Capital Improvement Projects Strengthen VFW Post 7272
VFW Post 7272 recently supported veteran Tim Henney during his silent cross-country walk to raise awareness for PTSD and veteran homelessness by welcoming him to spend the night in its newly refurbished post
By David Dunbar
COVID 19 nearly claimed another victim in town.
The Bellingham VFW Post 7272 – forced to close during the pandemic – struggled financially without its usual sources of income. “We were down on one knee,” recalls Post Commander Kevin Calnan.
How’s the Post doing now? “Our revenue is steady,” says Calnan, and some key capital im-provement projects have been completed. The Post welcomes 25 to 40 visitors each week. And it celebrated its 57th anniversary in October.
“I’m thrilled by the sense of community support at the VFW,” explains Elle Taran who recently started attending yoga classes at the Post. “I’m connecting with local veterans and making amazing new friends along the way.”
“It feels like home,” says Jackie Thibeault who comes to the Post once or twice a week. What she likes most: “Comfortable, no drama, friends!”
“I’m not here just to make everybody happy,” notes Calnan. “I’m here to honor the reputation of the Post and serve vets in the community.” As an example, the Post recently welcomed a vet who’s walking across the country for an overnight stay.
That vet stayed in the newly refurbished Hall, one of many capital improvement projects com-pleted since the pandemic.
“We had the pleasure of meeting Tim Henney,” says Commander Calnan. “Tim is a veteran doing a silent walk across the country to raise awareness for PTSD and veteran homelessness. He didn’t need anything but a place to lay his head for the night. Tim spent the night in our Hall last month. From all of us at the Bellingham VFW, we wish you strength and good health on your continuing journey.”
Among other capital improvement projects completed at the Post: new flag poles at the front of the Post, upgrading the big walk-in cooler, oven and stove upgrades, new chairs/stools and tables for the bar (see photo), and re-paving of the entire parking lot thanks to the generosity of Asphalt Engineering.
The Post offers lots of opportunities for folks to gather. Most popular are Karaoke on Friday nights and Acoustic Guitar with different performers on Saturday nights. Also offered are Cruise Night, Steak Shoot, Yoga, Flag Retirement Ceremonies, Trunk or Treat, Holiday Food Drives, and a Coffee Break on the last Saturday of each month.
The Commander says, “I like helping people, it brings me an internal reward. To vets reading this: Give us a shot, come on down!” There are about 130 members of the Post, but you do not have to be one to visit.
You can learn more by visiting www.vfw7272.org or the Facebook page: VFW 7272 Bellingham. You can also call (508) 883-9538.
