Story originally printed in the Winona Daily News or online at www.winonadailynews.com
Published - Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Vets’ new home: Center progressing toward a November opening
 Ashley Furniture Chairman Ron Wanek, center, along with other donors and officials listen to architect Jim Carlson Tuesday during a tour as they stand in what will be the lounge of the new Winona Veterans Center. Wanek donated $100,000 in May 2007 to help build the center, which will be completed in November. (photo by Katie Derus/Winona Daily News) |
At a time when most veterans’ organizations are shrinking or struggling, Winona’s are expanding.
Donors, veterans and officials got a sneak preview of the progress at the Winona Veterans Center on Sarnia Street, a $1.1 million project that will serve as the home to several veterans’ groups, including American Legion Post 9, the Hiawatha Valley Marines and the local branch of the Disabled Veterans of America.
The group of veterans’ organizations is adding on to an old armory, gifted to them by the U.S. Army, said fundraising coordinator Dennis Cleveland. The project will add nearly 9,000 square feet of space, including a dining room, which will hold about 300 people, and a lounge, which will serve nearly 250.
At Tuesday morning’s gathering, Cleveland announced the dining room will be named after the Wanek family, which gave the first major gift of $100,000 to the project in May 2007. Ron Wanek, chairman of Ashley Furniture in Arcadia, Wis., has deep ties to the area and his family, which has lived in the area for more than 160 years, served in the military in World War I and World War II.
“Veterans need a high-class comfortable place to go,” Wanek said.
The lounge will be named for the widely known Slaggie brothers — Tom, Mike and Steve — all of whom served in the military.
The new facility will replace the current American Legion building, which has three different levels, making access for older veterans difficult, if not impossible in some cases. Cleveland also said the Legion has a real estate purchase contract for the current building, located at 265 E. Third St.
The new building features large windows that look out over Winona’s Lake Park as well as the bluffs lining the south end of the city. In addition to the dining facility, the new building will allow other veterans’ groups to have space, including room for the Hiawatha Valley Marines and a computer room for the Disabled Veterans, who restore used computers and donate them to individuals and organizations that need them.
Post commander Jeff Brokaw said Winona is one of only a couple of American Legion posts expanding.
“The trend is for smaller posts to either close, consolidate or just not have a home,” Brokaw said. “But not here. Really, our veterans and people make the difference. They’ve made this possible.”
The new space will be a benefit beyond just veterans’ groups, said Visit Winona executive Pat Mutter, who sees the additional space as a “much needed” offering for groups, weddings and organizations needing a meeting facility.
“It’s a great option, especially if a group needs an assembly room and some room for breakouts,” Mutter said. “There are not a lot of big spaces in town.”
Cleveland, who wore a construction helmet and led the group of about 30 through the building, said the new property is nearly paid for because of charitable gaming, fundraising and the sale of the former property.
“This is for next year and the next 50 years,” he said.
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