On Saturday, December 6th, the National Home celebrated its 97th Cootie Christmas—and the day was nothing short of magical. Santa and Mrs. Claus made a special appearance, bringing along a pair of cheerful elves who filled the air with Christmas carols. The festivities kicked off with a talented magician who amazed families with his tricks, while colorful face painting added an extra layer of fun for children and adults alike.
A heartfelt thank-you goes out to Eric Bell, Supreme Seam Squirrel, and Dawn VanTassell, Supreme President, for their unwavering dedication to the National Home and for ensuring Cootie Christmas this year was filled with awe and wonder.
We also extend a huge shoutout to the Florida Cooties, whose support is invaluable year after year. They travel from sunny Florida to snowy Michigan, spending an entire week preparing meals and feeding National Home families and staff. Their generosity and commitment mean more to us than words can express.
This year’s celebration was held in honor of two beloved members of the Cootie family: Gary Dressel and Dave Johnson. Gary, who passed away last December, Gary, who passed last December, played a meaningful role in Cootie Christmas traditions, including distributing wooden trucks filled with cookies to families—a gesture that brought joy to many. Dave, MOCA Supreme President, passed unexpectedly in November and is deeply missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of Gary and Dave. Both had hearts of gold and will always be remembered by their National Home family.
To see more images from the event, click here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCDe3w
Curious About the Cooties? Learn More About the Military Order of the Cootie The Military Order of the Cootie (MOC) and its Auxiliary (MOCA) is the “Honor Degree” of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), an auxiliary group for dedicated VFW members, known for bringing fun and comfort (with their motto “Keep ’em Smiling in Beds of White”) to hospitalized veterans through activities, gifts, and support for the VFW National Home, distinguishing themselves with quirky uniforms and red hats.
The idea for this special campus originated with the Cooties, and over the years, the Order has been an instrumental supporter of “their kids” at the National Home. Above all, Cooties are known for their spirit of selfless humor—willing to sacrifice a bit of dignity to bring a smile or laugh to someone facing challenging times.
