Food nights, weekly Bingo, a site for current service members to hold events and a gathering place for veterans - the VFW building in St. Martins will become the center for increasing activities as the VFW building in downtown Jefferson City closes.
The two VFW posts - Nos. 35 and 1003, respectively - merged nearly two years ago to become the Basinger/Sone Memorial Post 1003. They kept the number of the oldest charter and combined their namesakes - Wyman Basinger, former Cole County Sheriff, and Roy Sone, the first Cole County resident to be killed in World War I.
Now, the organization will consolidate its location at St. Martins.
The downtown building, which has been used by the VFW for more than 50 years, will close at the end of business on Dec. 31.
The Capitol Avenue, four-story brick location is about 12,500 square feet. Rumor is the building was a German-language newspaper operation a century ago.
Before Post 1003 owned the Capitol Avenue building, it met in the second floor of a Madison Street building, recalled long-time member and past commander Tom Ward.
The St. Martins location is approximately 4,000 square feet, ADA-compliant with a big parking lot and a barbecue deck. It also has 5 acres for future expansion.
Ward has served nine one-year terms as post commander after joining in 1979, following his service in Vietnam in 1970.
When he was introduced to Post 1003 as a Vietnam veteran, they clapped and welcomed him, a very different response than the vulgar hand gestures he received when he returned from war to California.
"It was heartwarming," he said.
The VFW has been a place to do good for Ward, who is involved in the Honor Guard, Bingo, activity clean-up and more.
During his first go-round as commander in 1984, Post 1003 had approximately 1,660 members. Today, the combined memorial post has about 650.
"It was a huge post with many World War II veterans, most of whom have gone home," said current Commander Phil Kalaf.
They have a few still-active World War II veterans.
"It's neat to have them, and this keeps the guys young," Kalaf said.
Korean and Vietnam war veterans are also aging.
Looking to the future, the post wants to reach the present service members, particularly the Missouri National Guard, Kalaf said.
What all members share is a love of country and sense of patriotism, Ward said. They've also experienced wartime in a post outside of the U.S. soil.
"We speak the same language," no matter the generation, Kalaf said. "It's brotherhood, a sisterhood."
So to carry on the post to serve in the future, the choice had to be made to consolidate, Kalaf said.
"The time came when we had to evaluate our processes, to ensure the VFW stands viable for future decades," Kalaf said.
The St. Martins facility will allow for bigger and better Bingo nights, which is the post's core fundraiser to promote its other veterans support projects.
"Our mission is "veterans helping veterans and their families,'" Kalaf said. "This building (in Jefferson City) has gracefully and respectably met its needs."
Leaders like Kalaf and Ward hope the coming change will rejuvenate current members and invite new ones.
"We're not going away," Kalaf emphasized. "We will be a stronger presence in the Jefferson City community because of this move."
Call 573-291-6654 or 573-636-0767 for more information.