Bruce Crossing VFW gets new sign

BRUCE CROSSING - VFW members in Bruce Crossing recently erected a new sign in front of the post on M-28.

The sign, which cost more than $1,000, according to Roger Anttilla, commander of the Henry A. Holappa VFW Post 9345, was placed in front of the post last week.

"One night at a meeting I said, I don't like that old sign and we should do something about it and everyone agreed. It was as simple as that," said fellow member Jimbo Jorgensen, who Anttilla credits with getting the ball rolling on the sign.

The post held hot dog and brat sales on the Fourth of July and Labor Day weekend to raise funds for the project, Anttilla said.

The post was not able to have many events this year because of the coronavirus and had to have special permanents from the health department in order to host the two outdoor events, he said.

According to Anttilla, the sales provided the post with enough funds to not only pay for the sign, but to also refurbish and paint some of the rest of the facility.

Jorgensen said they had originally only planned the Fourth of July sale, but because everybody enjoyed seeing each other again so much, as most events have been cancelled this year, the post decided to have the second sale on Labor Day.

"We had a good turn out thanks to the locals and people traveling. We had good turn outs because everything tasted good. We had people that came back for more," said Anttilla. "We lucked out on the weather."

He credited, "A lot of generous people" in the community and veterans for helping the post to acquire the sign.

John Sheppard, of Sheppard Signs, a veteran of the U.S. Army who lives in Kenosha, Wisconsin, made the sign for the post, which took approximately two months to complete. Jorgersen said he suggested they get the sign from Sheppard.

"I knew John. I knew that he was a veteran. I knew he'd give us the best deal and that he does excellent work," Jorgensen said.

With the funds leftover after purchasing the sign, post members were able to paint and stain some of the other signs at the post, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Henry A. Holappa signs.

"We took (the signs) down and sanded and repainted them, painted the front wall, removed a couple of shaggy old trees so that we could see the building better. We pressure washed the deck and we are in the process of staining it," Anttilla said.