[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 18363-18364]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF VFW PVT. HENRY OSTENDORF POST 1300

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 10, 2007

  Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to 
join me in honoring the 75th anniversary of the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars Pvt. Henry Ostendorf Post 1300 in Granite City, IL.
  In 1932, our Nation's veterans faced the same problems as the rest of 
their fellow citizens as the Nation was in the grips of the Great 
Depression. Many veterans, due to injuries received while on active 
duty, were at a greater disadvantage as medical bills continued and 
their ability to find work was compromised.
  On May 24, 1932, VFW Post 1300 was instituted by Post 805 in East St. 
Louis to serve the veterans of Granite City. There were 58 charter 
members of the initial organization and 21 charter members of the 
Auxiliary that was formed on August 12 of the same year. Post 1300 was 
named in honor of Pvt. Henry Ostendorf, the first service member from 
Madison County, IL, to be killed in action during World War I.
  The first Commander of Post 1300 was Pat Doyle. The first post colors 
were handmade

[[Page 18364]]

and are still on display in the post's flag case today. The first 
Auxiliary President was Shirley Stanfill.
  From its inception, Post 1300 was active in the community as well as 
in advocating for the benefit of veterans. Some early civic activities 
included an Independence Day fireworks extravaganza, begun in 1938, 
that thrilled the citizens of Granite City and the surrounding 
communities. During World War II, Post 1300 began sending cards and 
gift boxes to area service members who were on active duty.
  As with many new organizations, Post 1300's first meeting was held in 
a private residence, the home of Larkin Conaway. The meetings rotated 
among the homes of members before moving to the Odd Fellows Hall in 
Granite City. After considerable fund-raising by the post and the 
auxiliary, the Wendel Bakery building was purchased and renovated for a 
post home and the first meeting was held there in April 1946. This 
served until the new post home was first occupied on May 1, 2006.
  Although much has changed since 1932, Post 1300 has continued in its 
service to veterans and to its community. From raising money for 
veterans, visiting those sick and injured in the hospital and donating 
flags to area schools to promote patriotism, Post 1300 has been true to 
the mission of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the 
members of VFW Pvt. Henry Ostendorf Post 1300 both past and present on 
75 years of serving veterans and the people of the Granite City, IL, 
area.

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