TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
After the “We Remember” memorial held outside the Northwoods Veterans Post on Johnson St. in Merrill on Sept. 11, the crowds came to celebrate the long-awaited Grand Opening of the Northwoods Veterans Post. Speakers at the festivities spoke to the fact that the new building, for which the Grand Opening had to be rescheduled a couple of times due to COVID, is the culmination of the efforts of many individuals and organizations who made it happen. It is also a model for other communities to emulate, because in Merrill, in the design and actualization of the new Northwoods Veterans Post, Merrill has done what few other communities have done: created a building that combines the needs and desires of multiple related organizations and serves each one, focusing on working together to create one building that serves the community.
The new Northwoods Veterans Post (NVP) is home to eight organizations: the Schmitt-Manecke-Donner Veteran of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1638, VFW Post 1638 Auxiliary, Am Vets Post 2000, American Legion Post 46, Honor Guard, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Cub Scouts.
The large building includes a bar and restaurant area which is open to the public, with a pool table and dart board in the bar.
A large banquet hall, which can also be utilized for meetings, banquets, and special events, is available for reservations, by application.
The building includes offices for an NVP Event Planner, a Bar Manager, and each of the eight organizations housed there.
In addition, the building has a computer room and resource library with four computer stations that is open to NVP members and Veterans; a handicapped accessible fitness room for members only; two small conference rooms equipped with a smart TV, which can be reserved by community organizations by application; and a large conference room, also equipped with a smart TV and reservable via application.
There are two volleyball courts, an outdoor terrace area, and horseshoe pits on the grounds.
Guest speakers at the Grand Opening included Alderman Paul Russell; VFW Post 1638 Commander Arnold “Vic” Viljevac [with his service dog, Creek]; Brigadier General Tim Covington, Civil Support Commander for Wisconsin; Don Lynch, Past State VFW Commander; Michele Rathke, VFW State of Wisconsin Senior Vice Commander; Ron Ramos, VFW State of Wisconsin Junior Vice Commander; and Alicia Weix, President of VFW Auxiliary Post 1638.
Immediately following the speakers, Veterans, their families, Auxiliary members, and area Scouts gathered outside to pose for a photo in front of the NVP, recreating an historic photo taken in front of the former VFW building.
The Grand Opening celebration included brats and burgers on the terrace for attendees for a free-will donation, raffles and baskets for a fundraiser, a bouncy house for the kids, a dunk tank, food available for purchase from a local food truck, a cash bar, and live music late into the evening, both Friday and Saturday nights.