THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE COOTIE
The Cooties are an organization within the VFW that does most of the hospital work for the VFW. We are known as “The Honor Degree of the VFW“. We invite Comrades to join our organization if we believe they have a strong interest in helping hospitalized veterans and are willing to work to earn the donations that are needed. Post 9400 has a Cootie organization, called a “Pup Tent,” that has provided a very significant amount of entertainment and made large donations throughout Arizona and, in particular, the Phoenix VA Medical Center and the Arizona State Veteran Home (the photo is our VA shuttle, 5 days a week).
Founded in 1920, the MOC is based on the principals of good humor and fun. For over 100 years, the Cooties have provided social and entertainment programs for veterans. The Cooties have worked hard to further the aims of the VFW while adding to it the frivolity known as Military Humor to the serious work of our parent organization. What would ultimately become known as the VFW National Home, located in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, started out as the brainchild of the MOC. Families find a healing calm in a tranquil, rural, small-town community. Tree-lined streets connect 42 single-family homes with facilities like the gym, library, computer and science labs, daycare center, playgrounds, fishing pond, hiking trails and more. Over the years, the National Home has evolved to meet the changing needs of America’s military and veterans’ families.
With the outbreak of World War II, the Cooties recognized a need to entertain hospitalized troops and veterans during their confinement and rehabilitation at Veterans Administration facilities throughout the country. Our service program is described as a directive to “Keep ’em Smiling in Beds of White.” Nationally, each year the Cooties and its Auxiliary volunteer thousands of hours which are worth over ten million dollars to VA Hospitals and Veteran Homes throughout the United States. This work, in addition to the hours of service donated as active members of the VFW, establish the members of the MOC and its Auxiliary as patriots who are fully engaged in their communities.
Our distinctive red hat and unusual uniform sets us apart and draws attention to the plight of those less fortunate than ourselves. We sacrifice a little of ourselves to bring a smile or a laugh during what is normally a difficult time for our heroes. We seek others like us to join and help us help them in their times of stress and anxiety. For information concerning Pup Tent 11 at Post 9400, email wtalcott@cox.net. For national information go to www.lotcs.org. Check out the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/arizonacooties.
Seam Squirrels/Presidents
2006-07 Bill Talcott
2007-08 Bill Talcott
2008-09 Bill Talcott/Norees Rutter
2009-10 Eric Gagomiros/ Marilyn Moscheck
2010-11 James “Doc” Nealand/Tippy Weiner
2011-12 James “Doc” Nealand/Marge Bell
2012-13 James “Doc” Nealand/Louise “Weezie” Burrell
2013-14 Richard Real/Louise “Weezie” Burrell
2014-15 Joe Terrian/Marge Bell
2015-16 Scott Stray/Janie Garza
2016-17 Vince Smith/Stephanie Gregory
2017-18 Manny/Stephanie Gregory
2018-19 Amanda Hall/Sherry Nealand
2019-20 Dan Muller/Sherry Nealand
2020-21 Jody Lauer/Sherry Nealand
2021-22 Tim McKenney/ Jenette Wilson
2022-23 Tim McKenney/Stephanie Gregory
2023-24 Joe Loggia/Sherry Nealand