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Brainerd VFW Summer Picnic
It's an annual tradition |
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Join us again in August 2026 for another Brainerd VFW picnic. It is for all post and auxiliary members, along with their families and VFW volunteers. All of the food is provided. No potluck. Food served noon to 2 pm, followed by activities.
Sunday, August 24, 2025, noon to 5 pm: The Brainerd VFW picnic had 108 adults and 13 children for a total attendance of 121. Everyone received a door prize ticket.
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Glorious Creator, Behold the men and women of VFW Post 1647. We each come to you in his and her own way. We gather here under your canopy of Community, Unity, Friendship, and Humility. We are Brothers and Sisters. We are family. So, as we gather here today, let all our conversation be filled with joy and God’s loving kindness. Let us share in the laughter and celebrations of a year filled with benevolence and community outreach. Let us celebrate new leadership within our VFW and DAV organizations. Let us remember this year with loving memories of those who have fallen from our ranks and are now in eternity in your eternal embrace. May we always see the good in others and in each other. May we always forgive a throwaway bitterness. May we always choose friendship and love over things that destroy good character. May we always honor our service with a banner of peace. Bless this food to our bodies and bless every family here today. Continue to bless the United States of America, and all who serve in our armed forces around the world…We ask these things in Your Holy name. Amen!
Many thanks to Walmart for the food and employees to serve it. They are great people.
There were prize drawings with happy winners.
Then it was time to play. Adults went for bean bags. Sue Sterling did calligraphy names for kids. Then there was the cleanup by Dawn Garin and Jeff McArthur plus others.
The Bean Bag Tournament, as reported by Tom Kowalke: 1st place: Tom K & Darnell K, 2nd Place: Jayme L & Jared B, 3rd Place: Jerry L & Brenda L.
Sunday, August 25, 2024: The annual Brainerd VFW picnic was held at St. Mathias Park. Some 94 adults and 15 kids were out on this 80-degree day to enjoy the gathering. Lots of fun.
A crew from Walmart brought and cooked the food. Brainerd VFW Commander Chip Borle is seen in the center back approving the work.
Chaplain Rios read a prayer before the meal. Loving God, bless all those gathered here today as we come together in friendship and fellowship Thank you for the blessings of our individual and collective God-given gifts. Place in our hearts the desire to make a difference to our families, to our community, to our country. Give us balance in times of distraction and uncertainty. Help us move towards our goals with determination and always with an abundant sense of humor. Thank you for food in a world where many know only hunger; For our faith in a world where many know fear; For friends in a world where many know only loneliness. Please bless this food we are about to share, those who prepared it, those who serve it, and those who have worked to make today the special occasion that it is. For all of this we give you thanks. Continue to bless our nation. Continue our state of Minnesota. Continue to bless crowing county. Continue to bless your veterans pass and present and all their families. And it’s in your incredibly powerful and loving name we pray….Amen.
Mike Williams and his wife Karen drew and awarded fifty door prizes!
Sue Sterling used her caligraphy skill to print people's names. There were games for kids, including an egg toss competition. There were bean bags for adults. Mike Williams took first place.
August 27, 2023: The annual Brainerd VFW member picnic was held at St. Mathias Park. It was a nice 74-degree day and there was a good turnout. There were prizes and drawings for kids and adults along with a bean bag tournament.
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Chaplain's Assistant Mark Persons gave this prayer before the meal, "Oh Lord, thank You for bringing this “Band of Brothers and Sisters” together to celebrate our freedom and the veterans who made it possible for us to be here today. Let us be a grateful people and one nation under God. We pray also for the servicemen and women worldwide fighting for freedom from terror. Bless them all….Amen"
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Mark Persons
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Our thanks to Walmart for the food and their crew of four to cook and serve it.
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Then there was a bean bag tournament run the Brainerd VFW sponsored men's over 35 softball team. Winners were Tom Kowalke and Jerry Larson.
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Then there was VFW member Jeff McArthur in a typical pose, leaning on a broom when the floors needed cleaning. He must have learned that during his 23 years in the Army!
A fun time was had by all. |
Sunday, August 28, 2022: The annual Post and Auxiliary Picnic was a great success at St. Mathias Park. Walmart provided hamburgers and bratwurst, along with five employees. Saundra Swearingen had games for the kids. Sue Sterling used calligraphy to make name signs for kids. Walmart gift certificates were given as door prizes. Brainerd VFW Senior Vice Commander Kevin Jensen and Junior Vice Commander Scott Hall were introduced as new members of Post leadership. A rousing game of Bean Bag was played. Richard Maske and Zach Day were the winners. Lots of fun for everyone.
August 8, 2021: The Brainerd VFW held its summer picnic for all paid members and families of the Brainerd VFW and Auxiliary. The fun started at noon. Walmart donated most of the food and their employees did the cooking. Lunch was 1 to 4 pm at St. Mathias Park. The weather was great. There were raffle drawings for prizes.
Then there was the Bean Bag Tournament. On the right, Mike Williams and Tom Kowalke took first place.
Photos below are from August 25, 2019:
