Legion General Manager Ann Stang said the attendance was up significantly from the year before. More than 750 people attended Sunday’s event, compared to about 550 the year before. 

 

Each of those 750 attendees were greeted personally by Clearwater Legion Commander Ron Lashinski, who stood in the lobby and held the door for everyone who came for the meal.

 

The crowd started lining up outside before the 11 a.m. start and  kept on coming. By 1:30, 430 meals had already been served. More hungry guests kept arriving throughout the day for the all-you-can-eat breaded fish with beans, cole slaw, potato salad, dinner roll and beverage.

 

In addition to the meal, there were silent auction items, door prizes for everyone who bought a ticket, a meat raffle and the live auction that began at 4 p.m.

 

Stang said lots of people typically arrive for that auction and around dinnertime.

 

This year’s live auction featured a professional Brunswick pool table donated by a relative of a Legion member.

 

There were also five signed nature prints by well-known artist Jim Hansel, who is a friend of one of the Legion members.

 

Lashinski donated two half-hogs, with the processing donated by T&R Meat Processing.

 

Other live auction items included an American Eagle sculpture, exercise equipment, more than 200 knives, an electric rotisserie, a set of luggage and an American Flag made of baseball bats.

 

“And we have a certified pilot/flight instructor,” said Lashinski. “He donated two half-hour to 45-minute airplane rides out of Maple Lake Airport.”

 

There were also dozens of items donated by area people and businesses for the silent auction, and lots of monetary support from the community.

 

 

“This is the only one we do for the Legion,” said Lashinski.

 

But some proceeds also go to organizations and causes where gambling money can’t be used, so Sunday’s turnout was all about generosity.

 

“We appreciate the community’s support,” said Lashinski.