VFW's Building Sale Benefits Community Groups

Since the 1950s, the Williamsburg VFW building along Lower Clover Creek has been a staple for many Williamsburg events. Now the VFW is giving back to the community. Members of the VFW recently sold the building and are giving the profits back to the community.

"It was the idea of the members to give back to the community via the sale," VFW Commander Michael Fay said.

Big decisions

The Williamsburg VFW began roughly around 1946, following World War II. The building joined shortly after in the 1950s.

The Williamsburg VFW, when it was first organized, began as kind of a "social club."

"We had hundreds of VFW members following World War II," Fay said.

The VFW was home to many events including family reunions and weddings.

"It was quite busy," Fay said.

With the influx of COVID, the membership "went downhill and it was difficult to find new members," according to Fay.

Recently, the Williamsburg Boy Scouts used the building for meetings and other events. However, the building, according to Fay, "needed a lot of work, and the VFW didn't really have the money to do the renovations."

Fay admits there was a lot of apprehension first when the idea to sell the building was made.

"There's a lot of nostalgia there," Fay said, especially for some of the older members.

Donation recipients

Groups in the community who are benefitting from the $5,000 donation included the Williamsburg Volunteer Fire Company, the Williamsburg Veterans Memorial Center the Williamsburg Women's Civic Club, the Williamsburg Lions Club, the Williamsburg Public Library, and the Williamsburg Community Farm Show. Other groups with pending donations are the Little League and the group to improve the three fields located near the community center and farm show buildings. Fay said they are working on donating to more groups in the community.

Williamsburg Public Library Head Librarian Roane Lytle said that the library is currently in the process of obtaining a USDA grant for renovations and new children's furniture, and with the 25 percent match, the library is proposing to use the gift from the VFW.

"We just can't thank them enough," Lytle said.

Williamsburg Women's Civic Club President Donna Tate echoes that same sentiment. "We really appreciated the VFW's donation and are saving it for a future need in the community."

VFW's future

Currently, the VFW meets once a month at the Williamsburg Legion on the third Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m. There are discussions about making a spot at the Legion for storage of the VFW's memorabilia and a possible building for meetings. The VFW's main goal and purpose is to "help vets and to work with the VA," Fay said.

Currently, the board is made up of Commander Michael Fay, previous Commander George Bookhammer, Bill Brantner, Bill Weaver and Quarter Master Jeff Allender.

The Williamsburg VFW is sponsoring the annual Veteran's Day Breakfast with The Brickhouse Bistro. From 7-11 a.m. on Nov. 11, any veteran can eat at the Bistro for free. Veterans are encouraged to bring their driver's license, VFW card or legion card to prove status.

"This is just another event that we want the community to know that we are still out there," Fay said. "We still want to make a mark on the community. We really appreciate the Bistro agreeing to do this to honor some of the heroes of our town."