MEEKER I The public may have seen construction work going on at the Veterans of Foreign Wars building at 290 4th St. and Main Street across from the Mountain Valley Bank in Meeker
This building was purchased in March 2015 due to some very generous donations. The projects are being done to make us safer and American Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant.
The original handicap ramp was too steep and the concrete was crumbling, impeding smooth access for wheel chairs. That work should be completed by the end of June.
Our VFW has partnered with the Meeker Lions Club, which meets weekly in our facility and helps with building operation.
Last summer, it was discovered that the Meeker American Legion Post, founded in 1919, was about to lose its charter and needed meeting space, so several of the VFW members joined that organization in order to allow it to continue. Presently, we have approximately 30 American Legion, 50 VFW and 30 Auxiliary members meeting monthly on the second Monday of each month at 5:30pm (1730 for you military types). Please stop by or call 970-878-3758 to learn how you can join and help us with our community involvement.
Late last year, the Meeker Veterans Community Center (MVCC) was formed as a 501C3 non-profit organization for the purpose of operating the building as a community center. In addition to being used for the founders’ meetings, we have been using the building for veterans counseling, educational seminars and meeting places for organizations such as the Northwest Colorado Community College Foundation Board and advisory councils.
The goals of our organizations are to support veterans and do good works in the community by providing patriotic awareness, color guards for parades, veterans’ funerals, sporting events, the Meeker Classic Sheepdog Trials, The Meeker Cattledog Trials, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and so on.
We also provide support for young people with scholarships for College (VFW Patriots Pen and Voice of Democracy) and to Boys/Girls Week events (American Legion). Our auxiliary is in the forefront of these activities with their organization and participation. We also collect and store medical equipment such as wheelchairs, electric wheelchairs, walkers, crutches and other handicap equipment for use by any of our community members.
If you are a veteran, we would love to include your oral history in our archives.
This Saturday, we will be having a garage sale at the facility at 290 4th St. If you would like to donate items, please bring them by the building between noon and 6 p.m. on Friday. The garage sale will take place Saturday between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. All proceeds will benefit Meeker students in the form of scholarships.
Please stop by and see our facility. Maybe there will be something there you simply cannot live without!
Thank you all for supporting our local veterans.
