Editorial | Cookout Helps Two Veterans Nonprofits

The April 19 “Cafe Cookout” at American Legion Post 40 in Socastee is a joint fundraiser for Scents for Soldiers, which is again bringing wounded combat veterans to the area for a visit, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 925’s exhibit of the “Agent Orange Quilt of Tears,” and a miniature Vietnam Memorial during Military Appreciation Days in May.

The Cafe Cookout is one of the several fundraising events by Lou “Mash” and Rhonda Mascherino, who operate Veterans Cafe & Grille in Northgate Shopping Center. Scents for Soldiers had been selected as the nonprofit to benefit from the April 19 fundraiser when Mascherino was approached about helping Chapter 925 raise funds to pay for the cost of the Agent Orange quilt and the mini Vietnam Memorial.

“The only thing we could do” was make it a joint fundraiser, Lou Mascherino said, so he checked with Christina Shealy, founder of Scents for Soldiers. “Christina said OK.” Bob Hawkins, who has been involved in Military Appreciation Days since it started says, as in previous years, Scents for Soldiers needs funds to pay for bus transportation. Lodging, meals and so forth typically are underwritten by many generous donors so recovering veterans have a cost-free 4-day vacation.

VVA Chapter 925 needs approximately $2,900 to pay for half of the cost of bringing the mini Vietnam Memorial and the Agent Orange quilt to Myrtle Beach. The city is paying half the cost, as was the case a year ago when a larger version of the memorial was part of Military Appreciation Days. The traveling wall was set up outside. The mini wall and quilt will be displayed in a tent at the old Pavilion site on Ocean Boulevard. As far as planners know, this will be the first time the quilt has been exhibited here.

The May 14-16 events also include a golf outing, a Pelicans baseball game and a dinner dance. The Military Appreciation Days events will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the first U.S. combat troops in Vietnam. Gary McCormick of Chapter 925 says none of the May 14-16 events are fundraisers. From the April 19 cookout, Chapter 925 will take no more than the amount needed for the quilt and mini wall.

Mascherino hopes the Cafe Cookout will raise $6,000, which would cover the costs for both nonprofits. The 2014 spring cookout raised $5,100, so “we’re hoping to better” the total on April 19. This will be the ninth cookout since the Mascherinos started the fundraisers in March 2011. An October cookout typically benefits the Veterans Welcome Home & Resource Center in Little River.

In addition to the cookouts, the Mascherinos and a cadre of volunteers also raise money for Blue Star Mothers and Wreaths Across America. “Last year, we went outside the veterans community and did a fundraiser for Downs Syndrome.” In all, their efforts raised about $18,000 in 2014.

The cookout results have increased since 2011 and we hope the April 19 event at American Legion Post 40 continues the successful string. Thus far, Mash notes, “we’ve not had to change a date” because of weather, but the rain date is May 3.

This story was originally published April 7, 2015 at 2:48 PM with the headline "Editorial | Cookout Helps Two Veterans Nonprofits."