The Jefferson Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #9599 recently had a change in leadership with its post commander, who has also started to make some changes.

James Wasson is a Lennox, Iowa native and he served in the military for 20 years, from 1983 to 2003. He says he moved to Jefferson and joined the VFW shortly after. Earlier this year he became the new post commander and has started making strides to be more visible in the community. From participating in Halloween activities in Jefferson and Grand Junction, being open every Saturday morning for breakfast from 6 to 9am with community members, to doing a new vendor fair later this month, Wasson wants to get the VFW members more active with the community.

And as we observe Veterans Day today and being a veteran, Wasson acknowledges why this holiday exists. “Veterans Day is honoring those veterans that have served and that are still here. Going up to them and thanking them for their service and telling them how much we appreciate what they’ve done. Because if it hadn’t been for the veterans, we wouldn’t be where we are as a nation today. They deserve everything they’ve gotten or anything they get. Majority of them, if you just shake their hand and tell them ‘Thank you,’ that’s all they want.”

To hear more VFW-related updates from Wasson, listen to today’s Community State Bank in Paton Let’s Talk Greene County program.