June 10, 2021 at 1:12 p.m.
VFW Post #772, Auxiliary to commemorate 75th anniversary with community celebration
VFW Post 772 and Ladies Auxiliary extend an invitation to members of the Longville and Remer communities to be their guests at the celebration, their way of saying thank you for the support the communities have shown the post over the past 75 years.
Special guests to be featured during the 75th anniversary program and picnic will be State Commander, Don Dallman, of Cambridge, Minn., and Sixth District Commander, Larry Robberstad, from Aitkin, Minn. Commander Dallman will be presenting a special diamond jubilee award to the post, on behalf of the VFW National Headquarters. The Post and Auxiliary will provide a free picnic lunch to members of the Remer and Longville communities, served with cake, ice cream, coffee and lemonade. Guests are encouraged to bring a lawn chair.
Entertainment will be provided by "Pickin' & Grinnin'" featuring Sherry Heitz and Tony Ozark, on guitars. Pickin' & Grinnin' will perform patriotic, big band, country, 50's and 60's rock tunes, plus current music.
In May of 1935, Joseph Berres was appointed by a group of area World War I veterans to write to the State Commander of the VFW to begin the process of forming a VFW organization. Installation of the post was done on July 28, 1935. Officers were: Joseph Berres Sr., commander; Bernard Anderson, vice commander; Verl Ford, junior vice commander; Charles Whitcomb, chaplain; George Koenig, quartermaster; Ray Kinkle, adjutant; John Yochum, officer of the day; H.B. Schenck, surgeon; Menzuel Woodford judge advocate; and trustees Ben Ladre, Sam Lewis and Louis Friske. The first official meeting was held at the home of Victor Horton on Aug. 2, 1935. For a period of time, the charter was called "The Lantern Post" because on special meeting nights, lanterns were placed to guide dignitaries to the meeting places. Meetings continued into 1941 until World War II began. The post didn't become active again until 1946. Incorporation papers were filed with Cass County in November 1947.
[[In-content Ad]]In 1948, a drive for sale of certificates to finance a VFW Hall began. The post was able purchased one acre of land on the current site of Studio 5 on Main. Harold Forbes began excavation work on the site in the spring of 1948, where a 40'x100' foot basement was constructed. The VFW Memorial Hall. was sold in 1974 to Pat Tabaka. With Commander Ancel Bishop in charge, the post purchased the Henry Sartell home site, one block north of the Post Office, where a new 40'x60' hall was built. When operational costs exceeded post income, Post Commander Joe Edwards and Auxiliary President Rachel Scheibe met with Longville realtor Bill Hansen to discuss selling the property. It was sold in 1979.
In 1983, with Commander Jack Graham's leadership, membership began to increase. In 1987, the post accepted two women veterans into what had been an all male organization, Army Nurse Corps' Phyllis Cooksey and Henri Ford, a motor corp driver in the WAC's. That same year, Gene Drum formed a Color Guard, who practiced marching on a weekly basis. The VFW was called on to provide military honors at local veteran funeral services, as well as marching in area parades.
The Post is dedicated to serving many VFW programs, contributing to many local organizations, as well as assisting local veterans and their families by following their motto, "Honoring the dead, by serving the living."
The Ladies Auxiliary to Post 772 began on Feb. 2, 1936. Officers were: Loala Yochum, president; Florence Nyvall, vice president; Florence Craig, junior vice president; Tilly Kinkel, secretary; Helma Anderson, chaplain; and Merle Ford, conductress.
The auxiliary unit hosted many fundraisers including a "Hope Chest" raffle; turkey raffles, basket and ice cream socials, luncheons, concession stands and bake sales. During the war they participated in fund-raising for soldier kits, cards and magazines, blood donations and scrap iron drives. In 1977, President Judy Jordan initiated a salad luncheon and style show, with Kay Blais serving as the mistress of ceremonies. Other programs introduced by the auxiliary include The Voice of Democracy Speech and Writers and Patriotic Art contests, youth activities, POW/MIA recognition, and Buddy Poppy Sales. An important program for the Ladies Auxiliary is the sewing of items for veterans' hospitals in St. Cloud, Fargo and Silver Bay. The auxiliary began sponsoring the Campbell Soup labels for the Library in 1984. At that time Toni Drum cut, sorted, and mailed thousands of labels in return for money for the library. Later Betty Johnson spearheaded the label project.
For more information on becoming a member of VFW Post 772 or the Ladies Auxiliary, contact Dennis or Anita Zaske at (218) 363-3239.
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