History
of Andrew F. Kokesh VFW Post 1816 located in Garrison, Minnesota.
by
Karen A. Miller, Jr. Vice Commander
Our post was established in
1973 by local veterans at the White House Bar (now named the Bird’s Nest Bar) on Highway 18 located near Mille Lacs Lake.
Land was donated to build a Veteran’s club in 1975 by Joe Shaff in the town of Garrison,
Minnesota. The actual club was completed in 1977 and named
the Jorgenson Hall. Most of the work was completed by donations from community members and businesses which saw the need for
such a facility for our veterans.
In 1983, the charter members
wanted to pay a tribute to a local Vietnam veteran, Andrew F. Kokesh whom
was killed in action in Chu Lai, South Vietnam
June 21, 1969 in a mortar attack. He was awarded a Bronze Star for Heroism, and the Purple Heart.
Andy’s letters spoke
about his love for the Garrison, Minnesota area which he
loved. When he was stationed on the shores of the South China Sea, he wrote, “The waves coming in from the sea remind me so much of home. I really love water. It’s strange, but
right now there is an odor coming off the sea so similar to that of Mille Lacs that I could scream! Oh, how I love that lake.
The summer I spent driving the Myr Mar launch will always be remembered as one of my finest.”
On Memorial Day in 1986, Jon
Echternacht, Andy’s high school classmate, wrote a letter that was printed in the Minneapolis Star. It reads, in part,
“On Memorial Day, I think of Andy and hope the purpose is not to glorify war,
but to remember the veterans like Andy, and the terrible cost of conflict when our ability to non-violently negotiate our
problems fails.”
In July of 2008, a Memorial
service was held by the Garrison VFW Post 1816 Color Guard to dedicate a new headstone on his final resting place in Garrison, Minnesota.
Since 1985, the club has grown
considerably to give additional benefits to veterans, their families and our community. A full service kitchen was built in
1985. In 1990, a van was purchased so that the club is able to assist all veterans going to and from the Veterans Hospital and clinics for their medical
needs. In 1993 a pavilion was built and donated by the Irene Johnson family to provide additional summer outdoor entertainment
for veterans and their families at our facility.
We
pride our club on being responsive to the needs of Veterans, their family and friends from all over the United States. Our
comrades include veterans from all wars past and present. We provide an environment where true comradeship can be realized
by all Veterans of Foreign Wars. Please stop by and join us today.