VFW hall is reborn after fiery blaze

A remarkable transformation has taken place at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 347 in Glen Cove. What was once a sobering series of scorch marks and exposed wood, the result of a fire in August 2021, is now a showcase, an immaculate wall-to-wall white interior. Adorning the walls are pictures of the founding VFW members, who served in World Wars I and II. The grand reopening is scheduled to take place after this year’s Memorial Day parade.
The fire ravaged the top floor of the hall, which was the headquarters of Nosh, founded at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. The blaze destroyed Nosh’s 23 refrigerators and freezers, which were filled with food that helped feed 500 families a week. Despite the loss, there were no injuries.
Nosh, a pandemic initiative that provided emergency meals for those in need, had joined forces with the North Shore Soup Kitchen, which has served area communities for 32 years. As the pandemic stretched on and demand surged, Nosh moved its operations into the VFW hall, which had more space. After the fire, Nosh found temporary locations at local churches and restaurants, and then a storefront on Glen Street. Now the nonprofit comes full circle, and is back at Post 347.
“Coming back to the VFW feels wonderful,” Christine Rice, Nosh’s chairwoman, said. “The VFW was so great to us when we first leased the space. We’ve really loved being here with them. GLY [God Loves You] was wonderful, and we’re so grateful for that space, but as we always say, there’s more and more families who need more help with food that we’re growing daily. So having this extra space here again is going to be very beneficial for us.”
The VFW rebuilding effort has been supported by the community, with fundraisers organized by U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi and donations from organizations like the Tribute and Honor Foundation, a nonprofit founded by Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews, a former city councilman, and local chef Jeanine DiMenna. Additional donations came from Glen Cove residents.

“Without their help, we’d still be burned down here,” Howard Stillwagon, the post’s senior vice commander, said. “Our insurance company chopped us; they really pulled a quickie.”
The three-year renovations of the hall cost roughly $487,000. Stillwagon said that despite being insured for $600,000, the organization was offered only $150,000 by its insurance company, which claimed that the post let Nosh use the entire building. Stillwagon said that wasn’t the case, because the downstairs area is reserved for members. After the VFW filed suit, the insurance company bumped its offer up to $180,000.
“We really appreciate everybody coming through for us,” Stillwagon said. “We are in debt to the great people of Glen Cove.”
Challenges remain, however. The VFW’s two scholarship funds, one for members and their families, and the other for city residents facing financial hardships, have been depleted due to the lack of income over the past three years. A donation last week by the Tribute and Honor Foundation, added some funds to the scholarships.
Niko Stavrianos, a senior at North Shore High School, in Glen Head, and vice president of its Key Club and Buddy Club, has taken up the cause as part of his Eagle Scout project. He is currently collecting gently used or new items like clothing, shoes, accessories, backpacks and bicycle helmets, for a fundraising event in May or June to raise money for the scholarship fund, with a date and location yet to be determined.
“I wanted to identify a problem that my community was faced with,” Stavrianos said. “And I thought, what better way than to give back to my veterans that help to serve all of us?”
Stillwagon said he was thankful for Stavrianos’ initiative, and highlighted the importance of sharing stories and educating young people about the realities of war. He noted that while school curriculums may not adequately cover this history, simple conversations can shed light on the profound challenges faced by those who have served. Drawing parallels to his own involvement in the Boy Scouts when he was young, Stillwagon expressed optimism about the success of Stavrianos’ project, and emphasized the importance of collective efforts in making a positive impact in the community.
“When you talk to people and tell them stories, they realize how bad it was,” Stillwagon said. “I’m very proud of him. I used to be a Boy Scout when I was young, so hopefully we’re going to make this work.”