Veterans Call for Swift Action on Long-Delayed Veterans Hall Rebuild

Large excavator demolishing the John Haynes Memorial Veterans Hall in Garberville, Spring 2023 [Photo by Lisa Music]

Local veterans are urging the county to expedite the construction of the Garberville Veterans Hall, eight years after the original hall was closed due to hazardous black mold. Doug Battles, a representative of the local VFW chapter 6354, provided an update on the situation and called for community support at the upcoming county supervisors’ meeting.

The John Haynes Memorial Veterans Hall was shut down in 2016 following an inspection that revealed black mold in the judges’ quarters. Since then, efforts to rebuild the hall have been met with delays and rising costs.

“After two years of pushing, the county finally allocated $3.1 million for the new hall,” Battles explained. “But in the two years since that allocation, the cost has doubled to $6.6 million.”

The issue is set to be addressed at the county supervisors’ meeting on June 25. Veterans are calling for a decisive decision to move forward with the project, which has seen little progress beyond the demolition of the old hall. Battles emphasized the importance of community involvement, urging residents to attend the meeting or participate via Zoom. (Details below.)

Battles said the county is wanting to alter the original plans to reduce the additonal costs needed due to inflation. The original, more comprehensive design is expected to cost an additional $3.5 million, where the scaled-down version is estimated to cost the county $2.7 million. Battles and his fellow veterans strongly support the original plan, which includes better facilities and the potential for solar panel installation. The scaled down version would also reduce the building capacity by over 25%.

The Southern Humboldt veteran community believes the additional investment will serve the community for the next 50 to 60 years, while also honoring the county’s obligation to rectify the neglect that led to the previous building’s deterioration.

Battles said the prolonged closure of the hall has left a significant void in the local veterans’ community. New veterans, particularly those returning from recent conflicts, have had no central point of contact for support and camaraderie. Before the hall’s closure, the Veteran Center in Eureka regularly sent counselors to meet with veterans in the community, providing crucial services even in makeshift conditions.

“The lack of a dedicated space has left many veterans isolated,” Battles said. “It’s not just about having a place to celebrate events like George Mullins’ 100th birthday; it’s about providing a supportive environment where veterans can get the help they need.”

Battles also highlighted the troubling issue of veteran suicides, noting the absence of a supportive community space might be contributing to the problem. He urged the county to recognize the broader impact of the hall’s closure on veterans’ well-being and to act promptly.

The community’s involvement is crucial in pressuring the county to commit to the project’s completion. “We need a decisive action by the county,” Battles stressed. “They can’t keep kicking this down the road. The veterans need this hall, and they need it now.”

For more information and to participate in the meeting, visit Humboldt County’s calendar and click on the agenda for June 25. The meeting’s outcome will determine the future of the Veterans Hall and the support network it provides to the region’s veterans.

Earlier: 

• Letter Writer Urges Vets to Join VFW as Plans for New Building Proceed
• Welcome Home: Demolition of John Haynes Vet Hall Begins
• Bushnell Rallies Constituents as Fellow Supervisor Pulls Veterans Hall Item Off Tuesday’s Consent Agenda
• Garberville Vet’s Hall Design Contract Gets Unanimous Okay from Board of Supervisors