The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Poker run this weekend to honor VFW chaplain

Hillside Church to hold block party
Updated 21 min. ago
New cable barriers to increase safety on I-675
Updated 27 min. ago
More people hurt in I-675 accidents
Updated 27 min. ago
Strickland criticizes Kasich in visit to Springfield union
7:46 a.m.
Brown Publishing asks to sell assets to lenders
9/3/10
> More headlines

E-mail this page

By Nick Walton, Staff Writer Updated 1:36 AM Friday, July 30, 2010

On Sunday, June 6, Ronnie Shatto died at the age of 24 after a bout with muscular dystrophy.

Shatto was an active member of the VFW 3660 as a chaplain for the men’s auxiliary and visited the post daily. Despite being confined to a wheelchair, he was vocal at the post and always had an opinion.

“He never complained about his disease, he never complained about being hurt, he never complained about sickness,” said David Kellough, trustee for the men’s auxiliary. “He was a fighter. Until the end he was a fighter.”

On the day of Shatto’s funeral, the post closed and in front of the building a sign read “WE LOVE YOU RONNIE RIP” and behind the post was a fire that burned from June 6 through the Fourth of July weekend.

The post will honor Shatto during the Hospice Poker Run and Ronnie Shatto Memorial Run on Saturday, July 31. The event is open to the public and entry will cost $10 a person with half of the proceeds going to the Community Mercy Hospice and half going towards Shatto’s final wish of having a bench at his grave site.

The estimated 90 mile bike run begins at 11 a.m. at the VFW 3660 and ends at the post at 6 p.m. Along with the bike run there will be a hog roast, raffles, door prizes and live bands.

Share this article