The Dillon VFW recently reached out to US Air Force Veteran Thom Thompson of the Dillon American Legion Post 0032 for help restoring the water and weather damaged portrait of Army Air Corps Staff Sergeant Eli Williamson for whom the Dillon VFW Post 6091 is named.
Staff Sergeant Williamson was killed in action on 4/22/1943 when enemy Japanese forces attacked the Funafuti Atoll located in the west-central Pacific Ocean.
Eli Williamson attended Dillon High School where he played football and baseball and he had worked in his family’s Dillon Anderson movie theater as an usher before going off to war.
The portrait had been poorly stored, and it was recently found at the VFW Post in a very poor condition. Thom Thompson generously agreed to restore the portrait and it was turned over to him at his impressive home workshop.
After lots of sanding, some precision edge cutting, wood restoration, new hangers, new layers of polyurethane, and some final polishing, the job was done.
Dillon VFW member Stephanie Maza chairs the VFW Post Hall of Heroes committee and said that the beautifully restored portrait will once again be proudly hung on one of its walls. Dillon VFW Post Commander John Harlow said that Thom Thompson is a Past Commander of the Dillon American Legion Post 0032 and a good friend of the Dillon VFW.
Recently, he also restored 2 VFW wooden soldier silhouettes. VFW Post Quartermaster Jim Chavis said that the Dillon VFW building is itself going through some remodeling work. Regretfully, the 1940s era building has been neglected and fallen into a state of disrepair.
Lots of more work will need to be done, but QM Chavis said that the work is off to a good start with ongoing interior remodeling.
The Post is working on a building fundraising plan to raise needed funds to make building improvements.
Veterans and others interested in helping the VFW with its Post building improvements can contact QM Jim Chavis on 843.506.0504 voice/text or send your check to Dillon VFW Post 6091 c/o QM Jim Chavis at 214 Stewart Street Dillon SC 29536.
The Dillon VFW is a 501 (c) tax exempt charitable organization.