News

The Veterans Club proudly participated in this year’s Day of Hope at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, where Ed Bejarana, Tom Lucas, and Jim Marrymee welcomed hundreds of community members and introduced dozens to Patriot Pour gatherings across North Idaho. With Tucker, Ed’s service dog, delighting visitors of all ages, the day was filled with smiles, conversations, and meaningful connections.

There are moments when a community has the opportunity to show what it is truly made of. On Tuesday, July 28, friends, neighbors, veterans, first responders, and members of the greater North Idaho community will come together at Q’emiln Park in Post Falls to support Nancy Blanchard and her family as Nancy continues her battle…

Join The Veterans Club for our 2nd Annual BBQ on Saturday, July 25! Enjoy smoked brisket, BBQ chicken, grilled hot dogs, Steve Hauser’s famous chili beans, classic summer sides, live music, lawn games, and outstanding fellowship. Open to veterans, first responders, and their families. Purchase your $25 ticket online or pay at the door and spend the day making memories with friends.

Veterans, military families, and surviving spouses are being targeted by a new mail scam promoting a fake “Veterans Savings Program.” The postcards falsely claim recipients may qualify for an additional $185 monthly benefit and other services. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has confirmed this program does not exist. Learn how to protect yourself and those you care about.

We cannot measure every life saved, but we can build a way of life where fewer are lost. When veterans and first responders gather, week after week, something begins to change. Names are known. Absences are noticed. The quiet drift toward isolation slows. In that steady rhythm of connection, burdens are shared, and the weight becomes easier to carry.

A quiet call for help turned into something much bigger. Within 24 hours, a Vietnam-era veteran battling cancer found himself surrounded by people willing to show up, work hard, and remind him he wasn’t alone. What started as a simple request became a powerful example of how relationships—built over coffee and conversation—can answer the call when it matters most.

You already know the power of showing up. At The Veterans Club, Chapter Facilitators are the steady hands that keep our weekly coffee meetings welcoming, respectful, hopeful, and focused on forward motion.
You don’t need to be a therapist or motivational speaker. Your role is simple yet powerful: welcome new faces, guide introductions, keep conversation balanced, and protect the positive culture we’ve built — no politics, no debates, just real camaraderie.
We give you the official Facilitator’s Guide, hands-on training, shadowing, and full national support. This is leadership that feels familiar. Service that doesn’t end when the uniform comes off.
The room is waiting. The mission continues.

The Veterans Club is proud to launch our newest Post Falls Chapter! Starting April 23, 2026, veterans and first responders can now join The Patriot Pour every Thursday from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM at American Legion Post 143 in Post Falls. With this addition, we now offer five convenient weekly meeting times across North Idaho — making it easier than ever to connect, share stories, and rebuild community. Come as you are. Coffee is on us.

Every now and then, someone walks into a Veterans Club gathering carrying more than most can see. Their words may be sharp, their presence uncomfortable—but behind it is a story we haven’t heard yet. This is a reminder of who we are called to be: a place where veterans and first responders are met with patience, understanding, and the kind of connection that can change a life.

Thinking about starting a veterans or first responder group in your community? You don’t have to go it alone. The Veterans Club gives you a proven foundation, practical tools, ongoing support, and a network that’s already working—so you can focus on what matters most: building real relationships that make a difference.

Freedom has never been self-sustaining. Every generation has a role in protecting it—not just in uniform, but as citizens. Veterans and first responders understand the importance of standing watch. Sometimes that watch looks like voting, paying attention to local issues, or attending a community forum. The responsibility to care for our republic doesn’t end when the uniform comes off.