The Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc., New York Chapter # 1 are going where no one has gone before. Where? To a 109 year old house on the grounds of the Canandaigua, New York, Veterans Administration Hospital to open the first Canteen since the Korean War. The ladies are making history since the VA never allows groups to do this sort of thing. Permission had to be obtained by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in Washington, D.C., for it to become a reality.

The communities that surround the VA Hospital have responded enthusiastically to requests for aid in redoing this comfortable old house into a drop in home for our veterans and any off duty active service person. The goal is to give them a place to come, visit with each other across the generations, have some light snacks, drink some coffee or non-alcoholic beverages, play a little Wii, some X-Box, watch a movie, play cards, pull a few weeds in the Victory Garden or just sit on the screened porch and watch the world go by.

The house is surrounded by very old apple trees that the Mothers hope to turn into pies, tarts, applesauce, and any other apple dish you can come up with, to tempt appetites. Home made baked goods; fruit, and things of that nature, will be always on hand.

The idea is to give back to our troops who have given so much. The week-ends are quiet on the grounds and this is a place where they can just wander by and sit under the huge trees, or lounge on the heavily shaded barbeque area where a wishing ball is set up for contemplation. Wild violets, white lilacs and enormous old trees add to the bygone days atmosphere.

The VA Director, Mr. Craig Howard, has been totally behind the efforts the Moms have been making, to the extent of coming down to help wash windows. The outpouring of help and interest has been overwhelming. Tom Lang, of Polartec®, has been so generous as to donate blankets to the Blue Star Mothers as apart of their on going efforts to supply relief to those who need the comfort of soft blankets in the overseas military hospitals. The local schools and businesses, such as Wal Mart., Lowe’s®, The Floor Store, Rochester Floor and Tile, to name only a few, have pulled out all the stops to make this a home away from home. The U.S. Navy, Seabees and many Veterans have also lent a hand in the transformation. The VFW from Canandaigua came with their families to help work on the house. Dave Kern, Patriot Guard Riders NY Captain worked hours on the house and the PGR donated money.

On September 20th 2009, the Grand Opening took place on the property. It was a huge success!. There was a ribbon cutting ceremony to declare the old homestead back in use and ready to shelter more generations from a much larger family.