Jun 14, 2024 By Brad Hundt 2 min read

The Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Carmichaels has been closed since late April, though the post’s commander said it could reopen later in the month.

A sign posted to the door of the post on West George Street in the Greene County borough states, “VFW Post 3491 Carmichael’s (sic) is under suspension By order of the State Commander David “Spike” Gyger.” There’s also a letter posted on the door from Quentin S. Carroll, the director of administrative operations for the national VFW headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., dated April 24 stating that the post had been suspended for 90 days. It says the suspension would last through Tuesday, July 23.

The letter states, “Please keep this office advised of any changes in status of Post No. 3491, together with any corrective action taken during this time.”

Bruce Black, the commander of the post, said it was placed under suspension because of money issues. Black added that he would be meeting with state VFW officials and a “grand reopening” with hot dogs and marshmallows could follow.

“Everybody in the community (will be) invited to come in,” Black said Thursday. “It hurts me to see it close.”

The post has about 130 life members, Black said, and he described it as “one of the best posts” and vowed that he and other members would “build it back up.”

“It’s a beautiful post,” Black explained.

State VFW officials did not respond to email messages and phone calls requesting comment.

The post was first established in 1936 by veterans of World War I, and was originally located on Ceylon Road in Carmichaels.