Arlington VFW Post 981 accepting scholarship applications
Arlington Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 981 is accepting applications for its annual VFW Post 981 Wally Luettschwager Memorial Scholarship Grant. This grant, in the amount of $3,000, is financed by a bequest from Wally Luettschwager. A lifelong resident of Arlington Heights, Wally served honorably in the U.S. Army in combat during the Korean War. He came home and was an active member of VFW Post 981 for over 60 years in many capacities including commander. Wally played an integral part in the organizing and running of the Arlington Heights Memorial Day Parade which has been part of the community for over 100 years.
Additionally, a second grant of $3,000 in honor of VFW comrade Bob Henderson, funded by a donation from his family, will be awarded in 2025. Bob served in the Army as a combat infantryman in Korea where he was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds suffered in battle. He also served in numerous positions in the VFW Post.
Students who will or currently do attend college in a degree program or a recognized trade school should apply. The ideal candidate will be an active duty or reserve member of the military, an honorably discharged veteran, a direct descendant of an honorably discharged veteran or active duty service member, or someone who has siblings who are active duty or veterans. Members of the Arlington Heights community and surrounding communities served by Post 981 will have preference with all other things being equal. Previous winners attended Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Conant, Glenbard East, Hersey, Prospect and Rolling Meadows High Schools.
The application form is available on VFW Post 981’s website, vfwpost981.com. The deadline for submitting the application for the Fall 2025 school year is March 1, 2025. All applicants will be notified by March 25 if they will be moving on to the interview phase. After an interview by the Post Scholarship Committee, the winners will be notified and scholarships awarded at the following post meeting.