Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
MERCER — VFW Post 9536 in Mercer is hosting a groundbreaking ceremony Aug. 12 at 1:30 p.m.
The general public is invited and the post has invited town dignitaries and business owners to join them, rain or shine. A covered pavilion is being staged in the event of rain.
Bob Davis, commander, said the post meets in the library during the winter because the heating, which was installed in the early 1960s, no longer works well. Every year from winter until around May, Post 9536 is unable to use the building, which hampers its ability to function and be a part of the community. Davis said the post has raised about $25,000 in the last two years to expand and modernize the current location.
Members have already begun removing trees and stumps in preparation of the addition and Davis said they figure to pour slab and frame the addition before winter sets in. Then over winter, they will do some interior work with volunteer help, before finishing the building the next spring and summer.
Davis said the post has experienced surprising success with its January spaghetti dinners. This past January, Davis said it must have been 10 below zero and half the town of Mercer showed up for the spaghetti feed. Davis said the post could not be happier with the support and turn-out from the town and that he is very thankful to the area for the support they are showing.
With the new building, Davis said the VFW in Mercer will be better positioned to give back to the community directly, and also serve as another location people can use to host events. The groundbreaking is going to be a short ceremony, according to Davis, as people are busy on weekends.
The post looks forward to continuing its support for local and national events and days.
