A three-month fund-raising effort culminated this past Saturday, 19 September 2026, during the monthly Community Breakfast at the Atoka County Veterans Building located at 231 E. 1st Street. American Legion Post 48 Senior Vice Commander Trish Shaw, assisted by Post 48 Commander Ron Marble and VFW Post 4859 Commander David Fisher, drew the winning tickets of Don Daniel, James Hale, and Shaun Hughstone, making them the lucky winners of three highly desirable firearms; a Henry “Golden Boy” .22 magnum rifle, Sig Sauer P365XL 9mm pistol, and a .223 Wylde AR-15 rifle, respectively.
This was the second raffle held by the organization in as many years, as in 2025, American Legion member, Frank Nutter, offered one of his handmade knives to raise money during the holiday season. Based on that modest success and the need to cover the growing costs of insurance, utilities, food and supplies, and the organization’s own charitable donations, suggestions on how to raise funds were sought at the June monthly meeting.
Former VFW Commander Matt Johnson, a Marine veteran and gun enthusiast, brought up the three gun raffle idea and the weapons he thought would have widespread appeal. A motion was made, seconded, and after spirited discussion, passed, to have the raffle, with date, number and type of firearms, and number and price of chances, all decided on. Michael White, an Air Force veteran, since deployed to the Middle East, said he would work on getting the weapons ordered, Carla Stevens wife of Army veteran and Legion member Gene Stevens, volunteered to make the tickets to keep that cost in house, and members were challenged to make it happen by the September deadline.
