Vets, scouts work together at annual VFW fish fry in Virginia Beach

BACK BAY — Members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Back Bay Post 1211 had some help from young people during the group’s annual fish fry fundraising event on Saturday, Aug. 27, at the Creeds Ruritan Barn.

James Kovacs of Blackwater, an Army veteran, and other VFW members fried fish and hushpuppies with a little support from young members of Boy Scout Troop 14 from St. Michael Lutheran Church.

The group’s scout master, John Carey, said it is a priority for the young people to meet people who have served and learn a bit of history.

“I just enjoy doing this stuff, helping the veteran Kovacs said. He also interacted with the Boy Scouts lending a hand.

Cole Shepheard, 14, of the Strawbridge area, said he liked helping during the event and speaking with the veterans.

“It’s like a big time to find out what people are like and what their stories are,” Shepheard said, adding that he learned something from Kovacs about a family connection.

“I found out he might know my grandmother,” Shepheard said. “She was a first year teacher at Kellam, and he was a first year student there.”

He said he didn’t think he was headed to the military. He wants to be a cancer researcher. But it was good to have these conversations.

“You get to learn what their experiences are,” he said.

But back to work. 

“One more batch?” he asked.

“One more batch on there,” said Greg Schoolcraft of Ocean Lakes and the service officer for the VFW post.

Schoolcraft added that the eagerness of young people to lend a hand helps make the event worthwhile.

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