By Debbie Adams
Vinton Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4522 celebrated their 80th anniversary and the dedication
of their meeting hall at a dinner on Dec. 12. Post Commander and Marine veteran Scott Fannin
welcomed guests and noted that the post was founded on Dec. 12, 1945. Subsequently, the post
has upheld the VFW’s mission “to foster camaraderie among those who served in overseas
conflicts, to serve veterans and the community, and to advocate on their behalf.”
The anniversary celebration honored those who have fulfilled “our nation’s moral obligation to
those who have risked their lives for our freedom” and “serves as a testament to the enduring
spirit of service that defines our post.”
They also dedicated their meeting hall to the late Bill Scott, who served in the U.S. Navy for 19
years. Pictured left to right are veteran Ed Rourke, Post Chaplain Raymond Debose, Post
Commander Scott Fannin, Vinton Mayor Brad Grose, Vinton Police Chief Fabricio Drumond,
and Post Quartermaster Jeff Jenkins. (photos by Debbie Adams)
Fannin introduced Vinton Mayor Brad Grose, a U.S. Army veteran who served South Korean
during the Vietnam era. Mayor Grose thanked members of Post 4522 for being “pillars of the
community and for their service to our country.”
Fannin then introduced the guest speaker of the evening, Vinton Police Chief Fabricio Drumond.
The chief was born in Brazil, then moved with his family to Massachusetts in 1989. In 2002 he
enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served as a sergeant and Assaultman Team
Leader with the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines. He was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal with
Combat “V” for heroism.
Drumond began his law enforcement career with Roanoke City and then joined the Vinton Police
Dept. in 2009. He was appointed chief in 2020.
“Thank you for welcoming me here tonight on behalf of the Town of Vinton to celebrate a
milestone that matters,” Drumond said. “It is the 80th anniversary of this VFW Post. It’s not just a
birthday. It is a testimony. It is proof that for eight decades, ordinary Americans have chosen to
live extraordinary values.
“I want to honor the combat veterans in this room. You raised your right hand and made a
promise. You served when it was time for Americans to step up to the plate. In times of war, but
most certainly, in times of tension and uncertainty. All of you served in a world that demanded courage, sacrifice, and character. And because you stepped forward, generations after you have
been free to worship, to work, to raise families, and to live with hope.
“From inception to today, America has such a unique story. A story from humble beginnings that
is deep-rooted in faith and bold dreams. Founded on an idea, a set of beliefs set forth by our
Creator. Inscribed in our nation’s most treasured documents is a recipe for freedom, prosperity,
and the opportunity to dream all under the trust of our Almighty Creator.
“Behind those documents is a group of Americans who have stood up to defend those very
ideals.
“Our American way of life comes with a heavy price and, as President Ronald Reagan stated in
his radio address to the nation in 1983, ‘Veterans know better than anyone else the price of
freedom, for they’ve suffered the scars of war. Each time our nation is called upon, the best has
come forward and defended our nation. From the past to modern day, those veterans were
everyday Americans. They are our farmers, our teachers, our service industry workforce, our
laborers, our truck drivers, and providers from every walk of life, driven by a deep love for their
land and an unwavering commitment to the ideals of freedom.’
“Since the beginning of our nation, Americans have turned their eyes upward in moments of fear
and moments of victory. We have prayed in foxholes and on ships at sea. We have prayed in
hospitals, on airfields, and in quiet living rooms while waiting for loved ones to come home. We
have asked God for protection, for courage, for wisdom, and for peace.
“Faith is not a slogan. Faith is what steadies the heart when the cost is real.
“For eight decades, this post has been a place where veterans could continue to find a purpose. A
place where service did not end, it simply took a new form. A place where patriotism is not just
talked about, it is lived. This is what I admire about the VFW. The VFW does not just remember
history. It carries the responsibility to keep American veterans moving forward.
“It carries the responsibility to honor the fallen, not only with words, but with the way we live. It
carries the responsibility to care for the living, especially those still fighting battles the public
does not always understand. It carries the responsibility to remind the next generation that
freedom is not automatic. It is protected by people.
“Tonight, we celebrate eight decades of service to this community. I want to say clearly: we need
you.
“We need your example in a world that sometimes forgets what matters. We need your steady
leadership in a time when it is easy to criticize and hard to commit. We need your moral courage.
“Because being patriotic is not only about waving a flag. It is also about living with gratitude. It
is about honoring the Constitution and, also, honoring the responsibility that comes with it. It is
about standing up for what is right, even when it is unpopular. It is about loving your neighbor,
serving your community, and leaving things better than you found them.
“We also need something else. This country needs unity.
“Not the kind of unity that ignores differences, but the kind of unity that remembers what we
share. We share the belief that people have God-given dignity. We share the belief that his nation
is worth defending. We share the belief that liberty is precious, and that the blessings of America
should never be taken for granted. As a collective group, and inscribed in our nation’s name, we
are all UNITED. We love our land; we gather and exhibit national pride, and we believe that
through God’s grace, the American way of life will always prevail, and as Americans, as beacons
that exemplify a free world, we do not apologize for our existence or how we choose to defend it.
“Our American flag is a global opportunity of hope. That symbol represents a place where
people like my own family, can go to build a better life; it is an opportunity many do not have, an
opportunity to succeed. A promise to be given a fair shot at this beautiful gift called life. Without
American influences, a nation that emboldens free thinkers and is a beacon of what a ‘free
people’ is, our world would be in much worse shape.
“Tonight, let this anniversary be more than a celebration. Let it be a recommitment.
“A recommitment to take care of our veterans. A recommitment to pray for our military, our first
responders, our leaders, and our communities. A recommitment to teach our children what the
flag stands for, and what it costs.
“Because if we lose our gratitude, we lose our compass.
“To the veterans here, thank you for your courage. You are modern day trailblazers who left your
footprints on foreign soil in defense of freedom. That service always comes with a price, and a
grateful nation must never forget it.
“To the members of this post, past and present, thank you for building something that has lasted
80 years and will continue to bless others for generations.
“And above all, thank you to God, whose hand of mercy has been over this nation, whose
strength has carried out service members through the hardest moments, and whose light still
guides us forward.”
During the anniversary celebration, the late Bill Scott, who served in the United States Navy for
19 years and as Quartermaster of the Vinton VFW, was honored by having the meeting hall
named after him in recognition of “a friend, mentor, serviceman, caretaker, and man of God.”
Scott passed away in September 2024.
meeting hall for veteran William “Bill” Scott.
A plaque was unveiled on the wall of the VFW, officially naming the hall in Scott’s honor.
Another plaque was presented to his wife Angie by Keith Denson, Navy veteran and director of
Snyder Nursing Home, memorializing Scott’s “outstanding service rendered to God, country,
and VFW Post 4522.” Denson spoke of the many years he had worked with Scott at the Virginia
Veterans Care Center and at Snyder.
VFW Post 4522 Service Officer and Army veteran Eric Horne thanked the many generous
donors— corporate, business, governmental, and individual— who have contributed to the
mission of the VFW Post and its projects over the years and presented plaques to those in
attendance: the Vinton Moose Lodge, Snyder Nursing Home, the Town of Vinton, Dominion Risk Insurance Advisers, Roanoke Rental Homes LLC, and Studio 23 Hair Designers. Other
fundraisers include two golf tournaments each year.
According to Horne, Post 4522 is a strictly Christian organization— a service organization, not a
social organization. Their membership is made up of veterans who have completed combat tours;
The post was initially established mainly by military personnel returning from World War II.
When the VFW post was first “mustered” in Vinton in 1945, there were about 100 charter
members. The image of a VFW veteran as a World War II era soldier or sailor is no longer
accurate. There are some from Korean and Vietnam conflicts; but currently, more of the
membership is made up of veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The VFW primarily works to connect veterans with governmental agencies and non-profit
organizations at the local, state, and national level regarding veteran benefits assistance, services
for veterans with disabilities, and information about medical care, insurance, jobs, housing, and
education benefits. The national VFW organization was founded in 1899 after the Spanish
American War, when soldiers returning home had no guarantee of medical care, no pensions,
and many were left to fend for themselves after their sacrifice.
Through most of its history, the Vinton post has been very active, with a goal of supporting
combat veterans, making sure they get the help they need related to their military service—
medical, physical, psychological, spiritual, and including financial and estate planning. Many
veterans are not aware of the benefits available to them— “they don’t know what’s out there.”
The VFW is not directly connected to the Veterans Administration; Horne works mainly in
partnership with the Virginia Veterans Benefits Office to advocate for veterans and guide
them— at no charge.
The COVID years and the aging of veterans led to a drop in membership in Post 4522. Now the
membership has increased to approximately 80.
The current leadership has worked hard to restart the post, “basically from ashes,” including
renovations to the building and making it available to other service groups, as well as continuing
their own projects. Locally they provide scholarships for area students. Nationally they serve as
advocates for veterans’ interests with Congress; they have fought for compensation for vets
exposed to Agent Orange; they worked to pass the GI Bill for the 21 st Century; they have helped
fund memorials for Vietnam, the Korean War, World War II, and Women in Military Service.
In addition to Fannin and Horne, the VFW Post 4522 leadership includes Quartermaster and
Army veteran Jeff Jenkins, Senior Vice Commander and Marine Corps veteran Kent Daniel,
Junior Vice Commander Steve Flint who served in the Marines, Chaplain Raymond Debose who
served in the Army in Korea, trustees Joe Fridley (Marines), Wayne Miesen (Coast Guard), and
James Thurman (Army). Chris Dillon (Army) is the Sgt. of Arms and Judge Advocate.
Fannin closed the anniversary celebration saying, “We look back with profound gratitude on
eight decades of service, sacrifice, and community. We remember the bravery and dedication of
the Greatest Generation and all those who followed in their footsteps, from World War II to present day conflicts, whose courage secured the freedoms we cherish today. Our post was
founded on principals of camaraderie, patriotism, and support for our fellow veterans and their
families. For 80 years we have upheld this sacred mission through scholarships, community
programs, and steadfast support of the community. The legacy we celebrate tonight is not just a
reflection of our past, but a call to action for our future. It is a reminder that freedom has a price
and that our work to support those who have borne the battle is never done. God bless our
veterans; God bless our community; and God bless the United States of America.”
Vinton VFW Post 4522 meets the second Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at the VFW Hall
located at 117 East Lee Avenue in Vinton.
