Sisters veterans groups hold open house

Last week the local Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion Posts combined to host an open house for area veterans. The purpose of the meeting was to acquaint Sisters veterans with the two organizations and provide veterans with assistance and support.

Nearly 50 people filled the seats at Sisters City Hall last Wednesday evening to hear VFW Post Commander Phillip Gale welcome members and visitors and explain local veterans' programs. Gale emphasized that all veterans are welcome at the organizations' meetings whether they are members or not.

Gale, who served as a U.S. Navy Aviation Structural Mechanic for more than 20 years, is in his second year as Post Commander and has made it his mission to revitalize the Sisters posts.

"Just a couple of years ago," he said, "there were only five VFW members in the post and only three in the American Legion. We couldn't just let it die, so we decided to do something about it. Today we have 33 VFW members and 11 American Legion members."

Gale listed some of the organizations' accomplishments over the past year. Foremost among them was the dedication of the veterans' memorial and flagpole at Sisters Village Green. All honorably discharged deceased veterans who lived in Sisters for five years or more are eligible to have their names placed on the memorial.

Also last year, the posts took over responsibility for maintenance of the Sisters City Flag Program. They began assisting with this program last year and finalized an agreement with the city to assume responsibility just last month. Under the agreement, post members place U.S. flags along Cascade Avenue (Highway 20) for a total of 52 days a year for nine scheduled holidays or festivals.

Through the sale of buddy poppies, the VFW and Legion also raised money for a local veterans emergency fund, and collected "half a pickup" load of food for Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank during rodeo weekend. The veterans also helped celebrate the Camp Sherman Store's 90th birthday.

After a brief discussion of business, the meeting was adjourned so all the attendees could enjoy pizza and refreshments. Ken's Old Fashion Pizza Pie provided pizza for the event at a special rate.

Gale said the posts are actively seeking new members but stressed that all veterans are always welcome, and the organizations stand ready to assist any veteran - member or not - in any way they can.

For more information about these veterans' organizations or other local veteran issues, contact VFW Post Commander Phil Gale at 549-6167.