VFW Post 6604 Serves Those Who Served in Folsom
Aug 29, 2016 09:25AM ● By David Norby
Tucked away at the end of Forrest Street, on the bluffs overlooking Lake Natoma, the Folsom Veterans Hall is home to VFW Post 6604. It’s a welcoming place—think Cheers, where everybody knows your name—for those who have served in the U.S. military and their families. It is also a community meeting hall, a watering hole, a Sunday breakfast spot and a place to quietly reflect on the tolls of war.
Kent Garman is post commander of VFW Post 6604, the local branch of the congressional chartered Veterans of Foreign Wars organization, and he’s quick to point out that the Folsom Veterans Hall serves not only the VFW, but eight additional veterans groups including the American Legion, Marine Corps League, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Amvets, VFW Auxiliary and Submarine Veterans.
“We want to get the word out that the Veterans Hall is here,” says Garman, a U.S. Navy captain in the Vietnam War and retired Stanford physician who now teaches part-time at UC Davis (when he’s not volunteering at the Hall). “There are many veterans in the area who don’t know about it. Once they discover it, they’re eager to join our ranks.”
The City of Folsom built the Veterans Hall for VFW Post 6604 and the American Legion in 1995. Over the years, more veterans organizations have settled into the facility, including Rolling Hills Blue Star Moms—mothers, grandmothers and legal guardians with children serving in the military—who meet monthly at the hall. The group also holds packing parties to fill care packages and ship them to active troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
An important objective of VFW Post 6604 and the other member groups is to respond to homeless veterans. “We recently reached out to a family in need,” explains Garman. “A woman veteran and her two kids were living in a car with no food and no one to turn to. We assisted with relief funds, support and information to help her get back on her feet.”
Most days, Len Dobish, quartermaster of VFW Post 6604, also volunteers to oversee the hall’s operations and joins Garman. Dobish is a Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient. He describes September as a busy month, in part because that is when planning begins for the annual Folsom Veterans Day Parade. “We are proud to host the biggest veterans parade north of Fresno,” says Dobish. “There are about 3,000 participants with marching bands, floats, classic cars, riders on horseback, color guards and more.”
Local dignitaries and veterans judge the parade entries and present awards in a number of categories. Immediately following the parade, a brief ceremony to honor local veterans is held at the Veterans Memorial in Folsom City Lions Park.
The hall is a hub of activity year-round with an event calendar that includes supper nights (Tuesday to Friday) and Sunday breakfasts. Meeting space is offered as a community service to groups and troops such as the Rotary Club of Folsom, Folsom City Host Lions Club, Boy and Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs and the local quilting guild.