Posted on Nov 23, 2016
The American Legion and VFW will almost certainly die off. Will it really matter to younger veterans?
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There is no basis to believe that the American Legion and VFW will be able to reverse their membership decline. We've heard this old story before, yes. Average age in many of these posts is 72-74 years old (VFW's own data). We all know younger veterans generally don't care about being a member in either of these orgs. When these VSOs do die off, will it really matter to the larger vet community?
The American Legion
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
Millennials
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 54
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Our little post is actually increasing, currently we're at 120% of intended goal.
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I have read most of the posts in this thread with interest after having recently attended a local American Legion post monthly meeting with my wife who could join either the Legion or the Auxiliary herself. Note: This meeting was the first one since October of last year because many of the members are "Snow Birds" who spend the cold Minnesota winter in places like Arizona and Florida.
Here is my two cents worth (three cents after adjustment for inflation):
I had been discharged from Active Duty for several years before even thinking about joining the American Legion and/or the Veterans of Foreign Wars. As a Vietnam veteran, I felt the cold shoulder offered by the WWII and Korean War vets who were in the leadership positions at the time. Meanwhile, I received a post card in the mail directing me to what hot dog stand I was assigned to work for the annual Fourth of July observance. No discussion, no phone call, just a post card in the mail that reminded me of a duty roster posted on the unit bulletin board. As a result, I became a very inactive member but retained my membership because of the lobbying efforts of the American Legion and VFW in support of veterans.
Fast forward thirty years. My wife and I both retired and built a home "up north" on a former dairy farm. Life in the country is good; we are blessed.
Recently one of my friends with whom I had served in an Army National Guard unit many, many years ago passed away and, at his funeral, I noticed several mature gentlemen in
American Legion uniforms. I approached them to thank them for the military honors they had performed at my friend's funeral. He had been a member of their post. After some discussion, I agreed to attend their next monthly meeting with the possibility of changing my membership to their post. My old post was 150 miles away, so it just made sense even though I had no incentive to do so in the 12 years after we had retired and moved.
I should mention that my old post was in a bedroom community of a major metropolitan area, the Twin Cities - Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. Despite my negligible contribution, the post was very active and a highlight of their year's activities was the Annual Fourth of July Parade. Both the Legion and the local VFW Post had very nice facilities, a bar, banquet room, etc. and drew substantial income from liquor sales and pull tabs. Their profiles in the community were quite large, they had very professional websites and contributed to the local police department and fire department.
My experience attending the monthly meeting at our new location was quite different. A point of fact: Not all AL or VFW posts have bars, or even buildings. Some, especially in the "outstate" (read "rural") areas, don't even have buildings and conduct their meetings in community centers. Some which once owned structures have divested themselves of the buildings due to the decline in membership and thus revenue.
My wife and I arrived at the community center promptly at 7PM. The Legion post was having their meeting on one side of the building and the Auxiliary usually meets on the other side but cancelled
their meeting altogether for this month. When we arrived attendance jumped from six people to
nine. The Commander of the post and the Adjutant (his brother) were wearing their Legion hats.
We all sat around and introduced ourselves as we waited for at least one more officer to appear
(or they would not have been able to conduct a meeting). A few minutes later the Treasurer appeared and the meeting began.
We learned that the post had 26 members although 7 were past due in renewing their membership. Two members had passed away in the past year and two new members had joined. The Boy's State applications had been received and the $200 scholarship competition consisted of one essay although there was some talk about another one being on the way. The Girl's State applications were handled separately by the Auxiliary. Four funerals were attended by military honors representatives.
As for future activities, the post will have Poppy distribution on Memorial Day, maintain veteran's
markers and flags at the local cemetery, and have a spaghetti dinner as a fundraiser. Last year's proceeds were used to buy a motorized wheelchair for a local nursing home. I inquired about having a booth at the County Fair for recruiting and was told it was too expensive. My wife asked about a monthly newsletter or having a website and got a similar response.
We left that evening scratching our heads. As outsiders, it seemed to us that the post was clearly dying and the reason was there was absolutely no effort being made to recruit new members. They seemed to be doing exactly the same things in exactly the same ways that they had always done. We are still discussing whether or not to join. Any input or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Here is my two cents worth (three cents after adjustment for inflation):
I had been discharged from Active Duty for several years before even thinking about joining the American Legion and/or the Veterans of Foreign Wars. As a Vietnam veteran, I felt the cold shoulder offered by the WWII and Korean War vets who were in the leadership positions at the time. Meanwhile, I received a post card in the mail directing me to what hot dog stand I was assigned to work for the annual Fourth of July observance. No discussion, no phone call, just a post card in the mail that reminded me of a duty roster posted on the unit bulletin board. As a result, I became a very inactive member but retained my membership because of the lobbying efforts of the American Legion and VFW in support of veterans.
Fast forward thirty years. My wife and I both retired and built a home "up north" on a former dairy farm. Life in the country is good; we are blessed.
Recently one of my friends with whom I had served in an Army National Guard unit many, many years ago passed away and, at his funeral, I noticed several mature gentlemen in
American Legion uniforms. I approached them to thank them for the military honors they had performed at my friend's funeral. He had been a member of their post. After some discussion, I agreed to attend their next monthly meeting with the possibility of changing my membership to their post. My old post was 150 miles away, so it just made sense even though I had no incentive to do so in the 12 years after we had retired and moved.
I should mention that my old post was in a bedroom community of a major metropolitan area, the Twin Cities - Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. Despite my negligible contribution, the post was very active and a highlight of their year's activities was the Annual Fourth of July Parade. Both the Legion and the local VFW Post had very nice facilities, a bar, banquet room, etc. and drew substantial income from liquor sales and pull tabs. Their profiles in the community were quite large, they had very professional websites and contributed to the local police department and fire department.
My experience attending the monthly meeting at our new location was quite different. A point of fact: Not all AL or VFW posts have bars, or even buildings. Some, especially in the "outstate" (read "rural") areas, don't even have buildings and conduct their meetings in community centers. Some which once owned structures have divested themselves of the buildings due to the decline in membership and thus revenue.
My wife and I arrived at the community center promptly at 7PM. The Legion post was having their meeting on one side of the building and the Auxiliary usually meets on the other side but cancelled
their meeting altogether for this month. When we arrived attendance jumped from six people to
nine. The Commander of the post and the Adjutant (his brother) were wearing their Legion hats.
We all sat around and introduced ourselves as we waited for at least one more officer to appear
(or they would not have been able to conduct a meeting). A few minutes later the Treasurer appeared and the meeting began.
We learned that the post had 26 members although 7 were past due in renewing their membership. Two members had passed away in the past year and two new members had joined. The Boy's State applications had been received and the $200 scholarship competition consisted of one essay although there was some talk about another one being on the way. The Girl's State applications were handled separately by the Auxiliary. Four funerals were attended by military honors representatives.
As for future activities, the post will have Poppy distribution on Memorial Day, maintain veteran's
markers and flags at the local cemetery, and have a spaghetti dinner as a fundraiser. Last year's proceeds were used to buy a motorized wheelchair for a local nursing home. I inquired about having a booth at the County Fair for recruiting and was told it was too expensive. My wife asked about a monthly newsletter or having a website and got a similar response.
We left that evening scratching our heads. As outsiders, it seemed to us that the post was clearly dying and the reason was there was absolutely no effort being made to recruit new members. They seemed to be doing exactly the same things in exactly the same ways that they had always done. We are still discussing whether or not to join. Any input or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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The only thing the accomplish is getting their pictures taken with the President and blindly endorsing the same VA they complain about. Let them die
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Between WWI and WWII. There were only 500,000 VFW members. Yes, we will take a hit on size. I feel we will prevail because there will be enough veterans that will carry the baton into the next era after us Vietnam Veterans are gone.
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This is cyclic, I remember in my youth the old guys (WWII/ Korea) complaining that they couldn't get the Vietnam vets to join or participate. It was pointed out then and I think it holds true now that the guys were busy with work/ family events and would become more active as their families grew older and they had less obligations with their kids to attend to. Fast foreword... look at who the active older members are today...... Vietnam vets and who are they having a hard time getting enrolled and participating.... Us Gulf War, and OEF/OIF vets.
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Two years ago, my Legion post was facing closure, due mostly by mismanagement by the former commander. I joined after we elected a new commander, and have been one of the youngest members to date. We have now seen a steady increase in membership, especially with younger veterans. I hadn't even thought about joining when I left the Army in 2005, but after talking to the current commander (prior to joining) I have found what I had been missing for the better part of a decade. Within a few months of joining, I was asked to join the honor guard, and have been recently elected/ appointed as finance officer for my post. For the most part, I think it is up to the post members to help recruit younger vets into the organisation. All in all, I feel and have felt nothing but welcome at our post from all members.
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All I can contribute is: different time, different perspective, different attitude. I know many (especially here in these walls) who are members and whole-heartedly believe in the principals. I have tried to interact ... in all fairness only a hand full of times ... with little success. All that stated, I do not want it to fade into oblivion.
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We shouldn't just view this through the lens of veterans' organizations. Participation in fraternal societies is diminishing in general. This has less to do with vets and the military than it does with society as a whole. The KoC, Elks, Masons, and probably even Ralph Kramden's Raccoon Lodge are all shrinking. I do think part of the problem is that VFW and the Legion could do a better job of communicating to younger vets why they're relevant.
I'm a fairly active life member of my regimental association. One thing I've seen through the years is that when guys get out, they don't consider joining. But after a few years of missing the boys, they join up. Perhaps if the VFW and Legion survive they'll see an increased membership once vets become nostalgic.
I'm a fairly active life member of my regimental association. One thing I've seen through the years is that when guys get out, they don't consider joining. But after a few years of missing the boys, they join up. Perhaps if the VFW and Legion survive they'll see an increased membership once vets become nostalgic.
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It's so sad but from my personal experience(A.L. Since 94) they truely just don't want to be involved. With the bar aspect,yes, but that's it. SO SAD.
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