New building

Some members of the Port Aransas and Rockport VFWs stand on the front porch of the new Moore-McDonald VFW Post 8967 on Friday, June 26. The new building is more than 4,000 square-feet inside with room for fellowship, meetings and more. From left, are Katy Jackson, commander of the Rockport VFW post; Mike Garrett, commander of the Port Aransas VFW post; Jimmy Barr, Post 8967 member; Ed ‘ Peaches’ Denver, Post 8967 member; Jason Jenkins, Post 8967 member and Stacey Andrew, Rockport post adjunct. Staff photo by Vivian Carlson

Since Hurricane Harvey struck on Aug. 25, 2017, the Moore McDonald VFW Post 8967 has been without a headquarters building.

Folks in Port Aransas have been watching the progress of the post’s new building going up, many wondering when it will be completed.

On a recent day, the South Jetty visited with some post members and took a tour of the building under construction.

The new post building is being constructed from the ground up. Originally post members thought that they would be able to keep some of the old post building and rebuild from there. But that was not possible with the amount of damage left by Harvey along with the new city codes that required design changes. The old post building was torn down and the new building is being built at the same location, 311 N. Alister St.

Mike Garrett, post commander said that the electrical work on the post is 99 percent completed, the AC vents and ducts are in. “We are waiting on the inspection once the AC units are in, then the spray foam for the ceilings and then sheet rock,” he said. “We don’t really know when the building will be completed. Hopefully before the end of the year. With having to wait on bids and inspections, we can’t really put an exact completion date on it.”

Members of the Port Aransas and Rockport VFWs stand on the front deck of the new Port Aransas post building on Friday, June 26, after taking a tour of the building. The deck is large enough for a crowd to watch any parade that passes by on Alister Street. From left, are, Stacey Andrew and Katy Jackson with the Rockport VFW, Jimmy Barr, Mike Garrett and Ed ‘Peaches’ Denver with the Port Aransas VFW. Staff photo by Vivian Carlson

Garrett said that two of the members have been especially helpful throughout the building process.

“C.D. McCabe and Jimmie Barr have kept everything moving along,” he said. “We haven’t been stopped by the COVID issues. They have been able to make sure things keep getting done.”

The outside of the post has been painted a light blue and the decking, ramps and stairs leading into the building are completed.

“We wanted to maintain the Port A vibe combined with a military feel,” said Garrett. “The interior decor will have some nostalgic military photos, posters and memorabilia along with new military decor.”

The building will have exposed rafters, with foam insulation covering the ceiling.

Mike Garrett, post commander stands in what will be the canteen in the newly built Moore-McDonald VFW Post 8967. In the background is the custom bar that was built in Oklahoma by post member Leonard Lang. Two members of the Rockport VFW were visiting and getting a tour of the new building. In the foreground is Stacey Andrew, Rockport post adjunct, and Katy Jackson, Rockport post commander. Staff photo by Vivian Carlson

The new post building has a large deck in front, facing Alister Street.

“The decks and much of the building’s design came from ideas that Daniel Mack had for the new building,” Garrett said. “He wanted a deck so that members and guests could sit out on the deck and watch the parades.”

Mack was a long-time quartermaster with the post who died on Nov. 28, 2017. Garrett said that many of the features in the new building are things that Mack thought were needed in a new VFW building.

Another post member, Glenn Vondra, is an architect and drew up the plans for the post building.

An outside area of the post also will include a barbecue area with a fire pit where post members can hold dinners and fundraisers.

Inside is an expansive, open canteen area with a custom-made bar. The room will hold tables and chairs and two shuffleboard tables. Largescreen TVs will be mounted above the bar and on the walls. The Am-Vet organization has donated two 82-inch TVs that will go above the bar in the canteen. The organization also donated the restaurant-style tables and chairs for the space.

Garrett said that the VFW is accepting donations of big-screen TVs and hopes to have a few more donated for the space.

“When the TVs are up and the bar is done it will rival any sports bar in town,” he said.

“We wanted to build a post that would appeal to the younger generation of vets,” Garrett said. “We don’t have many of our World War II vets left and the Vietnam vets numbers are going down. We need to bring the young people into the organization. The national VFW is changing and trying to pull the young vets in, we need to do the same thing,” he said. “We are building something here that will still be here when all us older vets are gone, something that will last for the younger vets.”

Inside, the custom bar was built in Oklahoma by post member Leonard Lang. In fact, Lang built the bar at his home and other post members brought the pieces to Port Aransas from Oklahoma to put it together. Lang also has made most of the new cabinets for the post. He made cabinets to go in the kitchen area and a coffee bar for the meeting room.

The kitchen won’t be able to function as a commercial kitchen because of the new city codes, according to Garrett.

“We just couldn’t afford to put in a kitchen like they have at the restaurants,” he said.

Instead, they will be able to set up the area for their pot-luck dinners and other events. The kitchen also has space for two pool tables. Two dart boards also will be installed either in the area with the pool tables or in the wide-open canteen. The canteen also contains a space for the adult video games that many folks like to play.

Other features that the old post did not have that the new post does contain is a meeting room, offices for the quartermaster and the post commander and two ADA-rated bathrooms.

“In the old building we had to close down when we had a member meeting,” Garrett said. “Now we can meet and the canteen can stay open. In fact, we want to be able to make the meeting room available for other organizations that need some place to meet. We also can rent out the space for a little income.”

On the outside of the building are two ADA handicap ramps- one in the front of the building and one in the back.

Garrett also said that the Port Aransas Garden Club is going to help the post meet the new city landscaping ordinance. That will mean big planters and green spaces. The plans are for the back parking area of the post’s lot to meet the city codes with permeable paving to reduce surface runoff, especially since that area of Alister and Beach Street floods during heavy rains.

Garrett said the VFW wants to hold its grand re-opening on a significant date.

“Harvey anniversary, Veterans’ Day or something like that,” he said.

“We will have a “soft” opening for our members and VFW members from across Texas on a Friday,” Garrett said. “Then, on Saturday, we will hold a big community event.”

During the opening, he said, he wants to give out awards to the individuals and organizations that helped get the rebuild completed.

Two members of the Stewart Wendell Post 3904 in Rockport were touring the building when the South Jetty was there. Katy Jackson, post commander and Stacey Andrew, post adjunct, were visiting to see the progress of the post building.

The Rockport VFW building also was destroyed by Harvey and its members are raising money to rebuild.

“When we get reopened it is very important that we help Rockport get open,” Garrett said.

Members of the two posts plan to do some joint fundraisers to help out both posts come back from Harvey.

Folks who wish to donate to the Port Aransas post building fund can send checks payable to the Moore-McDonald VFW Post 8967 to VFW Post 8967, P.O. Box 1447, Port Aransas, Texas 78373. Garrett said they don’t have an exact number on how much more money is needed to complete the building project. He said that after the fire main is tied in they will have a better idea of how much more money is needed.

To donate big- screen TVs email Garrett at Mgarrett9992@icloud.com.

Follow future issues of the South Jetty for information on the post’s completion and grand-opening.