CAV
CHRISTIAN AMERICAN VETERANS

"A man good enough to shed his blood for his country is good enough to receive a square deal afterwards..." Theodore Roosevelt 

 

 

Christian American Veterans

  The state of Missouri honors our WWII veterans through the WWII Veterans Recognition Program. It has been a great   honor and privilege of mine to host the presentation ceremonies for our area.

    Jim Claypole is pictured here in his WWII Army uniform along with SSG Terry W. Cashatt just after a presentation ceremony on Veterans Day 2002.

 

Memorial Day

I also organize the Brookfield area's largest Memorial Day service. For the past two years the men from the 7th & 30th Missouri Volunteer Infantry (consolidated) have fired the 21 gun salute at the close of our services. They have participated in 3 of our services and have done a spectacular job. You can learn more about them by going to our links page and clicking on Missouri Irish Brigade.

 

 

On Veteran's Day, 11 November 2003, I helped to organize a service at Life Care Center in Brookfield. We had a very good turn out as we presented several residents of Life Care with the Missouri WWII Recognition Medal. I am addressing the crowd in the above photo while retired Navy Chaplain and local Pastor Mike White sits to my left.

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CHRISTIAN AMERICAN VETERANS MEETINGS

     I am began the Christian American Veterans (CAV) in September 2000 as a way to serve God and our veterans. Over the years the CAV has gone through it's share of growing pains but has never lost sight of it's primary focus.

     Our veterans our honored in various ceremonies and meetings throughout the year. In each of these services time is given to the One who governs us all and to spread His Word.

We held our February CAV meeting at the Brookfield Life Care Center. Here I am presenting Kelli Hengstenberg with a plaque in recognition of her support of our local veterans. Kelli  helped me organize our Veterans Day service on 11 November 2003. Through her efforts we were able to present several residents of the Life Care Center with the Missouri WWII Veterans Recognition Medals. She really has a heart for our Veterans!

 

I also spoke to the Brookfield 4th & 5th Grade students about Veterans and Veterans Day. In this photo my daughter Bethany is helping me to demonstrate some equipment.

Once again we were honoring our local veterans at the Brookfield Life Care Center. This year we presented 4 Missouri Korean Conflict Recognition Medals. Here Kelli and I present a medal to resident Charles McDaniel. Kelli has been the driving force in recognizing and honoring these all but forgotten veterans!

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I also made my annual trip to Bethany's class. Although she is now in the 5th grade this gear isn't getting any lighter for her! We are fortunate here in Brookfield to have teachers who want their students to know of the sacrifices made by our nation's veterans. They also invite me to give a flag presentation each year as well. My hats off to these great educators! I feel very good about my children being taught in this public school!

Memorial Day Activities

  For the past several years, we have placed the flags at our local cemeteries. Last year we placed over 800 flags. This year we will place close to 900 flags. This is the most labor intensive yet one of the most rewarding part of our ministry. Here my Father, Ron Cashatt places a flag at the grave of my Grandfather Homer A. Leaton who was a WWII veteran of the US Navy.

  Here is a photo of Lauraine Garten and Logan Lisby placing flags at St. Michaels Cemetery in Brookfield, Missouri. Our small group of dedicated volunteers were able to place 900 flags at the 4 local cemeteries.