LAKEVILLE, Minn. – Fifty years after the opening of the Lakeville VFW hall, members of Post 210 will gather again Saturday for its closing.
Taps will be played and the American flag will be lowered from its staff in front of the hall for the last time.
"Oh, it was not easy," said Roy Bressler, of the decision to close the VFW hall. The junior vice chairman of Post 210 added, "A lot of tears will be shed."
Post officials can take solace in the fact they are far from alone. VFW halls are being shuttered across the state. Where a dozen once stood in Minneapolis, only one remains. None are left in St. Paul.
The primary problem is demographics. WWII and Korean War Veterans are dying, with too few of today's veterans to replace them.
"They're wrapped up into their family. They've got to go to soccer practice and dance class and you name it. And they just don't have the time to come here," said Bressler.
Minnesota's VFW membership peaked at 86,000 in 1991. It's fallen to roughly 42,000 today.
Bressler says Post 210 hopes to return to the type of community work it used to be known for now that it won't be pouring its money into its bar and hall.
The post was spending $2,200 a month just to cover taxes, utilities and licenses, according to Post 210 Commander Randy Pronschinske. "Everything's going up," he said.
Pronschinske said VFW halls were originally built to raise money for veterans and community projects. "If you're not doing that, you need to move on."
Bressler is hoping volunteer opportunities helping scouts and other youth groups will be more appealing to younger veterans too.
Post meetings will be moved to the Lakeville Heritage Center.
Bressler says a new owner is scheduled to close on the sale of the old VFW hall later this month and plans to open a restaurant. He said a deal was reached with the new owner to allow Post 210 to continue to sell pull-tabs, a primary source of revenue for the post.
At its peak Minnesota had 320 VFW posts. Just more than 220 of those remain. Between 125 and 130 of those operate clubs, according to the state headquarters of the Minnesota Veterans of Foreign Wars.
