National VFW commander visits Post 1503

By: Julia LeDoux | Inside NoVA
Published: September 28, 2009

Thomas J. Tradewell, the National Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, visited VFW Post 1503 in Dale City on Monday.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity for us to be able to thank him for his service,” said Post 1503 Commander Mike Lowe. “It takes years and years of service to our veterans and their families to be recognized at the national level and be elected to his position.“
Tradewell was elected national commander on Aug. 20 at the VFW’s 110th annual National Convention in Phoenix, AZ. Lowe and four other members of Post 1503 were among the delegates at the convention and were on the floor when Tradewell was elected.
“So, a month later for him to be at our post is tremendous,” Lowe said.
With 2,013 combat veterans as members, Post 1503 is the largest VFW post in Virginia and is the second largest in the world. Tradewell’s visit was part of a three-day visit across Virginia that comes on the heels of his recent trip to China. While there Tradewell met with Chinese government officials from four different ministeries and the U.S. Ambassador.
“The Chinese believe once a person is dead and buried that the body should not be disturbed,” said Tradewell. “So for the VFW to come over to their country and say ‘we would like to bring our war dead home so their families have closure,’ it seems a little unreasonable to them.”
But, Chinese officials said they would turn over archives that discuss World War II and some of the American service members who were lost in or near China.
“We are concerned about veterans that were lost in North Korea and Vietnam and they may have information about them,” continued Tradewell.
Chinese officials told Tradewell if he and his group had more time in the country they would have been welcomed to examine the archives during their trip. The group plans a return visit next year.
Noting that the VFW has offices in both Washington, D.C. and Kansas City, Tradewell stressed that the organization’s strength lies with local posts like 1503.
“The truth is the strength of the VFW comes from posts that are anchored in their communities, doing good things in their
community,” he said. “The best thing you can see is the success stories and how the community is being affected by the good will and good things that the VFW does in the community.“

National VFW commander visits Post 1503

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