VFW Post 1433 Welcomes Home ‘Warrior Citizens’

VFW Post 1433 Commander Dan Muller’s first experience with VFW’s Adopt-a-Unit program was more than a success. The attendance at the “Welcome Home” event the Post threw for the HHC 492nd Civil Affairs Battalion totaled more than 413 veterans and family members. The 63 members of the unit returned from Afghanistan, and were greeted with barbecue and appreciative smiles, as they received awards and listened to speakers, including State Representative Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz. “This ceremony gave all our Post members great pride seeing the awards given out and talking to the returning vets. Personally, I was really proud of the Post. It gave me chills when the speakers spoke to the returning vets and their families,” said Muller. It all started when a member of the 492nd who was familiar with the VFW, contacted VFW’s Military Assistance Program (MAP) about adopting his unit. Post 1433 from the VFW Department of Arizona was up for the honorable challenge. The Post and its Ladies Auxiliary, as well as the community, contributed substantially in order for the “Welcome Home Warrior Citizen” to go off without a hitch. Post 1433′s service officer attended the event to answer any questions, and the Post senior vice commander enrolled 12 new members. Without the $900 VFW MAP grant, Muller says an event like this would have been impossible to pull off. Muller said, “If it was not for the MAP program, we would have never been able to provide this type of welcome to the vets. Again, thank you.”