Rise and Salute

RONAN — The smell of fresh syrup and sausage filled the Veteran’s Hall of Foreign Wars (VFW) post last Saturday morning as visitors gathered for the monthly pancake breakfast. 

For the past seven years VFW board members have held the fundraiser in order to raise money for the troops, as well as for an excuse to catch up over a nice cup of coffee.

Charles Larum is there to greet diners at the door, along with a decadent breakfast spread including,  pancakes, eggs, sausage and even biscuits and gravy, to name a few. 

Pancake breakfast regulars Bob Hoffenberg, Gary Granley and Christopher Chavasse are just finishing up and looked satified.  

“We had a little bit of everything,” Chavasse said.

 “It is a good chance to meet up with old friends,” Granley onserved with a smile, “then we can go to the shooting range after.”

 Not Chavasse, though.  “I’m going for a bike ride to burn off this breakfast!”,  he promised. 

  Many of the diners come every month to partake in the event, veteran Dale Morgan said, “the pancake breakfast is  good  for the community,  people come and visit.” 

 Todd said that the VFW is always looking for ways to thank veterans. 

Currently, he has been sending requests to the French government in order to receive service medals  for U.S veterans that fought in France during World War II. 

“Many of these veterans fought in the Battle of the Bulge and Normandy,” he said, “so far I have found five here in the valley.” 

The VFW gives not only to veterans but to the entire community. The most recent donation is the  flagpole at Ronan High School. A flag raising ceremony will be held Sept. 7 at 6:30 p.m.

The pancake breakfast is great way to spend a morning, with good company and good food, or as  veteran Earl Fercho of East Pablo said,  “a chance for old friends to meet  and a chance to make some new ones.”