BREAKING NEWS
2026 Dinner and Auction
Sept 9, 2025
Mark your calendars as our next event will be held at the Three Rivers Convention Center on September 19, 2026.
DINNER FUNDRAISER update & SPONSORSHIPS
2025 Dinner and Auction
Sept 9, 2025
Our annual event was held on Sept 6, 2025 and was a huge success. There are so many to thank. I will start with our Sponsors: Mueller's Funeral Home, Visiting Angels, Central Plateau Cleanup Company, GESA Credit Union, O'Brien Construction, Double Eagle Ranch, Columbia Basin Veteran's Center, Lampson, Platinum Automotive Services, Specialty Mobility, and Desert Wind Winery. Additional sponsors include Kevin Veleke, Jim Witt, Don Wicks, Irene Huerkens, and Chuck/Teresa Forrester.
We had an amazing planning team: Al Younker, Steve Aman, Chad Refalt, Barb McDonald, KayCe Tost, Jim Witt, Don Wicks, Annette McGehee, Larry Larson, Kevin Veleke, Mike Dotson, Bob Failor, Teresa Forrester, Warren Aaberg, Chuck Forrester, and Rick Tyrrell. This team put in a year of hard work to make this event great. A special thanks goes out to Annette McGehee and KayCe Tost for their hard work on our new system for the event and for their work during the Check-in and Check-our Process. We really appreciate the patience of the attendees as we worked through a few opportunities in this area.
We had so many gracious donations from the community with led to an amazing Silent and Live auction. Thank you so much to the generosity of this community.
The community support was awesome as we had approximately 200 people at the event including a great demonstration by the Kennewick High Air Force JROTC Team. We also had several local officials present including Kennewick Mayor Gretl Crawford.
We really appreciate the work of Kevin Veleke on the various memorials in the area and for his special recognition of Greg Ford. Lastly, we had a most amazing guest speaker, Reand State Senator Matt Boehnke.
Planning is already beginning on the 2026 Event. Mark your calendars as our next event will be held at the Three Rivers Convention Center on September 19, 2026.
Dinner Fundraiser
Buy tickets here - 2026 Event Coming Soon
More information will be provided soon for the 2026 Annual Dinner Fundraiser. This will be an event you will not want to miss.
Dinner Sponsorships
SUPPORT * HONOR * SPONSOR
Join us in honoring local veterans by sponsoring this special event. Customized sponsorship opportunities are available. Show your community spirit while gaining meaningful visibility. We can't do this work alone. We rely on the support of our community to make a difference in the lives of veterans. Thanks in advance for your support to our veterans and community.
Contact
Our team is available to work with you to customize a specialized sponsorship for 2026. Please contact Chuck on 509.539.0067 or vfwpost_5785@outlook.com or vfw5785@gmail.com.
Honor, Support, and Serve Our Veterans
Our Services
Chartered in 1957, the James E Rosselott Post #5785 offers a wide range of services to support veterans in our community. We work closely with local organizations to ensure that our veterans have access to the resources they need to thrive. Our team is made up of veterans and supporters who are passionate supporting those who have served our country.
Our members are Veterans that served honorably in U.S. wars on foreign soil. We are dedicated to serving veterans and their families. Our motto is “Honor the Dead by Taking Care of the Living.” Listed below are a few of the services we provide to Veterans in the Tri-Cities:
· Military Funeral Honors at Veterans funerals with a Gun Salute, Taps, Flag presentation, and a tribute ceremony
· Flag Ceremonies on holidays such as Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day. We attend Parades (Benton Franklin Fair and Annual Regional Veterans parade). Other examples of Flag ceremonies include: Tri-City Dust Devils Baseball, Tri-City Americans Hockey, Washington State Parks and Recreation, Washington State University Tri-Cities graduation, and new facility openings (Amazon, Chick-fil-A)
· Provide for the proper disposal of U.S. flags that are worn or badly soiled.
· Support Welcome Home Ceremonies of Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen returning from combat zones.
· We speak at local schools, support all local JROTC programs, and provide a meeting place for the Columbia River Young Marines drills and training
· We sponsor the Voice of Democracy (grades 9–12) and Patriots’ Pen (grades 4-8) essay contests.
· We provide emergency assistance and relief services to veterans of our community. We also provide Christmas baskets and other holiday meals for veterans with families in need, and visit hospitalized veterans and veterans in need to provide them with comfort and support.
· Member of the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce
· Assist veterans, widows and orphans in obtaining rightful benefits from the federal or state governments.
· We distribute “poppies” to assist needy or disabled veterans, members of the armed services and their dependents.
· We support our Teachers with a Teacher of the Year award and support local clubs such as Pacific Northwest Mustang Club
· We support individual and group counseling where the post provides a safe, well-known neutral place for veterans to collaborate ideas, share, and advise other veterans seeking assistance.
· The Post supports the local Veterans Therapeutic Court as court mentors
· Proud to support the annual Wreaths Across America event.
· Assisting in numerous Veteran’s Day activities such as color guard or participation at various memorials such as the Regional Veteran’s Memorial in Columbia Park, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the Carmichael Memorial.
· We conduct an Annual dinner event open to the public to honor veterans
The only sources of funding for VFW programs are members’ dues, fund raisers, and donations from local residents and businesses. The VFW can especially use your help if you wish to volunteer in some of our many events and projects. Our Veteran ranks are getting larger every day.
The VFW is a tax exempt organization under the U.S. Internal Revenue designation 501(c). As such, any contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. We welcome your input, vision, and suggestions. You are welcome to visit the Post at any time
Donate Today
If you are interested in donating please select the Donate Now button below.. Your donation can make a big difference in the lives of veterans in our community. Every dollar helps us provide better resources and support to those who have served our country. Whether you can give a little or a lot, your donation will help us make a lasting impact. Please click the button below to donate now.
Our Officers
Rick Tyrrell
Rick Tyrrell
Rick Tyrrell
Post Commander
Jim Witt
Rick Tyrrell
Rick Tyrrell
Senior Vice Commander
Don Wicks
Rick Tyrrell
Bob Failor
Junior Vice Commander
Bob Failor
Don Petross
Bob Failor
Quartermaster
Don Petross
Don Petross
Don Petross
Adjutant
Art King
Don Petross
Don Petross
Chaplain
Zac Schrader
Franklin Myers
Zac Schrader
3 year Trustee
Mike Dotson
Franklin Myers
Zac Schrader
2 year Trustee
Franklin Myers
Franklin Myers
Annette MeGehee
1 year Trustee
Annette MeGehee
Annette MeGehee
Annette MeGehee
Judge Advocate
Chad Reffalt
Annette MeGehee
Chuck Forrester
Surgeon
Chuck Forrester
Annette MeGehee
Chuck Forrester
Service Officer
Franklin Myers
Officer of the Day
VFW Post 5785 Auxiliary
Barb McDonald
Barb McDonald
Barb McDonald
President
KayCe Tost
Barb McDonald
Barb McDonald
Senior Vice
Ray Lozano
Barb McDonald
Barbara Wright
Juinor Vice/Guard
Barbara Wright
Barbara Wright
Barbara Wright
Secretary/Treasurer
Amy Blaine
Barbara Wright
Amy Blaine
Conductress
Contact Us
Better yet, see us in person!
We are located at:
28 E 10th Ave, Kennewick, Washington
Phone: (509) 802-1622
28 East 10th Avenue, Kennewick, Washington 99336, United States
