Hardin Legion hosts annual Fish Fry
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American Legion Post 636 members, Jon Hillen (left) and Craig Johnson, fry up fish during last Friday’s annual Lenten Fish Fry. (Carissa Sitki/Calhoun News-Herald)
Calhoun High School band student, Samuel Contreras (left), gets in some service hours working at the American Legion Post 636 Fish Fry last Friday. Working to the right, battering fish, is Calhoun State’s Attorney Lucas Fanning. (Carissa Sitki/Calhoun News-Herald)
Working the Hardin American Legion Fish Fry dessert table is Mary Kay Hughart (left) and Lindsey Watters. All of the desserts were homemade. (Carissa Sitki/Calhoun News-Herald)
Daniela Roate prepares a dinner at the American Legion Post 636 Fish Fry last Friday at the Calhoun KC Hall in Hardin. (Carissa Sitki/Calhoun News-Herald)
Yvonne Macauley (left) and Irene Wallendorf of Calhoun County enjoyed the Hardin American Legion’s annual Lenten Fish Fry last Friday evening. (Carissa Sitki/Calhoun News-Herald)
Kristen Fester (left) and Pam Browning collected money for meals at the annual American Legion Post 636 Fish Fry at the Calhoun KC Hall in Hardin, last Friday. (Carissa Sitki/Calhoun News-Herald)
By Carissa Sitki
The Hardin American Legion Post 636 held their annual Lenten Fish Fry last Friday evening, March 3, at the Calhoun Knights of Columbus Hall in Hardin. The Legion has been hosting the fry on the second Friday of Lent for the past few decades, according to Commander Scotty Browning.
“Without hesitation, this is our favorite event of the year,” said Browning. “We all get to congregate as legionnaires. It gives us a chance to socialize and spend time together.”
According to Browning, the Legion locally sources all of their food for the fries.
“We only put on two fundraisers per year,” said Browning. “The other is the county fair. For both, we’re big into buying local. Everything we get is local. The fish comes from Watters Fishmarket and cooked to order and all of the desserts are homemade.”
Proceeds from the event go toward the Legion and their different projects. One project the Legion does around Christmas time is give a pillow, blanket, and some candy to each veteran at Calhoun Nursing and Rehab. They have started giving candy to the other residents as well.
The fry was put on with the help of the Legion members, 20 Legion Auxiliary members, and Calhoun High School band student volunteers.
“It takes a lot of work,” said Browning. “We’ve got farmers, ferry workers, bridge tenders, the State’s Attorney– we’ve got an eclectic group of members working to put this on. I also have to give Craig Johnson credit. He really is the right arm of the post.”
Johnson, who is a former commander of the Legion, was in charge of frying up fish, alongside Jon Hillen during last Friday’s event.
As always, the Legion is seeking new members. The goal of the American Legion, according to their mission statement is “To enhance the well-being of America’s veterans, their families, our military, and our communities by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.”
