MANITOWOC (NBC 26) — Dennis G. Scherer was in the Marine Corps from 1962 to 1966. He was part of the first regiment landing party in Vietnam.
“I’ve gone through the mill on a lot of different things," said Scherer.
For the past 20 years, he’s been the commander of the AMVETS Post 99 in Manitowoc.
“It helps a lot to get things out of your system," said Scherer. "And I think it’s a great advocate to have some place to come to.”
Four years ago, he was honored as the Manitowoc County Veteran of the Year.
“I didn’t expect it," he said. "We have a banquet that we go to, and then they called my name out, and I said, 'Oh, that’s kind of a shock.'”
The post is hoping for a big turnout at their annual Memorial Day picnic today, after having to cancel it last year due to COVID.
“I hope it returns a sense of normalcy to a lot of people," said Tim Thiers, Judge Advocate and Service Operator for AMVETS Post 99. "Plus recognizing the impact that veterans do have.”
AMVETS Post 99 is looking to raise money to build a new post that will be all one floor. The building they have now has a lot of stairs, which keeps veterans who use wheelchairs from coming and taking advantage of the services, said Thiers.
“It’s comradery and bonding amongst veterans of all eras," he said. "Right away, you feel at home. Part of a brotherhood with those that have served. I use the term brotherhood even though it’s we have female veterans also. They’re not set to a different standard. A veterans is a veteran.”
Although today’s event will help living veterans, Thiers wants everyone to remember who this day is really about.
“it’s not for us living veterans," he said. "At all. It’s a little bit of a pet peeve of mine when somebody says happy memorial day. They don’t understand the concept of memorial day.”
The memorial day picnic will go all day today from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. right outside the AMVETS Post 99 in Manitowoc, located at 4310 Conroe street, right off of North Rapids Road.
