VFW has won post after long legal battle

The Veterans of Foreign Wars of Thomaston has finally reacquired their post on Veterans Drive after a seven year long legal battle.

Back in October of 2001, Wayne Brasel and the late Don Ziegler, while officers of the VFW Post 6447, sold the post property at 300 Veterans Drive to themselves by holding an illegal, non-advertised meeting.

An Upson Superior Court jury turned over a guilty verdict against the two defendants in 2008 and also in Georgia Superior Court this year.

The Georgia Superior Court found Brasel and the late Ziegler guilty of fraud for selling the club building and grounds to themselves without membership approval which is a violation of VFW state and national by-laws.

Throughout the past seven years, the defendants rented out the building to various groups. For a while it was used as a dancing and dining facility, as well as home to the Nuwaubians; a religious group following the teachings of Dwight Malachi Z. York who is serving 135 years for molesting boys and girls whose parents are followers of Nuwaubianism.

Now that the Egyptian statues are down and the VFW has reacquired their post, they will again be meeting at the VFW Post on Veterans Drive following necessary repairs on the building.

Post Commander Billy Johnston said he expects membership to pick up now that they have a place to meet again. Meetings were held in Johnston’s home during the court appeal.

Plans for the post call for mixed drinks to be served as well as dances.