Commander of VFW Post 9601

As we begin the new decade, it is with great pleasure that we can announce that the CVVM Expansion project has begun!!!!!! After years of fund raising, hard work, a couple of false starts and a generous bid by Bridges Construction, ground broke on the project Christmas Week. As of this writing, the back retaining wall has been completed. The rebarb has been formed and we are ready to pour the base/ side walk. We will then let the concrete "cure" for a month before placing the new Granite Service Stones. (FYI, never put 2 ton stones on wet cement.) It will then be down to installing the pavers and benches and beautifying the landscape. I should add a big shout out to Post Members, Hank, Rick and Kasey for the lighting and electrical work they did prior to pouring the concrete. The whole project should be completed by mid March - early April, depending on weather. Which means that the Rededication Ceremony will happen in late April or in conjunction with our Memorial Day Services, which we will decide during our monthly meetings. To follow the construction and see pix of the project, and for all updates, please visit cvvm.info .

I would like to thank all the members that had a hand in this: Jeff, Jim, Tony, Pat, Rick, Hank and Kasey (who is coordinating the project). Also a big shout out to Bob Mattos, without whom the planning and stone work would not have happened, and to Robert Bridges whose Construction Company and hard working professionals made it happen.

What all this means for the Post Members and the reason for the Expansion, if you would like to memorialize someone or a group, now is the time. Visit the above web site, fill out the form and submit ASAP. We would like to engrave as many names on the stones prior to placing them on the Memorial. We will start the engraving in March, so all forms must be submitted prior to the end of Feb. If not, there is no guarantee that the name will be placed in time for the dedication Ceremony. So please get the forms in now!!!

With all this going on, it's easy to forget all the other events by the Post. The Honor Guard conducted over 50 Funeral/ Honor details last year. The yearly Crab feed on Feb 29th is nearly sold out. The Golf Tournament is on May 30th. The Semi Annual Bocce Tournaments are in June and Oct. The Quarterly visits to the Livermore CLC and so much more. So please come to the monthly meetings and stay involved with all our events.

Of course, all of this is so we can complete our number one job, help servicemen in need. Let's find these Brother and Sisters in Arms and give them all the support we can.

In Fellowship

Stephen West, Commander
VFW Post 9601
Castro Valley, CA