On Sunday, April 6, Broad Channel's Veterans of Foreign Wars Prince-Wynn Post #260 hosted a brunch for 18 inpatient veterans from the St. Albans Veteran's Hospital and Community Living Center.
A Veterans Administration bus arrived at the newly rebuilt VFW hall on Shad Creek Road shortly after 1 p.m.
A sign welcomed them to the Broad Channel Post and each veteran was individually greeted and escorted into the dining hall where they were presented with a new dress shirt.
As a VFW spokesperson wrote, “You could tell by the smiles on their faces that the vets really enjoyed their company and attentiveness! The meal was a great success and many of them had seconds and one or two went for thirds!”
The vets were entertained with Irish step dancing by Meagan and Katie Corbett and Shannon Doherty and a hula hoop act by Maggie Turchio and Gabby Giordano.
Then the floor was cleared and the vets were off to the “horse races,” where volunteers stood in as the horses.
Afterwards, all enjoyed the warm spring afternoon in the Post’s backyard area before the vets left later in the day.
Even while recovering from the storm, the Prince-Wynn VFW Post has remained very active in supporting veterans.
The VFW’s Josette Turchio noted that the Ladies Auxiliary visited the veterans at St. Albans later in the week.
“These are veterans,” she said, “who have come home and are homeless. We teamed up with Humana and brought them a delightful full continental breakfast donated by Humana and prepared by Panera Bread.”
On Wednesday, April 9, Post 260’s Ladies Auxiliary brought dessert to St. Albans home as part of the Passover celebration for the veterans there.
“It touches your heart,” Turchio said, “when you are thanked simply for whole milk. Every veteran deserves not to be forgotten.”
On Sunday, April 13, the Broad Channel VFW will be hosting an Easter egg hunt and other festivities for children 9 and under starting at 1 p.m.
VFW Post 260, like the island community around it, was severely hit by Hurricane Sandy. After more than a year of rebuilding they are now able to hold events and activities. The VFW is located at 209 Shad Creek Road, just off Cross Bay Boulevard in Broad Channel.
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