By James Hanlon
Leader Staff Writer
U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) celebrated the 75th anniversary of Veterans of Foreign Wars North Oakland Post 334 in a speech before the U.S. House of Representatives Dec. 3.
“Since its founding,” Slotkin began, “VFW Post 334 has served the local community in Oxford. Whether it’s their shelf at the Oxford-Orion FISH Food Pantry, a float in the annual Christmas parade, a regular fish-fry, or maintaining the Orion Veteran’s Memorial, residents can count on the Post to show up and support the community.
“Post 334 is committed to making a difference in the lives of veterans by praying for those deployed, supporting their families at home, providing a forum to gather and share experiences of service and honoring those who are no longer with us. The VFW preserves the bonds that are forged through military service.
“For its work, Post 334 was recognized in 2019 as a Michigan All-State post for the third year in a row. Most recently, it was awarded the Diamond Jubilee Award given to VFW charters that have demonstrated exceptional service for three-quarters of a century.
“In closing, I want to thank Quartermaster Chuck Haskin, Senior Vice-commander Randy Stetson and Post Commander Jim Hubbard for their leadership and their service to the North Oakland community. The spirit of Post 334 is perhaps best said by Commander Hubbard: ‘We honor the dead by helping the living.’”
Slotkin arranged to have an American flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in their honor. The flag will be presented to the Post “to recognize their continued service to community and to country” at a later date.
Quartermaster Chuck Haskin said, “We were very surprised to learn of Representative Slotkin’s speech to Congress. We felt honored to receive such recognition for our anniversary and for what we do for our community.”
Slotkin hand-delivered and presented Hubbard a framed certificate of her speech, entered into the “Proceedings and Debates of the 116th Congress, Second Session.”
She concluded her remarks by saying, “I congratulate Post 334 on a successful 75 years and wish them the best in the 75 years to come.”