Abington, Mass. VFW Snubs widdow of fallen Marine to hose Sons of Itally BINGO night

[Ian David]

Pride, love overshadow snub: Marine’s town makes up for vets’ bingo blowoff
By Margery Eagan
Boston Herald Columnist
Thursday, May 17, 2007 - Updated: 04:28 AM EST

This began as an outrage story: how could a VFW, of all organizations, do this to a young marine just killed in Iraq?

Marine Lance Cpl. Walter O’Haire, from South Boston and Rockland, was killed days before his 21st birthday, Tuesday, which became the day of his funeral.

His family wanted his post-Mass gathering at the Abington VFW. The Rockland VFW is too small and not handicapped accessible. Incredibly, his family was deniedby the vets, because the Abington hall is booked on Tuesdays for Rockland Sons of Italy’s bingo.

That’s right: bingo.

“Our hands were tied,” the VFW commander told The Enterprise of Brockton as he and other members fretted over contractual obligations, lawyers and how could they possibly set bingo up in time?


Maureen O’Haire, mom of fallen Marine hero Walter O’Haire, was touched by the ’overwhelming’ show of respect for her son. (Staff photo by David Goldman)


U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Walter O'Haire

More:
http://news.bostonherald.com/columnists/view.bg?articleid=1001678&srvc=home

[commander bunnypants]

1. priorties

shit

CB

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. Contractual obligations

If the Sons of Italy had signed a contract to rent the VFW hall, the VFW chapter's hands were tied. The SoI could have backed out voluntarily, but that assumes there was enough notice for them to relocate and reissue the advertising they no doubt put out at considerable expense already.

This woman's story is unfortunate, but I don't see what realistically could have been done.