Veterans acquire new headquarters VFW post now has own building

PEMBROKE – Their official military duty is long behind them, but the men of a local VFW post are working to raise the nation’s flag again, this time over their new headquarters.

On Monday, hammers were pounding and saws were buzzing as members of the Passamaquoddy Memorial Veterans of Foreign War Post 11299 of Perry and Pembroke worked to convert the former Johnson Polaris and Small Engine Repair store into their headquarters.

Post members recently bought the 50-by-86-foot building from a local bank for $90,000. The 4-year-old structure is on 23/4 acres.

This is the first time post members have had their own home.

“We will be 12 years old the 21st of this month, and this is the first time we’ve had an opportunity to raise money from our bingos and our raffles and acquire enough money to put a big down payment and go from there,” said Mike Farrell of Pleasant Point.

Farrell serves as the post’s quartermaster and chairman of the building committee.

The post has more than 180 members, including some who are serving in the military. Richard Socabasin of Pleasant Point is the post commander. Farrell said that most of the work is being done by post members, some of whom are in their 70s.

Several members were at the building, located on Route 1 in Pembroke, on Monday, hammering and sawing. They have to enclose a portion of the ceiling and install some additional lights.

The building will be available to the community beginning in November. “We are going to utilize it for weddings, maybe school reunions, and if the schools want to have a place where they can meet, we have enough room in here where they all can gather,” he explained.

Next year, the members plan to move their bingo operation from Pleasant Point to their new headquarters. Farrell explained how they began their bingo operation. “Sabatis ‘Jigs’ Mitchell Sr., who passed away in December of last year, Richard Socabasin and myself went and borrowed $10,000 to start it off, and we’ve been going uphill ever since thanks to the communities,” he said.

The next project will be to install a flagpole in front of the building. “We are going to get ready to dig the hole and put the flag up,” he said.

Any veteran or nonveteran who might wish to donate to the makeover project may send contributions to the Passamaquoddy Memorial VFW Post 11299, P.O. Box 10, Perry 04667.