For more than a decade, Mary Tiegan has made Thursdays at the VFW Post 8787 something to look forward to. As the skilled cook behind the Weekly Veterans Support Group luncheon, Mary has been cooking from scratch, serving delicious dishes, and creating a warm, welcoming space for veterans and their families, one home-cooked meal at a time. Mary, a longtime VFW Auxiliary member and the wife of veteran Navy submariner and Post member Mike Tiegan, began the tradition over 11 years ago. The weekly lunch started as a casual hangout—veterans playing pool, swapping stories, and enjoying each other’s company. The term "Veterans Support Group” came from a fellow VFW member named Silver, who once jokingly told coworkers he was headed to a support group after work. The name stuck, and over time, the gathering grew into exactly that. The Magic of Home-Cooked Meals Each week, Mary curates a new menu often testing out recipes she finds online or in old magazines, and always adding her own twist. She isn’t shy about trying new recipes or accepting the occasional "challenge” from a lunchtime regular. Her dishes have included everything from classic Southern comfort foods to globally inspired meals. To top it off, she always has a dessert ready like boozy cakes, sour cream cookies, peach cobbler and a variety of hand-made surprises. Despite never knowing exactly how many people will attend, Mary always manages to make enough. It's as if she can sense when new faces are about to walk through the door. A Commitment That Rarely Misses a Beat The Tiegans, who met in grade school, have made VFW Post 8787 a regular part of their lives. It’s more than a place to volunteer, it’s a place where they connect with others. For years they paid for all the meals out of pocket but Mary has never asked for anything in return. Her greatest reward is simply watching people gather, connect, and share a meal she created with care. Recently a hand-decorated donation jar was added to the lunch table, and only through the urging from other lunch-goers who insist they want to contribute in some way. Over the 11 years of weekly meals, Mary and Mike have missed only a handful of Thursdays. Even when someone else fills in, it's well known around the Post that those are some "big pans to fill". As for what’s next. One day Mary hopes to publish a cookbook of her greatest hits, but for now she’s content with cooking and sharing her creations for others to gather around. For more than a decade of dedication: Thank you Mary from all of us at VFW Post 8787 for welcoming our community of veterans and families to your table.