By Rusty Nixon Correspondent
BREMEN — Tickets are available for one of Bremen’s most prized yearly possessions as part of one of the community’s most prized traditions.
The Community Hospital of Bremen Auxiliary is having their yearly Barbecue and Quilt Raffle to help raise money for the hospital. Thursday Aug. 6 is the day for this year’s gathering in Sunnyside Park from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

“The barbecue is our biggest fundraiser and it has become a community tradition,” said Jeri Elliott of the Community Hospital of Bremen Auxiliary. “A lot of people come every year and it’s a time for people to get out and see people they don’t see all the time. It’s just a good time of fellowship.”
The tradition of the barbecue began 50 years ago.
“The men of the community would come out and cook all the chicken on grills,” said Elliott. “The whole community would come out and help. It’s always the first Thursday in August and it’s always at Sunnyside Park.”
Another big favorite – homemade pies – will also be available again this year.
A long standing tradition, the quilt for this year’s raffle is queen sized, was pieced by Miriam Kaufman and is called “Grandma’s Log Cabin Fan”. It was quilted by the members of the Northwest Sewing Circle.
The group usually completes the yearly quilt in a single day.
The finished product will be on display in the lobby of Community Hospital of Bremen until June 30 when it starts its trip around the city.
On that day the quilt will be moved to the Bremen Fireman’s Festival to the Auxiliary’s booth where all attending will be able to view it and purchase tickets for the raffle. After the Festival, the quilt will be on display in the window at attorney David Holmes office in Bremen.
The night of the Barbecue, the winner of the quilt raffle will also be revealed.
Tickets for the raffle can be purchased for $1 each from any Auxiliary member, in the hospital gift shop, Mrs. T’s Bakery, Curves, The Wooden Peel and David Holmes office.
“We’ll get out there early and start cooking usually about 7 a.m.,” said Elliott. “We’ll keep going until 8 or 8:30 p.m. depending on how big a crowd we have. We always get a lot of help from the community.”