VFW Post 7011 to open in new home
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LEWISTOWN -- Perseverance is a virtue. In life, it is also a necessity.
When fire destroyed Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7011 in Lewistown in 2021, the post auxiliary began fundraising efforts to rebuild on the Chestnut Street site. Complications, mostly financial, arose.
Initial cleanup estimates ranged from $300,000 and $500,000. The actual cost rose to $820,000. The VFW's home was completely gutted and engineering estimates to rebuild stood at $1 million. The post was $400,000 short of the goal and time was running out. Despite local contributions, fundraising fell short.
Demolition of the damaged structure began on Feb. 1, 2023.
"The engineers gave us an approximate cost of well over a million dollars," former post commander John Potts, said at the time. "Probably a million-two. We don't have that and we don't have time to raise it. Plus, with all the other stuff like the new stadium, there are other fundraisers going on in town and it is difficult to raise funds."
Two years and four months after the fire, VFW Post 7011 is set to reopen in a new home. Beginning Friday, Dec. 15, the post will occupy the former site of the Log Cabin Inn at 3371 Route 522 North in Lewistown.
Potts, now the post adjutant, is pleased the VFW has a home again.
"We welcome back all veterans, the auxiliary and all the friends of veterans," he said. "We fought like heck for the last two-and-half years for this."
"After the fire, this was our best approach to have something up and working," current post commander, Ronald Marlatt, said. "We welcome people to our club."
Perseverance and the will to keep going, to never give up. Qualities you associate with those who served our nation.