CENTRALIA VFW WELCOMES NEW COMMANDER, EMBARKS ON REMODELING PROJECT

Centralia Veterans of Foreign Wars #2055

618-532-9551

1826 S. Pine St. | Centralia, IL

‍https://vfw2055.org/di/vfw/v2/default.asp

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Curt Hongsermeier comes into his new position as Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars #2055 with some big goals and even bigger projects to oversee.

‍The Greater Centralia Area native and United States Navy Veteran was voted into the role on March 15, following a period as Interim Commander. Hongsermeier said he looks to hit the ground running on his list of to-dos, which includes a $40,000 expansion of the post.

‍“We have a remodeling project that we are about to start to make the inside of the building more accessible,” said Hongsermeier. “We have a really big hall where we host bingo, our Friday night dances, wedding receptions, birthdays and things of that manner. On the short end of the hall we are going to put up a wall to divide the space.”

‍“On that shorter end of the hall, we are going to bring in dart machines and pool tables and we’re going to knock out some walls to make the bar area a bit bigger and more accessible to the public. We will then be able to have other activities in the hall and won’t be limited to one activity at a time.”

‍Hongsermeier said the VFW has approved a bid and selected the contractor for the project and will host several upcoming events to gain financing, in addition to advertising space for donors within the building.

‍“To defray those costs, we are gong to sell advertising on the wall,” said Hongsermeier. “We will have 1 foot-by-1-foot signs with the contributing company’s name and logo on them. We will have three donation levels. We will have the silver level at $100, the bronze level at $250, and the gold level at $500.”

‍In addition to the upcoming remodeling project, Hongsermeier is also assisting with an effort to assist Mission POW/MIA, and organization dedicated to returning the remains of fallen Veterans back from overseas.

‍“We were doing some cleaning in the post, cleaning out some of the rooms and closets, and we found a North Vietnamese battle flag that had been captured in 1969,” explained Hongsermeier. “I made contact with Mission POW/MIA and mailed the flag to them. They use these flags in their negotiations with foreign governments to repatriate the remains of US service members and bring them home to their families.”

‍In addition to their internal projects and initiatives, the VFW have remained a consistent servant of both area Veterans and the community at large.

‍The organization fundraises locally, offering services and assistance to combat veterans, while also supporting local charities, awarding scholarships to junior high, high school, and college students, making food and drink donations to local non-profits, co-sponsoring the POW/MIA balloon at Centralia Balloon Fest alongside the American Legion #446, working in tandem with the American Legion to provide military rites at Veteran funeral ceremonies, and more.

“Wherever we see a need in the community, we try to fill it,” said Hongsermeier.