Agnes Bendel, Frieda Howard, Dorothy Scowden, Louis Birkman Jr., Hal Scowden and John "Doc" Yallaly have been named Veterans Home Volunteers of the Year for 1998.

Confidential nominations for volunteers of the year are made by fellow volunteers with significant hours. Other criteria are considered such as "continuous and long-term service, representing the home well to the community, congeniality, leadership, etc." Past volunteers of the year are asked for input, and the final decision rests with the administrator and director of volunteer services.

There are 226 registered individual volunteers working in the 150 bed state-operated facility.

The residents they serve represent a total of nearly 1,000 years of military service and participation in nearly 2,000 land, sea and air battles from WWI through Vietnam. Some are in the home as a result of wounds suffered in those battles.

Volunteer help by serving ice and water, delivering mail, operating the canteen and information desk, assisting with outings and in-house activities, make personal visits and in a variety of other ways.

Since the June 1990 opening of the home, 190,934 volunteer hours have been served through Dec. 31, 1998, with 24,570 of those hours served in 1998.

Veterans Home volunteers are awarded a pin with a 100 hour bar when they pass that number. New hour bars are awarded when additional 100 hour milestones are reached.

Two volunteers have more than 5,500 hours, Barbara Yallaly, American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Department of Missouri home representative and Euil Trickey, Masonic Service Association home representative.

Agnes Bendel was recognized for 4,500 hours, Vergie Templeton, 3,800, Hal Scowden, 3,200, Frieda Howard, 3,000, Louis Birkman Jr., 2400, Naomi McClard, 2,300, Ralph Chitty, 2,200 and James "Rex" Haynes, 2,100.

Volunteers with 1,000 to 2,000 hours are Harry Humphrey, Jim Tindall, Chester Herrington, Lillian Birkman, Thelma Herrington, Milton Nitsch, Don Adams, Al Mason, Jim Foster, Dorothy Scowden, Mildred Foster, Shirley Welter, Fern Schlimme and Betty G. Cato.

Volunteering 900 hours are Lois Woodford, Jim Harnes, Al Schlenker, Ray Ritchie, Hugh LeDure, Gladys Lawrence, John "Doc" Yallaly and Laverne VanWeelden.

Volunteers who hit the 800 mark are Marie Spicer and Howard Spicer.

Those with 700 hours are Bob McLemore, Claude Estes, Wilda Rudert, Ginger Beaudean, Gary Estes, Bob Harper, Marie Sebastian and Rupert Fiehler.

With 600 hours are Fern Schultz, Doyle Mouser, H. K. "Ken" Carter and Susan Noce.

At the 500 hour mark are volunteers Glenneta Vogelsang, Lloyd Zimmerman, Albert Elfrank, Jack Kinder, Charles Woodford, Melvin Bacon, Steve Francis, Jewell Lincecum, Bill Hasler, Barbara Slinkard, Margaret Kracke, Paul Seabaugh, Evelyn Seabaugh and Doris Criddle.

Volunteers recognized for 400 hours are Jean Petzoldt, Clem Crain, Charles Schultz, Katherine King, Virginia Nance, Francis Renard and Roy Rhodes.

With over 300 hours are Harold Makins, Virgil Elfrink, Leola Essner, Marie Brantley, Homer Schnurbusch, Gale Holland, Earl Statler, Betty Myre, Rosalie Sides, Claire Campbell, Bill Bollinger, Helen Schnurbusch, Paul Bell, Millard Schlimme and Glen Bollinger.

With 200 hours are J. C. Harrison, Verna Lee Nitsch, Norman Sebastian, Betty E. Cato, Herb Nance, Ginny Jones, Betty Hahs, Robert E. Young, Art Docken, Bob Landgraf, Lloyd Law, John Gibbs, Ron Clark, Walter Haynie, Brenda Turner, Lawrence Meier, Bunny Smith, Carol Hadley, Fran Bohnert, Pauline Duffy, Dale Smith, Norman Seabaugh, Doris Meier, Jess Hopple, Phyllis Spence, "Jake" Spence, Marje Stearns, Lavern Bangert, John Sonderman, Tiffany Noce, Jerry Stauber, Brandy Totty and Myrtle Allen.

Volunteers who hit the 100 hour mark are Betty Wiggins, Dora Mantel, Jack Cracraft, Bud Miller, Alberta Sawyer, John Ferguson, Burdetta Frazier, Bob Seabaugh, Mary Proctor, Elmer Procter, Bonnie Smith, Marvin Campbell, Charlotte Hecht, Lanny Grissom, Melvin Eggiman, Pat Renard, A. J. Seyer, Robert Eisenhauer, Dodie Eisenhauer, Sara Spence, Shirley Porter, Jim Englehart, Meta Hunt, Vera Trowbridge, Patricia Frye, Charlene Hahn, Grace Willie, Pauline Nitsch, Vesta Bollinger, Mary Mouser, Pamela Davis, Mary Backfish, Gladys Siebert, Mike Robison, Paul Harris, Esther Devenport, Caryn Michel, Burt Lehman, Edna Peetz, Dorothy Siebert, LaWanda Verhines, Evelyn Ritchie, Ron Michel and Norman Bollinger.

New volunteers are Betty Hoffmeister, Oscar Hoffmeister, Charlie Hutson, Judy Moore, Juanita Popp, John Rice, Pat Rice and Frieda Smothers.

Some resident Veterans perform volunteer duties such as serving as officers on the resident council, looking after the home's pets, assisting fellow Veterans to the dining room for meals and activities, representing the home in community patriotic activities, etc.

During 1998 these resident volunteers were Bill Walker, Horace "Woody" Woods, Pete Jarrell, Harold Henderson, Charles Clippard and Pansy Connors.

Individual volunteers in the pin recognition program generally serve at least five hours a month and are registered with the volunteer services office. Many others serve.

Groups which contribute substantial annual hours in service to residents include the Masonic Service Association with members from lodges 93, 417, 440, 441, 489, 545, 672 and the Order of the Eastern Star, Cape Rock Chapter 60.

American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Fourteenth District groups are units 63, 158, 369, 389 and 13th District unit 133. American Legion 14th District active groups are Posts 63, 158 and the 13th District Post 133.

VFW Auxiliary groups include units 3174, 3838, 4282, 6407 and 10499. VFW Posts include 3174, 3838, 4282 and 10495.

Other groups include DAV Chapter 16, Elks Lodges 639 and 2652, Joint Veterans Council, Telephone Pioneers, Zonta Club, Pet Pals, area United Methodist churches, St. Mary's Cathedral Parish, St. Vincent DePaul Parish, Jackson First Assembly of God Church, Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, AMVETS Post/Sons/Auxiliary 94 and the Missouri Army National Guard.