A pavilion named after a former commander of the J. Howard Snyder Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 781, who was 28 years old, needs to be renovated. The organization has started a campaign to collect $25,000 for the project.
Commander Kory Bulloch wants to improve the Don Kattic Pavilion to make it a better venue for gatherings on Billot Avenue in North Huntingdon.
Kattic, who led the VFW Post for over 20 years, passed away at the age of 97 in January 2020. The VFW Post honored him by naming the pavilion after him while he was still alive, according to Bulloch.
Bulloch expressed that they wanted to pay tribute to Kattic, a Marine Corps veteran who served in the Korean War, for his dedication to veterans.
Kattic was recognized in the Norwin area for teaching history at Norwin High School for 37 years and being involved in the community. He helped raise funds for veterans memorials at several locations.
The VFW aims to put in a new roof, construct restrooms at the pavilion, set up hot water service, and transform the kitchen area into a food-serving space at the 20-foot-by-80-foot pavilion behind the VFW Post building, as per Bulloch. They also plan to fix a sidewalk leading from the VFW Post to the pavilion and make it accessible for people with disabilities.
The pavilion, which was built in 1996 by various groups including volunteers from the VFW, Boy Scouts, and adults fulfilling volunteer service requirements, is at risk of becoming unusable and potentially being condemned, according to the VFW.
However, the VFW indicated that the pavilion has not received the necessary maintenance since its construction.
Leslie Kattic Quealy, a co-chair of the Save the Don Kattic Pavilion Committee from North Huntingdon, mentioned that unfortunately, the structure has been neglected ever since its establishment.
The aim is to modernize and renovate the pavilion to ensure its longevity for the future, expressed Quealy, one of the five daughters of Don and Joanne Kattic.
The VFW commander noted that they have garnered significant support from local contractors who offered to carry out the work at a reduced cost, without charging for their labor.
Apart from refurbishing the structure, the VFW also intends to undertake landscaping, mentioned Bulloch. He is hopeful that Boy Scouts working toward achieving the rank of Eagle Scout will consider this for their project.
Bulloch stressed the importance of ensuring that the pavilion reflects the spirit of the VFW and the community, and is visually appealing.
To actualize the vision of renovating the pavilion, the VFW plans to organize fundraisers and seek contributions from individuals and businesses.
The VFW Post has established different tiers of tax-deductible donations, ranging from under $100 to $1,000. Donors can make payments through Venmo at Save-the-Don-Kattic-Pavilion or at @vfw781. They can also write checks payable to the VFW Post 781, with the memo line stating “Save The Don Kattic Pavilion” and mail them to VFW Post 781, 100 Billot Ave., North Huntingdon, Pa. 15642.
For more details, individuals can reach out via email at SaveTheDonKatticPavilion@gmailcom.
