Local veterans host chili feed fundraiser

Nothing satisfies like a bowl of hot chili on a brisk spring day, and there were plenty of contented smiles at the inaugural Sisters Veterans Group Chili Feed Fundraiser on Saturday inside Sisters Community Church.

Area veterans from four major wars sat with friends and fellow soldiers to chow down on homemade chili with all the fixin's, hot cornbread, salad and lemonade all for a $5 donation to help subsidize the group's many activities and needs.

Assisted by the newly formed Boy Scout Troop #139 and the culinary skills of Mim Burke, Diana Strait and Barbara Ferguson, the event drew close to 100 hungry supporters of the joint Sisters posts of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Pearl Harbor survivor Harold Mulligan made the drive out from Redmond with his wife, Connie, and two daughters.

"The chili was pretty good. This is wonderful," he said, flagging down a Boy Scout for another cookie. "And the cookies were even better... chocolate chip. It's good to see there's a lot of people here."

The Flanders Field memorial raffle quilt was also on display, and guests snapped up tickets for the chance to win the heirloom quilt when it's raffled off on Memorial Day, after the ceremonies. Midway through the afternoon the chili was half gone and people were still filing in for more food.

Mim Burke topped off another bowl of chili and revealed a bit of her cooking secrets.

"Well, it's just an old family recipe," she said. "Nothing fancy. It's been continuously busy and it seems like everyone loves the chili; we've gotten a lot of nice reports."

Burke's son Zak is now an Army recruiter in Minnesota near the town she was raised in.

"I just can't say no to a veteran and I'm glad to help them out with this fundraiser," she said.

Vietnam War veteran and keynote speaker for last November's Veteran's Day service at Sisters High School, Pat Bowe, stood chatting with fellow vets and digesting his big lunch.

"It was excellent for a first-time event," he said. "We had a great crew here putting this on and donating their time. Looks like we did really well, about a hundred people. It's a real worthwhile event and I hope it continues on every year to assist the veterans of Sisters and Central Oregon."

Gene Hellickson, post commander for American Legion Post 86, wished to thank everyone for the turnout, and especially Sisters Community Church for providing use of the venue.

"Thanks also to all our members for coming out today, and the Boy Scouts did a great job helping too," he said. "It was a big success."

Afterward, veterans gathered together beside the Flanders Field quilt for a memorable group photo encompassing three generations.