West Mifflin Air Force JROTC Cadets Present $500 Donation To West Mifflin VFW Post

By Michael P. Mauer

West Mifflin Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 914 Intrepid received a $500 donation from the West Mifflin Area Senior High School Air Force JROTC during the 13th annual Military Ball Banquet at the Westwood Golf Club April 7. The funds were raised from a Bataan March organized by the cadets that was held at the Waterfront Bike Trail in Homestead April 1.

Veterans of Foreign Wars West Mifflin Post 914 Intrepid Commander Jake Bradich, an Army Iraq war veteran, and post Junior Vice Commander David Luikart, a Marine who served in Vietnam, both completed the 14 mile course along with several other high school cadets to help earn pledges. All of the money raised by the event was donated to VFW Post 914.

“The money raised by these outstanding cadets will be used in our hospital visitation program and other efforts we do.” said Luikart, who also directs the VFW post’s main fund-raising efforts as the unit’s Buddy Poppy Chairman. “What these cadets have done here to help us in our mission is remarkable.”

Over the last 10 years, VFW Post 914 has raised more than $90,000 through Buddy Poppy sales, fund raising and donations. As the post has never operated a club and has had no social members since receiving its VFW charter in 1991, the cadets’ donation - along will all of the other post funds – will directly impact veterans and their families.

“We are extremely grateful for the donation, and proud that these youngsters chose to help us,” said Commander Bradich. “Their commitment to community service and volunteering to help others is a positive reflection of West Mifflin’s Air Force JROTC program and those who participate in it.”

For more information about VFW Post 914 and its activities, contact Commander Bradich at: 412-464-9838.