VFW Post 6734 is highly recognized and awarded as...an ALL-AMERICAN VFW POST. Which makes Post 6734 one of the elite VFW Posts nationwide! We take great pride with that, but knows it is all due to the superb membership of exemplary men and women within our ranks.
Margaret O. Richardson is the current Senior Vice Commander of Post 6734, and no one is more valuable in that position than her. Her dedication and the experience she has accumulated makes her invaluable in this highly vital position. As Senior Vice, she is the right hand of the Post Commander and his most critical advisor. No other Post Comrade in our ranks is more trusted than her to maintain this acclaimed critical staff position. Margaret Richardson also has the experience of being an actual Post Commander herself, through having held that ultimate staff position where she was then awarded as VFW South Carolina Most Outstanding Commander during her tenure while Post 6734 Commander. She also set a historic milestone for our Post at that time, through being the first elected female Post Commander within the more than 75 years history of VFW Post 6734.
Comrade Richardson is most noted for her acclaimed display of unselfishness, comradeship, and loyalty to the VFW Organization as well as Post 6734. She is no doubt a truly dynamic, well organized leader. While serving as Post Commander, she was very successful with ensuring Post 6734 participated in all core programs of the VFW Organization. These included vital programs such as treasured memorial Buddy Poppy distributions, donations to National Military Service, VFW National Home for Children, and the State Department Commander's Special Project. She participated in veterans memorial services assuming the humble role of Post Bugler, playing final taps at the close of sacred veteran burial ceremonies.
Past Post Commander Richardson is a retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant with 20 years of military service and leadership. Few within the enlisted military rank have attained this high leadership position within the military, yet it is no surprise that she did. She is also a graduate of Berea College in education with past experience of local youth teachings, before deciding to engage into a military career. The Armed Services certainly benefitted well through her changing that career path. Yet she continued to maintain her alliegance to Berea College through the years as a volunteer advisor. This has resulted with her being a continual active recruiter directly resulting with several local worthy scholars getting admitted into that distinctful university. Furthering her interests in youth scholars, she is the designated VFW Post 6734 leader in our annual Youth Scholarship Awards Program, providing very welcomed funds to deserving local students. Directly enhancing and enriching the lives of area youths. Through continuing her passion for community relations, Past Commander Richardson also heads our annual Youth Easter Egg Hunts and the wholesome Post Senior Citizen Thanksgiving Luncheon Dinners. She has enthusiatically supported a Post partnership with the American Red Cross for Disaster Preparedness Training with conducting community briefings within our Post facility.
No one exemplifies the VFW motto of "Veterans Helping Veterans" more than Comrade Margaret Richardson. She demonstrated this dedication by continung her support for our veterans in need, and those with declining health issues. Provided recognition to the maligned Vietnam Veterans in working closely with our Post volunteers, by serving an honor luncheon to that unique veteran group, recognizing their previously unrecognized, democratic efforts. It was sincerely appreciated by the Vietnam Vets as an effort of reconciliation to the closed door treatment they received returning to the U.S. after tours of hostile combat duty into a foreign land. A recognition for her outstanding service and commitment to the VFW has been publicized in the local Greenville News newspaper article. Highlighting the multiple roles she has played within our VFW Post, and the VFW organization as a whole. She is a sparkling representative of the true nature of the Veteran of Foreign Wars Organization, demonstrating exactly what this association represents.
Margaret Richardson is not only a Past Post Commander, but is now occupying the role or current Senior Vice Commander, once again. She is also a Past Junior Vice Commander, re-occuring Post Trustee, where she maintained the critical Post financial ledger, as well as serving in various other elected suppporting roles of VFW Post 6734. Her importance to our Post can be summed in one word, she is no doubt, "INVALUABLE." Margaret Richardson is also a 5 Member Pin recipient, awarded for her intense recruitment of new members, in an effort to continue with keeping the Post membership vibrant. She was acclaimed while serving as House Committee Chairperson, being successful in raising the necessary funding which maintains all functions and financial backings for continued operations of non-profit VFW Post 6734.
A Greenville, South Carolina native, she was noticably humbled when accepting the role of Post Commander saying she was "overjoyed" with being elected. "I thank these great comrades of mine," she said. "We don't have many female vets that are really active in the VFW and for them to put their trust in me to be their Commander, is really an honor," she emphasized. Thank you, but the Post was more honored to have you in that role, Comrade Richardson. And we truly could not have made a better choice. Thank you for all your tireless efforts in keeping VFW Post 6734 at the top of the heap, and continued to be honored as an All-American VFW Post. WE SALUTE YOU!
