PORTSMOUTH — It’s been more than four years since VFW Alvaro E. Vieira Post 5390 has hosted a public gathering honoring retired or active-duty military personnel — but that’s about to change.

The town’s Veterans Day ceremony will be held not at Town Hall this year, but at the new-and-improved VFW hall in Common Fence Point. The festivities begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11, and everyone is welcome.

Over the past few years, public events have mostly dried up at the old hall, located at 822 Anthony Road, mainly due to fire code violations. The basement, where a Memorial Day event was last held in 2019, is the root of the problem. It needs sprinklers and other fire-prevention upgrades before it’s ready for public events.

According to Victor Schaefer, a member of Post 5390 who’s the lead organizer for the Veterans Day event, the R.I. Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal & Review recently granted the VFW a two-year extension so it can raise the needed funds for a sprinkler system.

In any event, the Nov. 11 event will be upstairs in the VFW hall, said Schaefer, 37, a U.S. Navy surface warfare officer who teaches maritime warfare in Newport. (He was the keynote speaker at the Veterans Day ceremony at Town Hall last year.)

“We put some effort in renovating the upstairs to make it a good spot. It’s a better spot anyway. It’s brighter and is a homier space. The building is safe. It has a new fire pull system that was installed that was put of the upgrades, along with illuminated exit signs,” said Schaefer, adding the VFW had a lot of assistance from the Portsmouth Fire Department. 

He also credited the many “partners” who have helped with the VFW building’s facelift, either through donations or labor. 

“We do have a couple of corporate sponsors. Home Depot really came through. They bent over backwards in getting us a grant,” said Schaefer, adding that several employees from the home improvement company even came by to apply fire-retardant paint to the walls.

Another group of folks that continues to help get the building back on its feet is the Common Fence Point Improvement Association, he said.

“The CFPIA is very happy to support the VFW,” said Conley Zani, the organization’s president. “Working together we can expand the impact of both of our missions. It is wonderful to see the building renovations — the curb appeal alone is such an improvement and the inside looks fresh, clean and inviting. Many CFP community members have teamed up with the veterans to help out, too. It’s so nice to see everyone pitching in and making our neighborhood more beautiful. I hope everyone comes to check it out and celebrate our veterans on Veterans Day.”

Bar is ready

The biggest moneymaker for Post 5390 over the years has been its second-floor bar, which was recently renovated.

“The bar is pretty much put together, as is the upstairs. I’m hoping to be serving drinks at the event. That’s our sincere goal and something we’re striving to have. Basically, we’re going to have a grand opening that day,” said Schaefer. “Now we’re in a situation where we’re right at the cusp of getting back in business again.”

Event details

The Nov. 11 event will honor all veterans and feature participation from Boy Scout Troop 82, with the National Anthem sung by a member of the Portsmouth High School Choir. The theme for the event is, “Veterans still serving Rhode Island communities.”

There will be a special dedication of the post’s reopened canteen in honor of Staff Sgt. Christopher Potts of Tiverton, who was killed in Iraq in 2004 as his unit was conducting traffic control operations and enemy forces attacked them using small arms fire. He was 38.

The PHS Marching Band is expected to give a performance during the post-ceremony reception around 12:15 p.m., when refreshments will be provided by the VFW Post 5390 Auxiliary. 

Later that day, at 6 p.m., there will be a free live performance by Neal Vitullo & Friends.