Happy 251st birthday, U.S. Navy
On October 13, 1775, the Continental Congress decided to purchase two armed ships to attack British supply ships and keep supplies from reaching British soldiers in the colonies. A second resolution passed the same day created a naval committee to oversee the purchase and to write regulations for managing the ships. Thus was born the Continental Navy, and October 13 remains the official birth date of the U.S. Navy.
The Continental brig Andrew Doria receives the first official salute to the American flag in a foreign port, St. Eustatius, Nov. 16, 1776. Painting by Phillips Melville. (Naval History and Heritage Command, NH 85510-KN, public domain)
The new Navy went on the offensive quickly. On February 17, 1776, Commodore Esek Hopkins, the “commander in chief of the fleet,” sailed from the Delaware with eight vessels. On March 3 he landed 300 sailors and marines on New Providence Island in the Bahamas, took Forts Nassau and Montagu, and captured some 73 cannons and mortars and a large quantity of munitions for the Continental Army.
After independence the Continental Navy’s ships were sold. In 1794, to protect American shipping from Algerine corsairs, Congress authorized six frigates. One of them, USS Constitution, launched October 21, 1797, is still in commission and homeported in Boston: the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat. On April 30, 1798, President John Adams signed the act establishing the Department of the Navy. To every Navy veteran of Post 8555: happy birthday, shipmate.
USS Constitution under sail in Boston, Aug. 19, 2012, the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat. (U.S. Navy photo by MCSN Michael Achterling, public domain)
Beirut: October 23, 1983
Forty-three years ago this month, American service members were in Lebanon as part of a peacekeeping operation during the Lebanese Civil War. On October 23, 1983, a suicide bomber detonated a truck bomb at a building housing the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines (Battalion Landing Team 1/8) of the 2nd Marine Division, killing 220 Marines, 18 sailors, and three soldiers: 241 Americans. Minutes later, a second suicide bomber struck the Drakkar building, killing 58 French paratroopers.
Smoke rises from the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, Oct. 23, 1983. (Official USMC photo, public domain)
It was the deadliest single-day death toll for the Marine Corps since the Battle of Iwo Jima. Each year the City of Jacksonville, N.C., home of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, holds an observance honoring those who served in Lebanon from 1958 to 1984 and in Grenada, and especially those killed in Beirut. This year October 23 falls on a Friday. Take a moment that day to remember the 241, and their families.
Chaplains, Marines, and families observe a moment of silence at a memorial service for those killed in the Beirut bombing. (DoD photo DM-SC-87-12363, Gunnery Sgt. R.D. Lucas, public domain)
Sources: All Hands Magazine (allhands.navy.mil), Navy Birthday timeline; U.S. Navy, “SECNAV Marks the 40th Anniversary of Beirut Bombings” (navy.mil, Oct. 23, 2023).
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Every fall, VFW Posts invite students to share what America means to them and honor the teachers who bring citizenship to life. Post 8555 has sent Floresville, Poth, and Stockdale ISDs the Scholar’s App entry links for this year’s Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen contests. Both contests share the 2026–2027 theme, “What a Veteran Taught Me About America,” and all entries must be submitted to Post 8555 by October 31, 2026.
Post 8555 members at a 2022 student recognition in the hall. (Post archive, 2022 Scholarship/VOD folder)
Voice of Democracy: grades 9–12
High school students create a three- to five-minute audio essay on the theme. Each entry includes the recorded audio essay, a typed copy of the essay, and the entry form. Scholarships and incentives are awarded at the local, district, state, and national levels. More than $2 million is awarded every year, and the national first-place winner receives a $35,000 college scholarship. Enter at https://bit.ly/3YuHILL.
Patriot’s Pen: grades 6–8
Middle school students write a 300- to 400-word essay in English on the same theme, with no color, graphics, or personal identifiers in the essay. The entry form is the cover sheet. Awards are given at the Post, District, state, and national levels. State winners share in more than $55,000 of national awards, national winners receive at least $500, and the national first-place winner receives $5,000. Enter at https://bit.ly/3Yz5Qgs. Patriot's Pen questions:
How students enter
Students in public, private, or parochial schools or home-study programs enter online through Post 8555 using Scholar’s App, with the links above or the QR codes below. If a school network blocks Scholar’s App, ask the school’s IT department to whitelist *.scholarsapp.com/*, or complete the entry at home on a personal device. Questions: Commander Johnathon Farrell,
Scan to enter online through Post 8555 on Scholar’s App
Voice of Democracy
Grades 9–12
bit.ly/3YuHILL
Patriot’s Pen
Grades 6–8
bit.ly/3Yz5Qgs
Entries due by October 31, 2026.
Blocked at school? Ask IT to whitelist *.scholarsapp.com/* or enter from home.
Questions:
Teacher of the Year: nominations due October 31
The VFW’s Smart/Maher National Citizenship Education Teacher Award honors classroom teachers who promote civic responsibility, flag etiquette, and patriotism. The VFW honors one teacher at each of three levels: elementary (K–5), middle school (6–8), and high school (9–12). All current certified or licensed K–12 teachers are eligible, except previous national winners. Anyone can nominate, including the teacher, a fellow teacher, a supervisor, or a family member. Each nomination needs the entry form, a résumé of at least one page, and no more than five pages of documentation in all. Nominations are due at Post 8555 by Saturday, October 31, and the Post’s candidates go to the District 20 turn-in on November 14. Each national winner receives $1,000 for professional development and $1,000 for their school. Rules and the form are at vfw.org/TeacheroftheYear. Questions: Commander Johnathon Farrell,
Veterans, you are the theme
This year’s theme asks students what a veteran taught them. If a grandchild or neighbor asks to interview you, say yes.
Sources: Post 8555 Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen flyers, Scholar’s App access sheet, and the Commander’s September 2026 letter to area ISDs; vfw.org Teacher of the Year page and Teacher Award rules; Post calendar.
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Comrades, Auxiliary members, and friends of Post 8555,
Commander Johnathon Farrell (front, beside the flag) at the Post 8555 officer installation, May 11, 2026. (Post archive)
This month’s newsletter looks a little different. Alongside Post news, you will find pages meant to be useful to every veteran who picks it up: our history, the bills in Congress that affect your benefits, and plain-language guides to the PACT Act, VA disability claims, and your money. Read them, then pass this newsletter to a veteran who needs it.
Our youth programs come first. The Post has sent Floresville, Poth, and Stockdale ISDs the Scholar’s App entry links for Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen, and entries are due October 31. This year’s theme is “What a Veteran Taught Me About America,” so if a student asks to interview you, say yes. We are also taking nominations for the VFW Teacher of the Year award through October 31. If you know a teacher who brings veterans into the classroom and teaches respect for the flag, nominate them.
October carries history for us. The U.S. Navy turns 251 on October 13; to every sailor in this Post, happy birthday. On October 23 we remember the 241 Marines, sailors, and soldiers killed in the Beirut barracks bombing in 1983.
In Washington, the Major Richard Star Act now has enough signatures on a discharge petition to force a House vote, and the bill to apply next year’s COLA to VA compensation is moving through Congress. The legislative update explains both. If you have not checked whether the PACT Act covers you, or you have a claim you keep putting off, read the benefits pages. VFW service officers help free of charge, so never pay a claim shark for what the VFW does for free.
To our younger veterans: take a look at Combat Tested Gaming, the VFW’s gaming community. That dog tag on our cover is its emblem, and its flyer is on the last page of this issue. If you game, join the CTG Discord at discord.gg/combattestedgaming.
Food distribution continues the first Wednesday of every month at 8:00 AM: October 7 and November 4. Volunteers are always welcome. Our hall is also available for your family events: the Large Hall is $1,200, the Small Hall $350, and the BBQ pit $50, with refundable deposits.
Veterans Day is Wednesday, November 11. Check the calendar pages for everything on the schedule, and see the event flyers and the District 20 events flyer at the back of this issue.
Thank you for all you do. Read this issue, share it, and bring a veteran with you the next time you come to the Post.
In comradeship and service,
Johnathon Farrell
Commander
VFW Post 8555 Wilson County Memorial Post
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Join us Saturday, September 19, 2026, at VFW Post 4815, 3111 Commercial Ave., San Antonio, TX 78221. Doors open at 9:30 AM and training begins at 10:00 AM.
Training topics:
- Articles of Incorporation
- VFW Post Grants
- Community Service Reporting
- Membership & Recruiting
- Trustee Audits
- All-American / All-State
- MAP Program Orientation (District Surgeon)
- Post Leadership & Meetings
Lunch provided — $10 donation (burger & fries).
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VFW Post 8555 is hosting a Fried Chicken Dinner on Sunday, October 4, 2026.
Serving is from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM at the Post home, 715 Houston Street, Poth, Texas. Tickets are $15. All are welcome.
Come out, enjoy a meal, and support the Post. Call (830) 484-7317 for more information.
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