E217]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE CENTENNIAL OF THE ROBERT R. TUCK VETERANS OF FOREIGN 
                             WARS POST 912

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                            HON. BRIAN BABIN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 7, 2022

  Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the centennial of 
the Robert R. Tuck Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 912 in Baytown, 
Texas.
  VFW Post 912 was first organized on March 9, 1922, by Fred E. 
Simpson, John L. Bartlett, and Grover K. Edge. This Post, the second 
oldest VFW post in Texas, was named in honor of the first Baytown 
citizen killed in action during World War I, Robert R. Tuck. Their 
initial meetings were held in tents and buildings owned by the then-
Humble Oil and Refining Company. The oil industry was flourishing 
across the region, and many veterans moved there to work following 
World War I. The Post has had many outstanding commanders over the 
years. One such individual was George L. Kenne, a member who served as 
the Post Commander in 1937. He was the second most decorated soldier in 
World War I.
  In July of 1941, almost two decades after being organized, the Post 
finally established its first permanent location. They began hosting 
fundraisers consisting of dances and raffles with fifty-cent admission 
per civilian and a quarter per service member. This tradition would 
continue to the present day.
  The Post moved one more time before settling into its current 
location in 1977. After receiving significant flood damage from 
Hurricane Harvey in 2017, the Post used reserve funds and fundraiser 
revenue to resume operations within just six months.
  Over the last century, the locations and members of VFW Post 912 have 
changed, but their mission to serve the needs of veterans and their 
families has not. They have hosted fundraisers and been a part of many 
important programs throughout the years, such as the VFW Buddy Poppy 
program, which aids disabled and disadvantaged veterans. The red poppy 
flowers assembled within the program symbolize the bloodshed in World 
War I and are given out before Memorial Day each year.
  The Post also hosts ``turkey shoot'' fundraisers in which its members 
and community supporters shoot at targets to win frozen turkeys, hams, 
or bacon.
  VFW Post 912 has been a steadfast servant of the Baytown community. 
Along with a local Boy Scout troop, Post members would raise the 
American flag at local football games before the Junior ROTC took over 
the duty in 1979. Today, members ensure flags are placed on the graves 
of local veterans for Memorial Day. Over the decades, the Post has 
sponsored a baseball team, a local Boy Scout Troop, a beauty pageant, a 
marble tournament, a Voice of Democracy contest, a writing contest for 
high school students, and a bowling team. They have also given out 
numerous scholarships to local high school students and entertained 
patients at Houston's Michael E. DeBakey Veteran Affairs Medical 
Center.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate the members of the Robert 
R. Tuck, VFW Post 912 on their centennial and thank them for their 
unwavering service to their nation and community. May God continue to 
bless our veterans and Post 912 for many years to come.

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