V.F.W. Post 914 'Intrepid is sponsoring 'Operation Welcome Home' a free picnic for all West Mifflin military veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan (operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom) and their immediate family members at the Thompson Run Athletic Club on Ball Avenue in West Mifflin on Sunday, August 20th from 1 pm to 8 pm.
"Everyone at our VFW Post 914 wanted to do something to thank the men and women from West Mifflin who sacrificed so much," says Quartermaster Mike Mauer. "We liked the idea of a free picnic because we also wanted to honor the family members who had to endure tough times and make sacrifices while loved ones were stationed overseas," he adds.
According to Mauer, members of Post 914 'Intrepid' will set up an area to answer questions regarding veterans' benefits and programs. "Many of the troops are coming back to full time responsibilities with jobs and families and with so many troops being active reserves, coming back from a military operation and going directly back to work and handling family issues can sometimes be overwhelming," says Mauer. "Having experienced people responding to questions should make the transition to civilian life a little smoother."
Besides all the free picnic food and soft drinks, area business owners are being asked to contribute gifts to raffle off for the veterans and their
family members. "Our post does a lot for our veterans in Allegheny County and the business community always responds when we ask for help," Mauer proudly states. Organizers are hoping to give at least one gift to every veteran and family member in attendance, so items for all age groups will be accepted.
About 125 active members of V.F.W. Post 914 Intrepid serve under Commander Joe Popovich, a Marine veteran of the Vietnam Conflict, and police chief in the West Mifflin Police Department. Popovich says that 30 to 40 members gather each month at the Thompson Run Social Club. "We're strictly a service organization, with our relief funds going primarily to veterans, active servicemen and women and their families in the West Mifflin area," he explains. The group's efforts include sponsoring a girl's softball team and a boy's baseball team; an annual soap box derby; scholarships; and helping to finance the color guard uniforms worn by the West Mifflin High School Junior ROTC, which now boasts over 100 cadets. "We have a great bunch of guys in our post and we're going to continue to do what we do best, which is helping the veterans and their families in our community," Popovich adds.
Russ Emery, 77 year-old World War II Army veteran, is a long-time member of the West Mifflin V.F.W. and serves as the post's surgeon. Along with his wife Doris, he helps organize monthly visits to VA facilities. "We spend at least $200 on every visit. We bring in root beer floats, boxes of pizza, milk and cookies, and we give them coupon books that can be used in the hospital commissary, or they win quarters playing bedside BINGO or buddy BINGO," Emery says. According to Emery, veterans most appreciate the camaraderie, a reminder that their sacrifices have not been forgotten.
The group also reaches out to widows of West Mifflin veterans. "Twice a
year, Christmas and Easter, we send gift certificates for food to the widows of veterans in the community," Emery explains. "We invite them to any function we have - we want them to feel welcome."
To raise funds for its good works, the V.F.W. sells "Buddy Poppies" at
various retail establishments in West Mifflin during the Memorial Day
weekend. Poppies first became associated with war through a poem written on the battlefield by Colonel John McCrae of Canada in 1915. "In Flanders's Field", which begins with the poet watching "poppies blow / between the crosses, row on row / that mark our place", remains one of the most memorable war poems ever written.
The V.F.W. was the first veterans' organization to adopt the poppy and
develop a national distribution campaign. The program has raised millions of dollars to support veterans and their dependents. From its inception over 75 years ago, it has been endorsed by the Veterans Administration and every president since Warren G. Harding.
Buddy Poppies are assembled by disabled, needy and aging veterans in VA medical facilities across the country, then sold at minimal cost to V.F.W. Posts and their Ladies Auxiliaries. The money raised provides compensation to the veterans assembling the flowers and financial assistance to maintain state and national veterans' rehabilitation and service programs. Funds also help support the V.F.W. National Home for orphans and widows of our nation's veterans. Most Americans give generously when they see V.F.W. members selling Buddy Poppies. But if you need a little extra motivation, remember that they're quite an elite group of individuals, although they have only one requirement for membership: to have served our country overseas in combat. "All members of the post are linked together by a bond of camaraderie that was forged through their experiences in combat," states Mike Mauer, quartermaster for the West Mifflin V.F.W. "That's just one of the reasons we're so active."
To attend the event or to donate a gift for the veterans and their families
contact Mike Mauer at (412) 461-2305. |
