REGIONAL—Five a.m. Sunday, March 30, found Jason Wilbur sliding potatoes into the ovens at JW’s Bar & Grill in Paullina. He then would drive them over to the American Legion Community Center. By 11 a.m. community members were loading baked potatoes up with bacon, cheese and sour cream.
Three Legion posts — from Paullina, Primghar and Sutherland — collaborated to put on the fundraiser.
The Legion’s first goal is to buy a 12-by-18-foot motorized American flag for the South O’Brien High School gymnasium in Paullina. The items will cost $6,800.
For veterans like Darwin Dau and Chuck Kummerfeld, this is their way to give back to the community.
“I served in Vietnam,” Dau said. “And there’s 58,200 names on the wall who cannot give any more to America. They’ve already given their all. Those of us that came home had to do more for our country.”
Dau serves as commander of the American Legion post in Paullina.
Part of “doing more” means investing time and effort in the community schools.
“Dar Dau gave me a call, and said, ‘Let’s put the three posts together and back this project,’” Kummerfeld said.
This is Kummerfeld’s 50th year in the Legion. He served in the Air Force during Vietnam, although he was not deployed to active duty.
The idea struck Dau during a January 2024 basketball game, when he noticed that the flag on the South O’Brien High School gym wall was looking a little ragged.
“That flag on the wall’s been there for over 40 years, and it’s starting to show the wear from hanging,” Dau said.
South O’Brien School District superintendent Wade Riley agreed. Several gyms in the area have a motorized flag. The remote-controlled device rolls up the flag and lowers it on command.
“This is another prime example of the community of South O’Brien’s commitment to us,” Riley said. “We are fortunate to have such a generous and caring community.”
With the school’s cooperation, Dau and the other post commanders wanted to plan a fundraiser and went to Wilbur for ideas.
“JW’s takes care of the community,” Wilbur said. “We deal with our friends, our family, and again, I care about the Legion, and all my kids went through South O’Brien schools. That’s kind of the reason why I wanted to be a part of this fundraiser.”
He has owned JW’s Bar & Grill for nine years and knew that the Legion should do something out of the ordinary.
“I basically got myself involved in it by just giving this suggestion not to do pancakes,” Wilbur said. “Everybody does pancakes; do something a bit different.”
He kept toppings simple, providing cheese, sour cream, meat and butter. The Legionnaires brought bars for dessert, and high school students volunteered to serve the community members.
The Legion decided to serve the potatoes at the Legion hall. Bode Bailey, a South O’Brien senior, displayed his collection of military memorabilia.
Although the Sunday morning brought March snow showers, Wilbur estimated they served more than 200 people and raised $4,970.
After the fundraiser, Dau spoke to Wilbur.
“I said to Jason Wilbur, ‘What do we owe you?’” Dau said. “I knew he had to buy the potatoes and food, and Jason said, ‘I’m not taking any money. I’m giving all that food to you for the fundraiser.’ I thought that was a very wonderful gesture.”
Added to a large donation from the town of Primghar just before the fundraiser, Dau and Kummerfeld now have nearly $13,000.
“I was just plain in shock that this all happened the way it did,” Dau said. “I just didn’t know what to say. ‘Thank you’ didn’t sound enough, you know?”
The first priority after the motorized flag is purchasing several new wall flags for South O’Brien. With the leftover funds, the Legion will establish a college or trade school scholarship for South O’Brien students.
“So now, we can handle all the flags and the scholarship,” Dau said. “The next thing that we’ve got to have is a meeting on how much we’re going to give, and if we’re going to do it this year or next, or if we make this a continuing thing.”
