Veterans working to resurrect VFW post in Charleroi
The former Charleroi VFW Arden Calvert Post closed its doors Dec. 31, 2013, but local veterans got approval to start a new Veterans of Foreign Wars charter.
More than a decade after Charleroi lost its last Veterans of Foreign Wars post, a group of local veterans is working to bring one back — and organizers say the effort is about more than reopening a club. It’s about rebuilding support, camaraderie and community involvement for those who served.
For veteran Dave Zuzak, the idea started with a conversation among veterans doing what they have long done together: honoring others who served.
“This started as a conversation in April of last year,” Zuzak said. “We do military funerals … and guys were asking me about the VFW because they knew I was involved one time. I was telling them what it was about, and they said, ‘Well, why don’t you start another one?’And I said, I don’t know what we need to do — but let’s do it.”
That conversation turned into months of research, paperwork and outreach that ultimately resulted in approval for a new charter for VFW Post 12247 in Charleroi.
Organizers are now working within a 60-day window required by the national organization to elect officers and formally establish the post.
A meeting scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Saturday at 301 Fallowfield Ave. will mark the first official step in organizing post leadership and determining next steps. Local officials, including Charleroi Mayor Ed Bryner and borough council members along with Washington County commissioners, are expected to attend.
Zuzak, a Charleroi resident and active U.S. Army reservist, said the project also carries personal meaning. He previously belonged to the borough’s former VFW post before it closed Dec. 31, 2013.
A chance to rebuild
Charleroi was once home to Arden Calvert Post 167, which served local veterans for decades before shutting down in 2013 because of declining membership and financial struggles — part of a nationwide trend affecting veterans organizations.
Zuzak said he had hoped to help keep that post operating but was deployed overseas when it ultimately closed.
“I was a member there. I wanted to keep it open and keep it running,” he said. “We weren’t doing great or anything, and we weren’t doing what we actually needed to do as a VFW … we had no community involvement. We weren’t doing anything with the schools, with the programs that the VFW has.”
After returning home, the idea of bringing a post back stayed with him.
When fellow service members encouraged him last year to pursue it, Zuzak reached out to the Pennsylvania VFW to learn what was required. Organizers needed at least 25 eligible veterans to sign paperwork requesting a charter, followed by membership applications and fees before the request was submitted to the national organization.
Once approval came through, the clock started.
“They told me, ‘OK, you have 60 days to get this up and running,’” Zuzak said.
Building membership and purpose
Interest has continued to grow beyond the founding members, he said, with additional veterans — and even family members of veterans — reaching out about joining.
Plans include establishing an auxiliary to allow relatives to participate and support the organization.
“What really shocked me was the interest,” Zuzak said. “Once word got out, people started calling me … talking to me in public. ‘Can I join?’ ‘Am I eligible?’ Even people whose family members served — they want to be part of it.”
One of the primary goals of the new post will be helping veterans access benefits and services through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, including assistance with paperwork and claims.
“That’s a contract we signed when we joined,” Zuzak said. “The government will take care of us … and we want to make sure veterans get the benefits they deserve.”
Beyond benefits assistance, the post is expected to focus heavily on community involvement — something Zuzak said has faded in many organizations over time.
“What I’ve noticed from a lot of the clubs … most of them seem to lose their way,” he said. “We’ve got to be about community service. There’s programs and scholarships for kids … recognizing teachers … working with Scouts … and that involvement with veterans, with the community, is missing. We want to bring it back.”
Organizers hope to partner with local school districts,
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youth organizations and emergency services agencies to build those connections.
A place for veterans — and families
The post will operate out of space in the former Elks building on Fallowfield Avenue, where members envision a non-smoking, family- friendly environment where veterans and their families can gather.
“When I talked to guys … the first question was smoking or non-smoking,” Zuzak said. “They said non-smoking. And the biggest thing is they wanted a place where families can go, bring their children, sit down, have a meal and enjoy themselves together.”
While the facility is secured, additional steps such as inspections and licensing will be required before full operations begin.
For Zuzak, however, the most important part isn’t the building — it’s what happens inside it.
He said many veterans face challenges that aren’t always visible to others, particularly those dealing with experiences from combat deployments.
“A lot of the guys you see look fine on the outside,” Zuzak said. “But they’re carrying images and thoughts and smells and everything else from when they were overseas in combat that nobody ever sees.”
Creating a place where veterans can connect with others who understand those experiences is a central goal of the new post.
“It’s for veterans to have comradeship with other veterans,” he said. “To have the families of veterans a place where we can all meet, gather … support the veterans for their service and recognize them.”
Local officials attending Saturday highlight the importance of community and government support, Zuzak said.
“We do need their support,” he said. “We need that legislation that keeps veterans being taken care of.”
Founding members step forward
The founding members of Post 12247 include David L. Zuzak Sr., Michael R. Powell, David L. Zuzak Jr., Andrew J. Washo, Joe Bujnovsky, Jackie M. Becker, Charlotte R. McCoy, Christopher R. Rebane, Matthew J. Manzelli, Daniel E. Rzepkowski, Deanna M. Dial, Joseph Hofer, Charles Medina, Thomas Jenkins, Mark Haywood, Jim Hancock, George Bloose, George Mann, Pamela M. Amaker-Shouseley, Miles J. Calabrese, Jeffrey Persasky, Erika Persasky, Richard Scott-Shawn, Christopher Gabrany and Joseph Wood IV.
Despite the work involved, Zuzak said the enthusiasm from those members has helped carry the project forward.
“It’s been a complete struggle the entire time,” he said. “But the people that I have signed off as the founding members … they’re all very helpful. They’re all willing to serve and do what needs to be done to make this a success.”
Ultimately, he said, the effort is about creating something lasting for veterans and the community.
“This isn’t just about having a place to go,” Zuzak said. “It’s about taking care of veterans and being part of the community again.”
Looking ahead
Pennsylvania remains one of the most active states for the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization, with 402 posts currently operating across the commonwealth during the 2024-25 reporting year. The VFW Department of Pennsylvania is divided into 26 districts that oversee local posts and reported membership at about 101% of its target as of January 2025, reflecting strong engagement among veterans statewide. The state also holds historical significance within the organization, as Pennsylvania was one of the first three states — along with Ohio and Colorado — to form early chapters that later merged to create the national VFW. Eligibility to join requires U.S. citizenship, honorable military service and qualifying foreign service.
Auxiliary membership will also be available for spouses and family members of veterans who meet VFW eligibility requirements.
Veterans interested in joining or learning more about the new post can contact Zuzak at 412-582-0567 or captain. zuzak@yahoo.com.
