VFW on the front lines domestically

Our veterans of foreign wars are on the front lines here on the home front, especially here in South Mississippi at the Mark Seymour VFW Post 5699 in Ocean Springs.

- our veterans of foreign wars ar- on the front lines here on the- homefront, especially here in - south mississippi, at the - mark seymour vfw post 5699 in - ocean springs.- news 25's toni miles introduces- us to the post's new commander- and a behind-the-scenes look at- the group's far-reaching- plans and projects.

- quick!!

- - a lot's changed since this ocea- springs vfw opened its doors in- 1946, but the mission remains - the same-honoring our veterans- and the memory of those - who have since passed, includin- mark seymour, the namesake of - vfw post 5699...a cause close t- the heart of the post's new - commander, lela bremen, who - wound up here in south- msisissippi - three years ago.- lela bremen, post commander,- mark seymour vfw post 5699: "on my way- here, i had a family member pas- away, and i had some trouble.

I- reached out - to this post, and not knowing - anything about me, they stepped- up and- helped me get here.

I actually- met with an auxiliary member.

- she took care of me.

I- knew this was a home i wanted t- be a part of.

They knew nothing- about me except that i- was a veteran and they took car- of me.

This is definitely a - home, i tell other- veterans, come see us.

Come be - part of us.

We are here to- support one another."

"i'm thankful for the vfw for helping me out as well."

This vfw post is also a second- home to lucia barberena who's - learned much from her patriotic- friends here who were - on hand as the 17 year old- donated this hand-made- receptacle to retire old and- tattered flags.

- lucia barberena, local- volunteer: "one of the reasons i chose a flag drop off box is- out of love and respect for the- country, i decided it would be- a great way - to respect the flag and also- respect those who have served - us."

<splice> " contacted ms. lela.

<splice> sh- loved the idea, so we decided t- work- together on the box."

Bremen is the first female- commander of vfw post 5699, - but what matters most here is - comraderie and- everyone's ties to the service - past and present.

- lela bremen, post commander,- mark seymour vfw post 5699: "on of the- things about the vfw is we are - voice.

We are the voice for our- fellow veterans.

We - are in d.c.

Speaking for our- fellow vetarans, pushing for th- correct care of our - veterans."

Toni miles, news 25: "and they're preparing for a food- drive coming up in- september for all of our local- veterans.

As you can see over m- shoulder, it's all hands- on deck."

Lela bremen, post commander,- mark seymour vfw post 5699: "we have boxes- placed throughout the community- to do collections.

On september- 19th, we're - going to do a mobile food drive- we want veterans to come up,- pull up in their car- <splice> and we're going to giv- them some food to help them out- everybody's - struggling during this time, an- i stated, we take care of our - veterans, and that's- what we want to do."

In ocean springs, toni miles, - news 25.-