Community cohesiveness and generosity was on full display last Thursday as the Patchogue Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post #2913 received new roofing and siding work donated entirely by the Kulka Group.
“We had been on the market for new roofing for about three or four years now,” Post Commander Joseph VanEmmerik told The Messenger. “We’ve been seeing a lot of leaks and water damage to the greenboards (waterproof drywall). With longer rain periods we’re seeing these days, we knew we needed to get this fixed.” He added that the building itself is almost seventy years old.
VanEmmerik, who served three-and-a-half years in the Army, which included a tour in Korea, has been Commander of Post #2913 for one year. He said that he had seen much larger-scale renovations donated by local contractors for other Veterans’ halls facilitated in part by Suffolk County Legislator Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue) (pictured below). Estimates for the project, which included roofing repairs on two bump-outs, greenboard replacements, and siding work, were in the ballpark of $20,000.
“It’s kind of a high price tag, and especially with COVID, our revenues went down because we couldn’t rent the hall out,” said VanEmmerik. “But we know Legislator Thorne has helped with other VFW projects, and when we asked him if he could help us, he said ‘absolutely.’”
VanEmmerik described the turnaround from Legislator Thorne’s office to rendering of repairs as “very quick,” with a difference of just three months.
“Legislator Thorne came to us and said that the VFW was having trouble and asked if we could help out, and we’re thrilled to help out,” said Rob Mannino, one of the owners of the Kulka Group. “For us, it’s an opportunity to give back to people who deserve it very much. This is a small drop in the bucket, but we couldn’t do enough to help these guys.”
The work started shortly before 8:00a.m. and was scheduled to be completed by noon. The Kulka Group is also heading the development for the Grove, a workforce housing project in East Patchogue, but VFW Post #2913 is their first donation of services to a Veterans’ hall.
“Behind me stands American Heroes, people who served our country, went away, did their job, and came home,” said Legislator Thorne, joined by Director of the Suffolk County Veterans’ Service Agency Marcelle Leis (pictured below). “The VFW is the location where they come home to, where they can have conversation and brotherhood and sisterhood with our Veterans.”
Thorne added that the COVID-19 Pandemic put Veterans’ halls and groups in the “back seat” as far as catching up on bills and maintaining their buildings.
“Thank you so much for being an amazing neighbor to our Veterans,” said Thorne.
“Suffolk County is home to largest Veteran population in the state,” said Leis, who also calls Post #2913 home. “It’s invaluable that we have this kind of support to keep these posts operating.”
“When Legislator Thorne approached us and asked us to be a part of this, we see it as an opportunity to give back to people who deserve it. We couldn’t do enough here to show our appreciation for all you have done,” Mannino (pictured below) told residents of the post.
“We will always stand with them [our Veterans]. We will always help them. We will always defend them and do what we need to not only make their transition back into civilian life great, but more importantly, that their needs are met,” said Thorne. “It’s our duty to you in a very small manner.”
The Kulka Group was presented with proclamations in recognition of their generosity and support for the Veteran community on behalf of Legislator Thorne and the Seventh Legislative District, as well as Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches).
