Category: Commentary

By Brian Duffy, VFW Commander-in-Chief

 

April marks the 100th Anniversary of the United States’ entrance into World War I. This is a very solemn reminder of the more than 100,000 U.S. Troops who sacrificed so others might live in peace. The VFW has joined other veteran service organizations in supporting the World War One Centennial Commission’s efforts to honor the heroism of those Americans who served and to commemorate the centennial of this global event. The official launch of events by the Commission is scheduled for April 6 at the World War I Memorial in Kansas City, Mo., a little more than a mile from the VFW National Headquarters.

 

The public programs and events hosted by the Centennial Commission are scheduled throughout the year at venues across the country, culminating with the dedication of the National World War I Memorial in Washington D.C.’s Pershing Park. There also will be events planned overseas to honor U.S. veterans. I will have the opportunity to visit the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial located just outside Paris in Marnes-la-Coquette in April. The Memorial commemorates the courage and the sacrifice of the American pilots who came to France before April 1917 to fight with the French military, collectively called the “Lafayette Flying Corps.” It also honors the longstanding friendship between France and the United States, where each has come to the other’s assistance in defending liberty and freedom.

 

The VFW has a proud history of supporting veterans of every era, and those of WWI are no exception. Following the Great War, VFW played a significant role in ensuring WWI veterans received the benefits they earned. The support the VFW provided in pursuing legislation securing the WWI bonus was the turning point in its history.

 

In 1927, the VFW maintained a membership of only 60,000 and was described at the time as “an organization not sufficiently large enough to make it a vital factor in public sentiment” by members of the House Committee on World War Veteran Legislation. But by 1936, its membership soared to more than 300,000. This was attributed to its incredible efforts in proposing and continuing to push controversial legislation that demanded full and immediate payment in cash for the World War I bonus.

 

By Jan. 22, 1936, at the height of the depression and after numerous vetoes by several presidents, the bonus was granted. At 1.3 million-strong, we continue our WWI veteran support legacy by continuing to stand up for veterans and their benefits. VFW’s many programs and initiatives have made it one of the top veteran service organization in the U.S.

 

By Harold Rodenberger

 

My update this month is about thanks.

 

Your post is alive and well, membership just hit one hundred percent with more to come and our activity list is growing longer with more people becoming involved. Our Facebook page, website and newsletter are thriving thanks to the managers of each and your support.

 

Our present officers are nearing the end of their terms of office. Thanks to them for going above and beyond to serve our post and the members of our community. New officers will be elected this Thursday and will be waiting in the wings to take over their new positions of authority. Thanks to them for accepting these new responsibilities.

 

Effective with this month’s meeting, our Auxiliary will be furnishing the food for meeting nights. Thank you, Auxiliary, for assuming this responsibility.

 

Yes, our post is doing well, but today I want to write about YOU, our members, family and guests.

 

Most people who read this paper are members of our post or family members of members, but since we post on our website, others also read these words. That doesn’t matter because today’s column applies to all of you. I want to tell each of you THANK YOU for what you do.

 

Thank you for being a friend to veterans. Whether you fly our flag, donate money to veterans’ causes or simply continue your membership in our VFW, you are helping veterans and their families. There is strength in numbers and your continued membership adds to the clout we have in the other Washington in support of veterans.

 

Thank you for being a good citizen and community supporter. Whether it’s cleaning the street in front of your place, volunteering at your school or library, visiting shut-in friends or just saying “Hi” to your neighbors it all helps to make our community a better place to live.

 

Many of you support the post and keep your membership current even though you can’t attend meetings. Some can’t drive at night, some have scheduling conflicts and some are care givers and can’t get away. Thanks to all of you for thinking of us and for your continued membership.

 

A special THANK YOU to those of you who live outside Seattle but still maintain your membership in our post. This month we are starting a newsletter column featuring members of our post who are living in areas away from our post. Some are temporary and some are permanent relocations but we value all of you.

 

Finally, THANK YOU for your support as I perform the duties of Quartermaster. Many of you post changes to your address, phone, etc., and pay your dues directly to the VFW National website thus saving me the time and effort. Members of the various committees share the financial decisions that are necessary to run the post. Many of you stop by the office just to say “Hi.” Your help and support make this job so much easier.

 

When I had the medical problem last month I was heartened and humbled by the many of you who asked after my health and kept me in your prayers. THANK YOU!

 

I would like to greet each of you personally but, since I can’t, let me say again, and again, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

 

By Nestor Tamayao

 

As my reign as Post Commander comes to a close in June, it dawns on me that the tenure of the position is fairly short.  Twelve months are not a lot of time to accomplish many things that I had on my “to-do” list regarding the post.

 

Membership was one of those items I wanted to address.  As of this writing, the post is fairly close to 100 percent membership.  We lost members over the past several years which affected our membership total.  The VFW as a whole has had some difficulties with declining membership. Gone are the heydays after World War II when the VFW was a strong and robust organization with millions of members.  Our own post, I’ve been told, was a flurry of activity and social events many years ago with Saturday night dancing, dinners and post and auxiliary meetings with many members in attendance.

 

The decline in the membership of the VFW is, in my opinion, attributable in part to its difficulty in recruiting younger veterans. I have talked to younger veterans and have encouraged them to join our post.  Many of them say they would think about it but don’t follow through.  I have a feeling it may be the impression they have of the VFW – stodgy members who sit around and drink.  But we all know that is far from the truth.

 

Younger veterans comprise a different generation than a majority of us.  So they have different outlooks and ways of doing business.  In order for us to attract them, we need to ensure that we make the VFW relevant to them.  Our post has had new initiatives, committees and activities that have improved the vibrancy of the post.  Members have stepped up to chair events, participate in fund-raisers such as Buddy Poppy distributions, and improve communications through social media and our newsletter which resumed publication after many years of being idle.

 

All of us are “recruiters” for VFW membership.  And when you get an opportunity to talk about the VFW to a prospective new member, bring out what the VFW does and the benefits available with membership.  But most importantly, tell them why you joined.  I’m sure that would perk their interest.

 

Speaking of membership, I received a letter from National VFW Commander-in-Chief Brian Duffy acknowledging Comrade Harold Rodenberger’s recruitment of 10 new and returning members to our post.  Comrade Rodenberger’s accomplishment typifies the level of involvement of post members.  I thank him for his single-handed effort which is recognized with a special pin indicating the recruitment of 10 members.

 

Clearly, membership is paramount for the VFW organization and our Post to endure.  I certainly can’t see into the future, but I am confident that the VFW and Ballard Eagleson Post 3063 will continue to be a premier fraternal organization with the mission of “Veterans Helping Veterans.”