Moose’s block party to support local veterans
Confederate Railroad
COSHOCTON – The Coshocton Moose 935’s second annual block party will be bigger and better than last year’s. Proceeds from the weekend of fun planned for Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 3-4, at the Moose on Main Street will help the Disabled American Veterans buy a new van to transport local veterans to veterans’ hospitals.
“Last year we had a bike show, but this year we are going all out,” said Bruce Uher, who is an officer at the Moose. “I work with country and rock artists with my business and I’m a full-time salary employee of Charlie Daniels, so I used my connections.”
He does media and promotional work for Daniels and has gotten to know artists such as Confederate Railroad, who will perform Sunday.
“They’ve been around for 20 years and I’ve worked with them since they first hit the scene,” Uher said. “They will be in West Virginia that Saturday and are coming here instead of going straight home.”
Some of Confederate Railroad’s best known songs are: “Trashy Women,” “Jesus and Mama,” “She Took It Like A Man,” “Queen of Memphis” and “Daddy Never Was The Cadillac Kind.” They also were named the 1993 Academy of Country Music’s Best New Group.
Confederate Railroad, however, isn’t the only band performing during the event. Retrovox will take the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday and on Sunday Bryan Lewis will sing at noon, Conestoga at 1:30 p.m., The CarrHearts at 3 p.m. and Confederate Railroad will have its turn to entertain at 5 p.m. All concerts are free.
“Retrovox plays classic rock, but Sunday will be nothing but country,” Uher said.
Main Street will be blocked off from Water Street to the alley beside the Moose where a stage will be setup facing up Main Street. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and enjoy the shows.
The weekend also will include a poker run on Saturday and a bike show Sunday. Registration for the poker run is from noon to 2 p.m. and the last bike will come in at 6 p.m. Cost is $15 for a single rider and $20 for a couple. Bike show participants can register for $8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with awards at 3:30 p.m. Classes include: Best of Show, Oldest Bike, Furthest Traveled, American: Stock & Modified, Metric: Stock & Modified, British/Other: Stock & Modified, Best Gold Wing, Best Chopper,Best Rat Bike and Custom Classes.
Several guitars have been donated along with many other items that will be auctioned or raffled off in between bands all day Sunday. Autographed guitars include: Charlie Daniels, Ted Nugent, Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney, Chicago, Little Texas, Confederate Railroad, The Outlaws, Blackhawk and The GODZ. T-Shirts, CD’s and other packages from artists have also been donated.
Block party t-shirts also will be sold and there will be a 50/50 drawing Saturday and Sunday. There also will be a beer garden and food available for purchase.
Confederate Railroad also is coming at a major discounted price, the other bands are donating their time, Uher is providing the sound system and other donations have been made to make sure that all proceeds go straight to the veterans.
“We’ve raised enough so that all of our costs are already covered,” Uher said.
Dave Dilly, commander of the local DAV chapter, is very appreciated of Uher and the Moose’s help with replacing the van that was purchased in 2005.
“It has close to 180,000 miles on it,” he said. “It has really been a work horse for veterans. Its only function is to take veterans to VA appointments at hospitals and clinics. It can’t’ do anything else.”
According to Dilly, the van has already provided close to 2,000 rides for veterans, who are not charged for using the service.
“This is the best project I can think of that helps a lot of veterans when they need it most,” he said. “It’s really a life saver. You think there is always going to be somebody to take you to an appointment, but it doesn’t work that way all the time.”
The old van cost the DAV around $20,000 last time and after they purchased it the VA took ownership and provided everything for it but a driver. Dilly believes the total cost of a van in 2013 will be closer to $28,000, but he has hopes of getting a grant to cover around 50 percent of that.
“Other organizations have made contributions, but I’m hoping this will put us over the top,” he said. “I think we have close to $11,000 now, but the closer we get to the total cost, the more likely we are to get the grant.”
Anyone wanting to make a donation can send them to, DAV Chapter 74, P.O. Box 116, Coshocton, OH 43812.
For more details on the block party, visit www.confederaterailroad.com/coshoctonmoose. Uher is planning to bring Marshall Tucker to next year’s block party.
“It’s going to be a good family event that you don’t have to spend a lot of money at,” he said.
josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
Category: Arts & Entertainment, Clubs & Organizations
