LAHARPE Its not an exaggeration to say had Willis Ross not been around, there would no longer be a Veterans of Foreign Wars post in LaHarpe.
Ross, a World War II veteran, remained active with the VFW for more than 69 years, up until his death in January at age 97, Post Commander Doug Northcutt noted.
Northcutt spoke at a rededication ceremony Saturday of the VFW post, which has been renamed the Willis J. Ross Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6324.
The ceremony coincided with the Third District VFW Convention, hosted by LaHarpe in the first time in the posts history.
More than 100 attended the event, coming from as far away as Arkansas City.
Willis served in the Army Air Force in England, France and Germany during World War II.
He joined the nascent LaHarpe VFW in July 1945, serving a variety of duties. He was quartermaster on four separate occasions, including from 2007 to 2018, and post chaplain at three other times.
He also assisted with color guard duties at funerals, distributed flags at Memorial Day ceremonies, sold poppies as VFW fundraisers, worked during weekly bingo games in LaHarpe and Moran and was a regular at Veterans Day parades.
We are proud to have had such an outstanding veteran as a leader in our post, Northcutt said.
Hosting the District 3 meeting was an honor as well, Northcutt said, reflecting on the posts growing membership in recent years.
The LaHarpe VFW meets the second Monday of each month at the Post Home along U.S. 54 in LaHarpe. Any veteran who has served during times of active combat is invited to join.
