VFW magazine continues its “Destination Post Series” this month. The series will feature 125 VFW Posts located in sought-after tourist destinations. Featured VFW Posts are those that make a real difference in the communities in which the Posts are located. This month’s article takes VFW magazine to two coastal cities in Georgia and South Carolina.
Renowned for its rich blend of art, history and antebellum architecture, the charming city of Savannah, Georgia, exudes a unique sense of permanence that extends to its large veterans’ population. At the heart of this community stands VFW Post 660, as much a fixture of the city as the Spanish moss and blooming pink azaleas that decorate the cobblestone squares.
Chartered in 1932, Post 660 comprises more than 400 members from 23 to 94 years old, ranging from post-9/11 veterans to those of the Vietnam and Korean wars. This blend of generational wisdom and unity has established the Post as a significant presence in the community, demonstrated through its monthly events and fundraisers, volunteer efforts, partnerships, and provision of food and clothing for those in need.
Members of VFW Post 3137 and its Auxiliary stand outside of their Post on Oct. 15, 2024, in Isle of Palms, South Carolina. The Post has a beachfront view, one of its many enticing recreational features.With an active Auxiliary, Riders Group and Military Order of the Cootie, the Post offers its members and visiting veterans ample opportunities for engagement and camaraderie.
“We strive to maintain an atmosphere of openness and inclusion within our veterans community,” VFW Post 660 Commander Charles Fillyaw said. “Whatever your background or current situation, we want all veterans to know they are welcome here.”
For Fillyaw, the southern hospitality and warm decorum his membership extends to all who visit Post 660 is a source of personal pride, tied to why he joined in 2018.
“I had just lost my best friend, and I really needed to be around veterans,” Fillyaw said. “When I walked through the doors of Post 660, I got exactly what I needed. Since taking over as commander, I have welcomed everyone who walks through the door. The members of the Post and Auxiliary all do the same thing. That, to me, is why our Post is so special.”
Located on the outskirts of Savannah and hiding along the shade cast by tall oak trees and Spanish moss, VFW Post 660 also has become a hotbed for Hollywood producers to film anything from slapstick comedies to dramas to cult classics.
Since 2016, Post 660 has been part of the backdrops for six major motion pictures to date, including Adam Sandler’s “The Do-Over” (2016), “Galveston” (2018), “Peanut Butter Falcon” (2019) and “Halloween Ends” (2022), as well as the recent releases of Tyler Perry’s “Divorce in the Black” (2024) and Clint Eastwood’s “Juror #2” (2024).
“Every time these films come out, they recreate their sets inside our Post, and we always get to keep part of the set intact at our Post as part of our history,” Sr. Vice Commander Justin Howe said. “They can range from small items to major renovation projects. It’s all very cool and draws in movie fans from all over the place, especially movies with cult followings like ‘Halloween.’”
THE POST ON THE COAST
Up the coast is the location of VFW’s next featured Post. Sitting less than 20 minutes from Charleston, South Carolina, lies the Isle of Palms, home to VFW Post 3137.
Nestled at the heart of this beach community, along the red cobblestone of Ocean Boulevard and surrounded by skinny palm trees and large pastel colonial houses of different colors, Post 3137 boasts a membership of more than 1,500 members.
With military landmarks such as Joint Base Charleston, the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, the Vietnam Experience Exhibit, and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and Museum nearby, Post 3137 often serves as a hub for camaraderie.
“Because of these veteran-friendly attractions, our Post serves many visiting comrades from other Posts, as well as active-duty soldiers stationed close by,” VFW Post 3137 Commander Bryan Brooks said.
Open to the community, VFW Post 3137 Quartermaster Clayton Johnson believes what makes his Post special is the balance between work and play, between service and respite.
From volunteering at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston to sitting on a beach chair, watching the turquoise Atlantic and listening to the faraway sound of bands playing along the beachfront bars, Post 3137 offers a unique duality.
“Post 3137 redefines your perceptions of who and what the VFW is,” Johnson said. “You will find fresh beach air and beachfront views, but most importantly, you will find a unique connection among
its veterans, young and old alike, and the opportunity to serve a vibrant community and build true, genuine relationships.”
The Post also provides an array of opportunities for its members to bond, from large dinners to frequent morale and welfare-boosting events and pre and post-deployment gatherings for active duty, Reserve and National Guard units in the area.
“Whether you come to the Post to relax and cheer on your favorite football team, enjoy our monthly fish fry, or have some quiet time by the flag overlooking the beach with the sound of waves crashing in the background,” Brooks said, “our Post offers a variety of experiences for its members.”
This Destination Post Series article is featured in the 2025 March/April issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Ismael Rodriguez Jr., associate editor for VFW magazine.