News Photo by Mike Gonzalez Volunteers and members of the Alpena VFW stand behind the linen-covered tables to serve people for the holiday dinner on Saturday night.

ALPENA — Pecan maple glazed salmon filets, redskin garlic mashed potatoes, prime rib that fills your whole plate, and an apple crisp with a recipe passed down for more than 100 years are just a few of the things people had at Alpena VFW’s holiday dinner on Saturday evening.

The holiday dinner held at the VFW post on Connon Street was open to the public for $30, which gave guests access to a buffet of handcrafted food made with high levels of quality.

The quality stems heavily from Jeremiah Shields, a veteran and District 13 commander for the VFW of Michigan.

After leaving active duty for the military in 2008 due to health concerns, Shields gained two culinary art degrees and worked with world-renowned chefs in New Orleans.

“I had my own restaurant in Memphis,” Shields said. “In 2015 I was hospitalized four times in one year, two of them surgeries, so I sold out my shares and moved back up north. This is where all my support network is.”

Shields originally lived in Alpena and moved back to the area in 2016, joining the VFW post. By 2017, he became a quartermaster.

“Over the past seven years, give or take, I’ve been cooking food,” Shields said. “Everything from smoking and grilling. I’ve been catering out of here for members that needed stuff for birthday parties for 80 people.”

Shields cooked and prepared every dish except for the prime rib. He said that he’s not able to do physical work as much, but that he still continues to cook because it makes him happy.

Shields said he enjoys seeing a person’s smile from eating his food boosts his passion.

“I keep on going because I love food and food connects with people,” Shields said. “But my biggest downside is that I struggle when we do events like this to get volunteers. I usually have people at the last minute help out and it’s always the same 10 or 15 people, but they’re getting older and getting burnt out.”

Shields said that in the ’80s, over 2,500 members were a part of the VFW — now, there are a little over 300 members.

He said that the first year of membership is free and that he hopes more veterans come in to connect with more local people.

“When you come inside this VFW inside these four walls, it is about the veteran,” Shields said. “This is a safe space for veterans. If you want to come in here, you’ve got PTSD, and you feel comfortable getting crazy and opening up with your brothers and sisters — awesome. Let’s hang out, let’s have a drink, you know, buy me a beer. Give me a drink, I’ll do the same.”

The next event at the VFW that’s open to the public is its New Year’s Eve party taking place on Dec. 31 with a live band, “Dan Ager and the Piranhas,” playing from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tickets are available for pre-purchase for $15, or available during the event for $20.