Veterans celebrate bittersweet last hurrah at VFW Post 1298

Veterans Day

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Veterans, family, and local community leaders gathered in Bowling Green’s VFW Post 1298 to celebrate their heroes with a luncheon.

 Marine Corps League Commandant Robert “Doc” Metz said, “It’s always a pleasure to celebrate Veterans Day means not only for the Marine Corps but for all branches of service.”

Amvets Post 130 Commander Gerald Mounce added, “This is a celebration for all veterans, living dead, past present future.”

American Legion Post 23 Commander Malcolm Cherry said, “We’re proud of all of our military service and we want everybody to be.”

This particular Veterans Day marks the end of the chapter for the VFW Post 1298.

“This is a final hurrah for us here: the last big event we’ll have this year at the VFW,” explained Mounce. “Earlier, we moved our flag off the flagpole and retired it. It’s kind of a bittersweet day for us. We have a fantastic turnout today. It’s been a fun day though. We’ve been having a good time We’re not dwelling on the bad, just the good today.”

The veterans will continue to gather at Bowling Green’s American Legion Post 23, where both the VFW and AMVETS members will move their charters.

“We will be celebrating Veterans Day there,” said Cherry. “It will continue on no matter what. Every year on 11/11…That’s what it’s all about is all working together and helping our country, whatever needs to be done.”

Mounce said, “The best thing you can do for veterans is just want to say thank you, because, if it weren’t for all of us, you wouldn’t have the freedom you got right now.”

Metz agreed, “We’re grateful to everybody that says ‘Thanks for your service’. It helps us to keep going.”