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VFW upgrades to help others
By By Alica P. Thiele
Challenger reporter
Challenger reporter
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EmailNovember 30. 2009 9:44AM
Members of the Brandon VFW hope a recent remodel will benefit not only the Post Home and its patrons, but the community as well.
“We are a progressive VFW,” said Mike Foley, senior vice commander of VFW Post 4726. “We’ve done a facelift around the whole building.”
That facelift includes seven plasma televisions; a wheelchair accessible bathroom; new paint throughout, and two new fusion ovens in the kitchen, as well as other upgrades.
The ovens allow the VFW to offer a larger menu, with dinner specials on Wednesday and Friday nights. “It turned out to be a huge hit,” Foley said.
The Brandon VFW, like many such groups around the country with aging memberships, had seen a decrease in its coffers and its activities in recent years. “We just had to do something to get more people in there,” Commander Ken Kuhnert said.
Foley agreed.
“We had to do more than just keep our doors open in order to do our mission,” he said. “When (people) come to the VFW in Brandon, South Dakota, that money rolls over to veterans, their families and the community. When you drink a beer or eat a sandwich, it’s going toward helping somebody.”
Foley said business has increased dramatically since the remodel was complete, and that has allowed the VFW to help more people. For example, a special Veterans Day dinner, at $15 a plate, raised enough money to allow two World War II veterans to visit veterans’ memorials in Washington D.C. The VFW also recently donated $1,000 to the Brandon Area Food Pantry to pay for meat for clients’ holiday dinners.
The Brandon VFW donates to the Brandon Valley backpack program, which sends food home with qualifying children so they have something to eat on the weekends.
The VFW sponsors the Loyalty Day parade each May and holds proper American flag disposal ceremonies twice a year. Currently, VFW members are working with Brandon Elementary students to send care packages to overseas troops.
“And honestly, we’re just scratching the surface,” Foley said.
The VFW is interested in learning about other opportunities that fit into the group’s mission, and members are pleased that the recent remodel is helping the cause.
“We can’t do these things without the lounge and the Heroes Grille,” Foley said. The VFW serves appetizers, sandwiches and pizza daily as well as the weekly specials. The menu items even have patriotic names, such as Bomber Poppers, Five Star Chicken Sandwich and 21 Gun Chislic.
“The chislic is nice and nice and tender,” Pat Doherty said. She and her husband, Jack, are regulars at the VFW and have tried most everything on the new menu.
“It’s very good and it’s very reasonable,” Pat said.
Foley said the improvements to the Post Home will be ongoing. There are plans to pave the parking lot next spring, and to add a mini veterans memorial in the lot. The weekly specials will continue, and the new kitchen will allow the VFW to cater events that take place in the Post Home Hall, which can be rented for private parties. All these things help the VFW mission.
“Good food and good drinks equate to helping the community,” Foley said.
“We are a progressive VFW,” said Mike Foley, senior vice commander of VFW Post 4726. “We’ve done a facelift around the whole building.”
That facelift includes seven plasma televisions; a wheelchair accessible bathroom; new paint throughout, and two new fusion ovens in the kitchen, as well as other upgrades.
The ovens allow the VFW to offer a larger menu, with dinner specials on Wednesday and Friday nights. “It turned out to be a huge hit,” Foley said.
The Brandon VFW, like many such groups around the country with aging memberships, had seen a decrease in its coffers and its activities in recent years. “We just had to do something to get more people in there,” Commander Ken Kuhnert said.
Foley agreed.
“We had to do more than just keep our doors open in order to do our mission,” he said. “When (people) come to the VFW in Brandon, South Dakota, that money rolls over to veterans, their families and the community. When you drink a beer or eat a sandwich, it’s going toward helping somebody.”
Foley said business has increased dramatically since the remodel was complete, and that has allowed the VFW to help more people. For example, a special Veterans Day dinner, at $15 a plate, raised enough money to allow two World War II veterans to visit veterans’ memorials in Washington D.C. The VFW also recently donated $1,000 to the Brandon Area Food Pantry to pay for meat for clients’ holiday dinners.
The Brandon VFW donates to the Brandon Valley backpack program, which sends food home with qualifying children so they have something to eat on the weekends.
The VFW sponsors the Loyalty Day parade each May and holds proper American flag disposal ceremonies twice a year. Currently, VFW members are working with Brandon Elementary students to send care packages to overseas troops.
“And honestly, we’re just scratching the surface,” Foley said.
The VFW is interested in learning about other opportunities that fit into the group’s mission, and members are pleased that the recent remodel is helping the cause.
“We can’t do these things without the lounge and the Heroes Grille,” Foley said. The VFW serves appetizers, sandwiches and pizza daily as well as the weekly specials. The menu items even have patriotic names, such as Bomber Poppers, Five Star Chicken Sandwich and 21 Gun Chislic.
“The chislic is nice and nice and tender,” Pat Doherty said. She and her husband, Jack, are regulars at the VFW and have tried most everything on the new menu.
“It’s very good and it’s very reasonable,” Pat said.
Foley said the improvements to the Post Home will be ongoing. There are plans to pave the parking lot next spring, and to add a mini veterans memorial in the lot. The weekly specials will continue, and the new kitchen will allow the VFW to cater events that take place in the Post Home Hall, which can be rented for private parties. All these things help the VFW mission.
“Good food and good drinks equate to helping the community,” Foley said.
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Lynn Bly prepares some Patriot Wedges for the oven at the VFW. The kitchen there recently got two new fusion ovens, allowing the VFW to expand its menu. Photo by Alica P. Thiele |  |
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