A New Home for VFW 4421

New post location to be built on property on Snows Mills Road

From left, Walton County Sheriff Joe Chapman, Maj. Scott Whisnant and Jeff Taylor, all members of Post 4421, stand on the location the new Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4421 will be constructed. Maj. Whisnant is the current commander of Post 4421. Contributed photo

Following the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection, American veterans found themselves struggling to get back into civilian life. They often found themselves facing poverty and inadequate medical care – and they didn’t get much support from the government. Realizing they needed a unified voice and mutual assistance to deal with their circumstances, these veterans began forming local organizations.

In 1899, this organization effort resulted in the formation of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of the United States. According to the historical records of the VFW, the establishment of the organization was driven by a commitment to honor their comrades’ sacrifices and to find ways to advocate for their rights, health and well-being.

In the 1940s, veterans from Walton County in Georgia got their own VFW Post.

“The Walton County Veterans Association and VFW Post 4421 have had a presence in Walton County since 1945,” said current commander of the post, Maj. Scott Whisnant of Walton County Sheriff’s Office. “All eligible veterans are encouraged to take part in their continued efforts to serve in Walton County.”
Whistnant said that even before that, Walton County veterans had a place to meet in Walton County. However, they are now in the process of building a new facility on Snows Mill Road after giving up their old post building for the development of the Walton County Employee Health Clinic. The Walton Veterans Association leased that building to the VFW for $1 a year. The overall history is that The WVA/VFW was established around 1936 and owned its original land/building on Spring Street, but that property was sold and the building on S. Midland and Court Street was purchased,” Whisnant said. “In September of 2022, we sold that building. The County purchased the building and remodeled it for use as the Walton County Employee Health Clinic. With the received funds, we purchased the Snows Mill property to relocate.”

The new building will be located on the property at 1712 Snows Mill Road and Whisnant said, as was the case with the previous building, the Walton County Veterans Association is the nonprofit organization that is the actual land owner. The Walton County Board of Commissioners has already approved the rezoning from M1 to B3 for construction of the new VFW meeting on Snows Mills Road with some conditions. Prior to the approval of the rezoning, District 2 Commission Mark Banks asked those in attendance to remember the services of veterans.


“Nothing we do would be possible without them,” Banks said. “So if we can help them we need to do that.”

The planning commission set conditions including the outside lighting be facing downward, a buffer to remain on the right side of the driveway and for all outside entrances to end by 11 p.m.
The VFW chapter features several members who work in law enforcement, including Whisnant and Walton County Sheriff Joe Chapman.

What is needed now is the funding to construct the new building that will house the WVA and VFW Post 4421. Whisnant said in order to do that they probably need to raise an additional $150,000. Some of the initial funding was received in a donation by Chapman who donated $22,000 in funds from his political forum when he decided he would retire at the end of this term and would no longer be running for Sheriff.

From Left: Member Bill Phillips, Post Chaplain Courtney Chancey, Commander Scott Whisnant, Sheriff Joe Chapman. Contributed photo

Whisnant said they plan to raise the balance of the money required for the project through future fundraisers and in kind donations of materials, equipment and labor.

“The new building will be a much larger space with updated facilities for handicap persons and to offer space for family events,” Whisnant said. “We hope that the updated facility will attract more veteran participation in both organizations. The Walton Veterans Association is open to all honorably discharged veterans. The membership requirements for VFW Post 4421 are listed on the national website. We have had a number of community business owners step forward to help. IMMEC, Rosewood Development Company and Reliant Homes have played a huge part in getting the initial design done. Other businesses have said they are ready to assist once ground is broken this fall. If you would like to help with this project please contact the post commander at 678-618-6514. Both organizations are registered non-profits.”

Chapman said Kris Rosendahl of Rosewood Development, company, LLC has taken the lead on helping with this project, at no cost, along with the president of IMMEC’s Bruce Verge, who is a Marine Veteran.

“We can’t thank them enough for their support,” Chapman said. 

The requirements for membership in the VFW

According to the national website are:

Citizenship: Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. national.
Honorable Service: Must have served honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Overseas Service: Must have served in a foreign war, insurrection, or expedition on foreign soil or in hostile waters. This service must be recognized by the award of an approved campaign medal or by qualifying for hostile fire or imminent danger pay.

The VFW lists as its core values

Always put the interests of our members first
Treat donors as partners in our cause
Promote patriotism
Honor military service
Ensure the care of veterans and their families
Serve our communities
Promote a positive image of the VFW
Respect the diversity of veteran opinions

It gives its mission and vision as:

Our Mission: To foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts. To serve our veterans, the military and our communities. To advocate on behalf of all veterans. 
Our Vision: Ensure that veterans are respected for their service, always receive their earned entitlements, and are recognized for the sacrifices they and their loved ones have made on behalf of this great country.

The Veterans Memorial stone that used to stand in front of VFW Post 4421 on Madison and Court Street in Monroe has been relocated to the Walton County Veterans Memorial in front of the government building on Hammond Street.

The monthly meeting dates of the VFW as well as information on how to reach out to members are posted on the VFW Post 4421 Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/waltoncoVFW.

Who We Are 
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a nonprofit veterans service organization comprised of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, guard and reserve forces.
We trace our roots back to 1899 when veterans of the Spanish-American War (1898) and the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service. Many arrived home wounded or sick. There was no medical care or veterans’ pension for them, and they were left to care for themselves. 
In their misery, some of these veterans banded together and formed organizations that would eventually band together and become known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. After chapters were formed in Ohio, Colorado and Pennsylvania, the movement quickly gained momentum. Today, membership stands at more than 1.4 million members of the VFW and its Auxiliary.
Our voice was instrumental in establishing the Veterans Administration, development of the national cemetery system, in the fight for compensation for Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange and for veterans diagnosed with Gulf War Syndrome. In 2008, we won a long-fought victory with the passing of a GI Bill for the 21st Century, giving expanded educational benefits to America’s active duty service members, and members of the guard and reserves, fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. We were the driving force behind the Veterans Access and Accountability Act of 2014, and continually fight for improved VA medical centers services for women veterans. The VFW’s legislative advocacy efforts were also the driving force behind the passage of the 2019 Blue Water Navy Veteran Act, and the passage of the 2022 Honoring Our PACT Act, which the VFW considers one of the most significant pieces of veterans legislation in history.
Besides helping fund the creation of the Vietnam, Korean War, World War II and Women in Military Service memorials, in 2005 the VFW became the first veterans’ organization to contribute to building the new Disabled Veterans for Life Memorial, which opened in November 2010. And in 2015, we became the first supporter of the Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial which broke ground in July of 2022. 
We have many programs and services that work to support veterans, service members and their families, as well as communities worldwide. Please check out our latest fact sheet or spend some time browsing our site to learn why No One Does More For Veterans.