”Ole Sarge” inspires huge 10-year fundraiser
$23,950! That’s the size of that over-sized check presented to Honor Flight Syracuse this summer, proceeds from the 10-th annual Whitney Memorial Poker Run. We are simply overwhelmed with the generosity of Constantia VFW Post 7325 and everyone who supports this yearly fun event on the north shore of Oneida Lake. Over the last decade, this single event has raised more than $120,000 to help send our veterans to Washington! Just amazing! On hand for the check presentation: HFS VP Rob Schoeneck, Jeff and Susan Bastable, and the stars of this show, Natalie Dodson, Brian Butler and the fantastic people of Post 7325 who make this happen every summer.
Dodson and her family started the Poker Run in memory of her stepdad, Korean War veteran Richard “Dick” Whitney. When the kids were young and tried to get away with something, Whitney would remind them, “You can’t fool the Ole Sarge!” The nickname stuck. Dick passed away before he could make the Honor Flight himself, but the foundation that Natalie established in his name makes it possible for so many other veterans to make the memorable trip to Washington twice each year.
Pictured here is Dick Whitney’s twin brother Bill with 3 of his boys. Bill went on an Honor Flight the year after the Ole’ Sarge passed in 2015.
Each year, as she continues to volunteer for Honor Flight, Natalie says she meets more and more veterans who “open up about their experiences for the first time in decades. I want to make sure that everyone who wants to go, can go.”
And just how does a small VFW Post raise so much money for us each and every year. Natalie says it’s this simple: “The North Shore community goes all out for anyone in need, and we are so grateful the Whitney Memorial Poker Run goes all out for Honor Flight Syracuse!”
A huge thank you to Natalie, VFW Post 7325 and the entire team of wonderful people in the small, rural community on the North Shore who turn out each summer to support our veterans.
And how about this: 4 members of Post 7325 will be flying on Mission #23, September 13, including their Post Commander Paul Jordan.