A Texas VFW Post held a ceremony on April 13 to thank and honor a 10-year-old boy who helped raise more than $5,000 for the Post.
VFW Post 1514 in Village Mills presented an award to Spencer Speegle, the grandson of Post Quartermaster J.W. Kern. Post 1514 members gave Spencer a special 8-by-10-inch plaque to thank him for his volunteer work.
Spencer Speegle, 10, accepts an award in April at VFW Post 1514 in Village Mills, Texas, for his fundraising efforts during the Post’s drives earlier this year. Spencer’s grandfather – the Village Mills, Texas, Post Quartermaster J.W. Kern – said Spencer helped raises more than $5,000 in one month. Photo courtesy of VFW Post 1514. Kern, a retired Navy chief petty officer, said Spencer’s Cerebral Palsy-like symptoms doesn’t prevent him from helping raise funds for the Post. Spencer, sitting from his wheelchair, was able to raise the funds during five events, including three Buddy Poppy drives and two VFW membership-recruiting events, from mid-March to mid-April.
“He hands out Buddy Poppies and accepts donations,” Kern said. “He always has a big smile while he promotes VFW's mission. He loves doing it a lot.”
Kern added that all funds raised by the Buddy Poppy drives go to helping local military members, veterans and their families who need assistance.
Kern, who served from 1971 to 1995, said Spencer sits in front of businesses in the small town, located about 90 miles northeast of Houston, for eight hours at a time.
“Spencer always says, ‘thank you’ to everyone for their donations, and people were throwing money at him,” Kern said, laughing. “He loved getting recognition from the Post. Everyone wants to see him.