V-1067 Train
Voiture 1067 takes the train out for the first time in over 3 years for a Fundraising Tour of Goose Creek on February 3, 2008
February Fundraising Train Tour
On a Beautiful day in February, our Voiture, Forty & Eight Voiture 1067 du South Carolina, took our Train out for a spin around Goose Creek and other parts to raise money for the many programs of the Forty & Eight. The temperature was in the upper 70s, and the sky was blue. The wind and sunshine on our faces felt great and we had an absolute ball. All total, we raised $517.00!! The trip started from our home American Legion Post 166 in Goose Creek at 1300 hours. We returned around 1715 just in time for some chili and the Super Bowl at Post 166.
Our first stop was North Park Grill in the Otranto Shopping Plaza just off of Rivers Avenue. We pulled our Train right up to the door and gave a few blasts of the horn to announce our visit. The folks we met in North Park Grill were generous to our cause and were glad we came by. Thanks to North Park Grill Manager Joel for his generous $50.00 contribution. After enjoying a few adult beverages, we loaded up the train for our next stop.
The second stop on our Tour was Sapphire's in the Crosscreek Shopping Center in Goose Creek on Highway 52. Again, we pulled right up to the front door and gave a few blasts of the horn to announce our visit. The folks in Sapphire's were also generous, and the owner whipped up a special concoction to toast our visit. We sold several Fundraiser tickets and collected several donations there too before we moved on.
The third stop of our Tour was the Goose Creek VFW, Post 10256 just off of Highway 52. Many of our Forty & Eight members are members of Post 10256 too. There wasn't much of a crowd in the Post, and when we arrived, I believe we may have tripled the occupancy by our presence. The folks in the VFW were also generous and helped our cause by purchasing Fundraiser tickets and gave donations as well. We continued on our Tour with a visit to the VFW Post 3433 in Ladson. I don't have a picture for Post 3433, but we had fun and collected donations in there as well. After a few beverages, we headed back to Goose Creek for a few more stops. We weren't done yet.
On the way to Goose Creek our spirits were high, and we enjoyed waving and blasting the horn to passersby as we rolled down Highway 78. At one point we noticed our illustrious Chef De Gare in the chase car just behind the Train. Anyone who knows anything about the Famous Goose Creek Forty & Eight Train knows not to get to close. You never know what may happen. It was a good thing he had his sunglasses on! The Moons on the Caboose can be pretty bright in the middle of Winter!
Our next stop was McDaniel's' Social Club on Redbank Road in Goose Creek. We couldn't pull right up to the front door, but we made our presence known with several blasts of the horn as we parked in the parking lot. McDaniel's Social Club is a membership only bar, but several of us are members so we had no problem gaining entry. There were several patrons in there gearing up for the Super Bowl festivities later that evening. We sold several Fundraiser tickets, collected several donations and signed up a new Legionaire and collected the dues from one of our own Voyageur Militaire that was in there enjoying himself.
Our final stop before heading back to American Legion Post 166 was Gunny's in Goose Creek. Gunny's is located on Redbank Road also. It is a small place with a couple of Pool Tables. Gunny's was having an Oyster Roast when we got there, and just a few minutes after we arrived with our Whistle blazing, a group of about 30 bikers roared up. The Dames that came with us on our Tour went into action collecting donations and selling Fundraiser tickets. We sold every ticket we had and collected $42.00 in donations.
Well we had fun and collected a nice sum of money to support our programs. We headed back to Post 166 which is just around the corner from Gunny's. Here is a group photo of the Train Gang that day. From left to right: Bill Small; Cheryl Christopher; Diane Sweeney, Charlene Caldwell; Brenda Carol; Cherie Lewis; Jean Francois "Frenchy" Gendron; Rose Small; Terry Gomez; Brian Cecil; Al Sweeney; and "Turkey" Todd Walker. Not pictured are Howard Walter and Chuck Lewis.
A special thanks goes out to the Train Gang for the great job collecting funds for our Voiture, a special thanks goes out to Diane Sweeney who sold hundreds of tickets that day by far exceeding anyone else. By the end of the day, every ticket we had was sold. Our expectations were exceeded, and we look forward to our next Tour.