By Zach Jensen,
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1977 of Decorah has helped local eighth grade students pay for their annual trip to Washington, D.C. for the last 13 years. Through a sort of trade agreement with Decorah eighth-grade American History teacher Wes Knaack, the VFW post gains the help of several eighth grade students for the All Vets Club’s breakfasts on the first and third Sunday of every month during the school year, and in return, the students earn money for their class trip to the nation’s capital while learning valuable skills.
“Bringing in eighth-grade kids to work a breakfast has many benefits — not just for the kids but for us as well,” said VFW Quartermaster Mark Stockdale. “The eighth graders provide us with great support in that they work the breakfasts, and they learn skills they can use throughout their lives.”
Since the program began, the VFW post has raised more than $60,000 for the Decorah eighth grade students who have volunteered to help with the breakfasts. Stockdale said 2023 was the program’s best year yet, adding his post raised $9,284 which was split between 63 eighth grade students who volunteered to work during the breakfasts.
“It doesn’t pay for their trip, but it’s money the parents don’t need to part with,” he said. “And, they learn the value of working hard, and I enjoy working with young adults — giving them directions and teaching them what they need to know.”
Dan Kirkeby, one of the post’s cooks, said some of the volunteering students continue volunteering for the VFW’s meals after the breakfasts.
“It teaches them all something,” Kirkeby said. “We role model them, so they can see the benefits of serving. We’ve had some young women become waitresses for us for a while. Since I’ve been here, every one of them have gone on to be good employees wherever they work.”
During each breakfast, the students learn how to serve food, make toast, pour coffee, buss tables and wash dishes. In addition to learning various duties associated with the food service industry, Stockdale said the students also receive instruction on how to be polite — like referring to diners as “sir” or “ma’am.”
“It takes about an hour to clean up when they’re all done serving, but we stand there and crack the whip on them,” Stockdale said jokingly.
This year’s first eighth grade breakfast will be held from 8-noon Sunday, Sept. 15. at the All Vets Club, 104 State St., Decorah. For information, call 563-382-5232.
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