The city of West Fargo smoking ban puts another nail in the coffin of the West Fargo VFW. The closing of Arthur's, the VFW restaurant, is another step in the ruination of one of the finest organizations in this city by their ruling.
The VFW's donations to the community are legendary. During the time period that I was active in fundraising, they always stepped up to the plate and gave when donations were requested for the hockey arena, Packer Backers or high school rodeo to name a few. They continued to do this for hundreds of other worthy causes.
Then the city passed an ordinance that banned smoking in the whole facility, even though the restaurant was two floors down and was a nonsmoking facility. Six other competitive bars who petitioned for this ordinance were allowed to continue smoking in their establishments because they did not have a restaurant. Could they have been thinking this was a good way to get rid of their biggest competitor?
I have served in the Army and have been a smoker who was able to quit, but I believe these veterans have the right to make that choice in a setting meant to honor them. Going back to World War II, cigarettes were part of their rations. It is common terminology when taking a break in the military for the sergeant to say "light them up if you've got them." Smoking was a way of life in the military and still is.
Some can't or choose not to quit and this should be their right. These members of a private club should be allowed to make their own choices. West Fargo's myopic ordinance does not allow businesses to make changes to accommodate the law as Fargo and Moorhead do.
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Jim Hapala, my friend, fellow fundraiser and past VFW commander told me that they will have a hard time keeping the club open in the future. They have been taking from their reserves to keep Arthur's open until the losses became too great. They are hoping the rest of the facility will soon be breaking even.
Is this the way we honor those who have sacrificed for our country? Commissioner Brenda Warren and the City Commission may feel good because they think they have saved a life by the smoking ban. Maybe they should consider the life they took away from some of our country's finest.
Lyle Fett
Fargo
