Legacy of Service: Dandridge VFW Post Turns 80

Members of VFW Post 3380 place American flags along the streets in downtown Dandridge on May 23, 2025 in honor of Memorial Day. (left to right VFW member Bryan Gross and his two small children and VFW member Art Lee)

Dave King, incoming commander of VFW Post 3380, accepts the Town of Dandridge Resolution from Town Administrator Chris Shockley, honoring the 80th year anniversary of the Post.

As the summer season unfolds, members of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3380 in Dandridge, Tennessee, continue their steadfast dedication to honoring America’s heroes. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Post, a milestone celebrated during the town’s Memorial Day event on May 26, 2025, where the Mayor and Board of Aldermen presented an official resolution recognizing the Post’s enduring service since its establishment on May 23, 1945.

Beyond Memorial Day, VFW Post 3380 actively participates in commemorating other patriotic holidays, including Independence Day and Veterans Day. Members place American flags throughout downtown Dandridge and in local cemeteries ensuring that the sacrifices of service members are respectfully honored and never forgotten.

“We know people move on with their lives and don’t often think about what the service members and their loved ones have sacrificed to keep our way of living,” said Art Lee, a Vietnam Veteran and long-standing member of the Post. “We want to keep doing this to remind them freedom has a price.”

In addition to these commemorative activities, VFW Post 3380 supports the community through various initiatives providing scholarships, promoting goodwill and patriotism, and engaging in veteran outreach.

As VFW Post 3380 reflects on eight decades of service, its members remain dedicated to their motto: “To honor the dead by helping the living.” Their ongoing efforts ensure that the legacy of service and sacrifice continues to inspire future generations in Dandridge, Jefferson County and beyond.

For more information about VFW Post 3380, please visit vfw3380.org.