Category: Volunteering

Holiday Party Brings Youth to Post through Essay Contest, Scouts

Folks at the post’s holiday social Dec. 16 experienced joy and full bellies after eating Chef Kay’s wonderful beef tenderloin dinner. The scene was set with decorations courtesy of our Navigator’s Troop 309 scouts, who decked the hall with snowflakes, posters and watercolor painted bookmarks.


Before we feasted on dinner, our essay participants received certificates, prize money and medals and the winners recited their essays. This experience always reaffirms one’s confidence in our youngest generation! BRAVO kids! Both winners won the district contest as well and are going on to compete at the Department (aka state) level.


Voice of Democracy: #1 Annika Trippel (also District 2 winner); #2 Conor Fitzgerald; #3 Tommy Daniels; #4 Kiley Fitzgerald. Patriot’s Pen: #1 Ciara Fitzgerald (also District 2 winner); #2 James Daniels. Youth Essay: #1 XiaoTian O’Donohue (also District 2 winner)


Santa and his helper made a surprise appearance during dinner and gave gifts to the kids in attendance, which filled the room with even more cheer.


Thank you to everyone who came out to enjoy each other’s company. We also had a number of take-away meals because of the many viruses in circulation. Thank you for the continued support and to our kitchen team for flexing to a dynamic situation.

    Veterans and Community Work Together to Paint Mural

    It was a Veterans Day to remember for our post this year! Our friends at Urban ArtWorks and veteran artist Chris Kent — with the help of post and auxiliary members, community members, scouts, Mayor Harrell and CM Strauss — were able to bring our much anticipated “Service with Pride” mural to life! It was a fun experience for all participants and certainly fit the intent for the county’s VETS ENGAGED grant. Close to lunch time folks from Taco Loco generously dropped off three large trays of delicious food for our hard working volunteers. Thank you again to everyone who pitched in who were united in service and honor of veterans.

    Here was the external coverage we received of the event:
    Seattle Times
    KCPQ 13
    KOMO 4
    My Ballard
    National VFW
    Mayor of Seattle

    Sign Up to Help Paint Our New Mural!

    The community has already started to sign up to help paint our new mural but we need more of our membership to pitch in! Go to this SignUp Genius link to put yourself down for a time to paint. It should be a great opportunity to connect with local artists, neighbors and our scouting troop who are giving time to our post to make our building more prominent to passers by. Questions? Contact [email protected].


    Seelig Family Receives Service Award

    At the Spaghetti Dinner and Fundraiser Oct. 22, Comrade Commander Teeter presented the Seelig family with a service award as they have been the linchpin for camaraderie at Ballard Eagleson VFW Post 3063 for nearly a decade. Vietnam Veteran Russell Seelig, his wife and chef, Kay, and adult daughters, Amber, Adrienne and Alyss, cook high quality meals every month for 15-20 veterans, family and friends, special holiday meals for 25-30, and more than 100 during yearly fundraisers. Overall the Seeligs have raised nearly $35K for the post’s Veterans Relief Fund, which is used to assist Seattle area veterans-in-need.

    During the Covid lock-down, the Seelig family kept cooking their meals and pivoted to a take-out model, which was a hit for our membership because it created small moments of camaraderie that were deeply needed. Russ also served as post trustee 2016-2019, house committee member 2020-2023, and membership committee member. Russ acted and dressed as the elf aiding Santa during our holiday parties as well.

    The Seelig family continues to positively impact our veteran community during a time when participation in organizations is low. Their diligence in fostering a spirit of camaraderie for veterans around the dinner table is incredibly honorable. Thank you for your dedication to veterans and Post 30363, Seelig Family!