Our vision
Who are the Veterans of Foreign Wars?
Ole Beck VFW Post 209
An organization of American veterans who have taken part in a foreign military campaign or expedition of the United States.
Ole Beck VFW Post 209 was chartered in 1921. It was established to provide a means for Veterans to help their fellow Veterans in their time of need. We are a non-profit organization that is here to better the community and veterans within the community.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a nonprofit veterans service organization comprised of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, guard and reserve forces.
We have many programs and services that work to support veterans, service members and their families, as well as community outreach in Missoula. Please check out our latest fact sheet or spend some time browsing our site to learn why we feel out cause is so important.
Who is Ole Beck?
History of The Post
The Post was named after Private Ole Beck. He was 28 years old when he died. He deployed from his home in Polson in early December 1917. He served with the Thirteenth Company, Second Motor Mechanics, Signal Corps from Camp Merrit, New Jersey. Ole was born in Sweden and had made his home in Missoula and the vicinity for 18 years. He left with his Company on the 1st of March, he died in France on the 26th of March 1918 after a short illness with Diphtheria. His funeral service was conducted on the 24th of April at the Swedish Lutheran Church in Missoula. The Service was conducted by the Rev. T.V. Anderson and was attended by the Commanding Officer of Fort Missoula. There was a special street car service set aside for those who wanted to attend the Service. Private Beck was the Brother of Mrs. Caroline Driscoll who resided in Missoula at the time.
Honor Guard
The Post Honor Guard provides a Firing Party at all funeral honor ceremonies. The ceremony includes a 3 volley rifle salute, playing of Taps and the presentation of 3 expended rounds signifying the flag has been retired. Additionally, an Honor Guard representing the veteran's branch of service presents a folded flag to the veteran's family.
The Post Honor Guard performs over 100 ceremonies a year.
VFW Post Officers
Commander
Chris Kaneff
First Vice
Tom Curran
Junior Vice
Josh Lovejoy
Quartermaster
Jon Low
Adjutant
Judge Advocate
Service Officer
Chaplain
Robert Ellis
Trustees
3 Year Anton Johnson
2 Year George Tayer
1 Year Elmer Moore
Join VFW Post 209 Today!
MOC Hellgate Nits Pup Tent 25
The Military Order of the Cooties is the Honor Degree from the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The Cooties originated around the time of the Spanish American War and the Imperial order of the Dragon. After WWI the “Cooties” have to be members in good standing of the VFW who have displayed a willingness to work hard for the parent organization. They have an offbeat humor and apply that to their problem solving and the services that they deliver.
The MOC have taken on several special projects since their founding:
Visits to hospitalized veterans and residents and entertain them to "Keep
'em Smiling in Beds of White"Support of the VFW National Home
Support to the Columbia Falls Veterans Home and the VA Hospital at Fort Harrison
Reflective of the sense of humor of this service organization, the Cooties take their name from the lice that were found in many of the battle encampments during world war 1. Today there are 37,000 cooties organized into 1,000 units which they call ” Pup Tents”.
The official brightly-colored uniform of the VFW’s Military Order of the Cootie is comprised red pants with a white stripe running down each side, ruffled white shirt, laced trimmed red vest emblazoned on the back with a gold-outlined, bug-like creature with flashing light bulb eyes; red over seas style hat worn side ways so that the tassels dangle beside the wearer’s ears.