By Doug Boyer
With a full week of Veterans Day activities just past, the veterans and the auxiliary at the VFW were kept quite busy.
Due to the fact that there was no school on Friday (Veterans Day, Nov. 11), area schools held their assemblies throughout the week.
So we started off the week on Monday, Nov. 7, with a wonderful assembly put on at Orofino Jr./Sr. High School, where we judged the art class Veterans Day posters. This was followed by a presentation of the “POW/MIA” table and the Armed Forces medley, and presentation of white carnations to the veterans in attendance.
This was followed up on Thursday at noon, when the VFW presented a new flag to the students and faculty at Peck Elementary, followed by a flag raising with the Pledge of Allegiance and then an assembly hosted by the school and followed up with some great food.
Also on Thursday, we had the honor of attending a music-filled tribute to veterans at Orofino Elementary.
On Veterans Day, we started the day at 7 a.m. with the help of 48 veterans and community members, and posted over 160 U.S. flags at the Orofino and Weseman cemeteries.
We also held Buddy Poppy sales throughout the community, and had a great chili and stew lunch and bake sale hosted by the VFW Auxiliary.
At 3 p.m., we had the honor of presenting Certificates of Appreciation to veteran residents at Clearwater Health and Rehab. Our day concluded with a Quilt of Valor ceremony, where 15 deserving veterans were each presented with a beautiful handmade quilt by the Quilts of Valor Federation in conjunction with the Central Idaho Quilt Guild.
What a wonderful week, and we thank everyone in the community for showing us their appreciation.
A busy holiday season is fast approaching
The U.S. Marine Corps will be kicking off their annual Toys for Tots program for the 2016 season on Friday, Nov., 25 and the VFW is one of the collection centers in our area.
Please help the USMC help the less fortunate by dropping off your new, unwrapped toys at the VFW in Orofino.
The VFW will be holding its Christmas party this year in conjunction with Orofino American Legion Post 53, Auxiliary members and their families at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17, at the VFW hall. Turkey and ham will be supplied by the VFW, so just bring your favorite side dish to share.
There will be door prizes, Christmas music, and plenty of holiday cheer.
Speaking of Christmas, it is not too late to reserve our smoke-free VFW hall for your holiday party or get-together. Dates are filling up fast, so call the VFW today at 476-4117 for an inexpensive holiday party rental.
An engraved brick makes for that perfect Christmas present
We still have plenty of room for more bricks in our “Brickyard of Memories,” and it is not too late to get you or a loved one’s memories engraved.
Please keep in mind there is absolutely no military affiliation required in order to purchase a brick. You can celebrate your children, grandchildren, friends or yourself with anniversaries, birthdays, graduations, births, deaths, years in Orofino—the sky is the limit!
They make a great birthday, Christmas or anniversary present, too! There are currently over 140 bricks in place, with room for hundreds more.
The 4” x 8” bricks are $40 each with your engraved message, and the 8” x 8” bricks are only $70. These bricks, along with some older bricks from the old junior high school, are placed between the two sidewalks leading up to the VFW building.
For further information or to purchase your brick, please call the VFW at 476-4117 or stop by and pick up an order form. Thank you to everyone who has already purchased a brick or bench!
The VFW holds their monthly membership meeting on the first Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. The Auxiliary meets at 6 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month.
The VFW and Auxiliary are updating their records and are requesting that all members let the VFW or Auxiliary know of any email, address, or phone number changes.
Want to join the VFW? We would love to have you! Too busy? Don’t worry, we won’t put any pressure on you to do something. Just contact any VFW member, bring your DD 214 down to the VFW at 330 Michigan Ave., or call 476-4117 for more information.
Not eligible for the VFW? The Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars is now accepting both men and ladies as members to the Auxiliary. Just be a blood relative of a combat veteran and you too can be a member! Give us a call for more info.
A big thank you to everyone in our community who helps support our veterans and Harold Kinne VFW Post 3296.
