On March 16, Mt. Orab Mayor Joe Howser presented the Wilson Sroufe VFW Post 9772 with a proclamation recognizing its 75th anniversary.From the left, VFW Post 9772 Quartermaster Richard Dyer, Mt. Orab Mayor Joe Howser, and VFW Post 9772 Commander Dave Long.
The Mt. Orab VFW Post 9772 was chartered on the 28th day of March, 1948 with seventy members. The first meeting place was on the second floor of the Kibler Building on High St. in Mt. Orab.
The Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars was formed at the Mt. Orab Post on June 4, 1948.
The Memorial Day parade and remembrance ceremony was first held at the Mt. Orab cemetery in 1949 and the Post has not missed a year since.
On August 17th, 1952 the Post moved into their newly built Post Building on South Main Street. Over the years, many Boy and Girl Scouts and other youth groups met there. The community came out for the VFW fish fry whenever it was held.
Two T25, 90 MM Artillery Guns were brought to Mt. Orab from the Army Depot in Alabama in 1958 by the Post. One was placed in front of the Post home and the other displayed at the Mt. Orab cemetery.
The Mt. Orab VFW Post 9772 was renamed in 1990. It was renamed the Wilson Sroufe VFW Post in honor of Wilson Sroufe, the first Commander of the Post and a charter member.
Due to declining active members, as with many Posts, the Post was forced to close the Post home and sell the building in 2010. The Cannon was moved to the Green Township Park in Greenbush. The Post now meets at the Pike Township Community Center, located on State Route 774 outside of Mt. Orab.
Due to the same declining active members, the Ladies Auxiliary rescinded their Charter in 2014.
The Post had many annual traditions, such as the fish fry’s, Poppy campaigns, 4th of July unit at the Sardinia Parade, Veterans Day program, and the Christmas Eve program for local children and Voice of Democracy program.
Today, the Post is still active in the community. The Poppy Campaign allows the Post to collect donations that are used to assist local Veterans. The Post continues the Voice of Democracy and Patriots Pen program for High School and Middle School students. The Post sponsors a $500 scholarship for Western Brown Seniors. The Post hosts the Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony and carries the Colors in the Mt. Orab Christmas Parade. The main fund raiser for the Post is the Car Show that is held in September at the park. This year will be the tenth show. Several of our members also serve as members of the Brown County Veterans Service Commission and assist American Legion Post 180 with Funeral Details.
The Wilson Sroufe VFW Post 9772 is excited to have reached the milestone of 75 years!
On March 16, Mt. Orab Mayor Joe Howser presented the Wilson Sroufe VFW Post 9772 with a proclamation recognizing its 75th anniversary.
To help us reach the 100 year mark, we need your help. If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact Commander David Long at 937-217-4719 or Quartermaster Rich Dyer at 513-335-1898. We meet at the Pike Township Center on the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m.
