Posted on Dec 16, 2021
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American Legion and VFW posts are losing members and not getting new ones. I had this discussion with several leaders in both organizations. Older members are dying and new members are not joiners. The older members are often not welcoming either. I think making them family oriented and getting more involved in their community events might cause them to gain more relevance and awareness. This change should increase and gain more members. Thoughts?
Posted 4 y ago
Responses: 568
We at the Tifton, Ga. Pist of VFW are begging the younger veterans to join. We aren't all old geezer buttheads
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The American Legions posts I visited were specifically for smokers and drinkers. Since I don't do either I didn't stay. I pay my dues every year, because I know they help other vets.
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Well, remember the younger crowd is mostly voluntary these days, the older groups nam and back was either draft, some voluntary and some jail sentence or join a branch, so how they could look down there nose at cold War Era and Iraq and Kuwait and Afghanistan vets as not vets us abhorrent. Then maybe do some more events including helping vets and non vets through charity.
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CMDCM Gene Treants
I volunteered to join and served from 1966 to 1996. I was on ACDU all that time and still was made to feel as if I was not good enough to be there. Bravo Sierra, Retired US anything should be welcomed with open arms, not questioned about her/his fitness to join either.
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Please visit http://www.vfw.org or https://www.legion.org/ for current info.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S.
As the largest and oldest war veterans service organization, we have a long and proven history of providing vital assistance and support to America's service members, veterans and their families. From fighting for veterans benefits on Capitol Hill, to financial grants, transition support and educational scholarships, we're there to ensure current and former service members receive the benefits they've earned and deserve.
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SSG Brian Flick
This isn't meant as a membership drive, but as I said in a earlier message "Don't let a few "bad apples" keep you from meeting other vets. Both Combat and other wise. You might find a change.
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CMDCM Gene Treants
SSBN Deterrent Patrol Insignia is a qualifier for joining the VFW. I am sort of confused how a Boomer Sailor qualifies and Surface Sailors do not. ( I was in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea in 1979 (between the Ayatollah actions) but never in an official combat zone.)
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As a member of both organizations, don't let a few "bad apples" color your take on the groups. If your still interested try again with someone elses post, we aren't all like that.
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SSG Brian Flick
VFW Tower Post 10692, Grafenwöhr. 1,061 likes · 7 talking about this. Located on post in Grafenwoehr, Germany right behind the garrison HQ, building 505.
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I currently am with a post in Florida and we want younger persons to join. So of the comments I get is they don't want anything to do with the milk anymore. So of the comments about Nam Vets are true but it imwont change unless you make it happen. Also the national headquarters is looking at this issue.
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PO3 Ron Baker
I can say this; there were many AML posts who would not recognize the Coast Guard as "military"! Tthat was an eggregious, error, and many civilians are just as misinformed.
We have been involved in every conflict, and by law, armed as needed both domestically and worldwide.
We were off shore and rivers in VN, and part of the Normandy invasion to name 2. (There was a AML post in Binghamton NY that would not fly the Coast Guard flag), years ago.
I am the only Coastie at the Avondale Estates Ga American Legion
Congress changed the laws recently so that any Veteran may join the American Legion, not just wartime.
We have been involved in every conflict, and by law, armed as needed both domestically and worldwide.
We were off shore and rivers in VN, and part of the Normandy invasion to name 2. (There was a AML post in Binghamton NY that would not fly the Coast Guard flag), years ago.
I am the only Coastie at the Avondale Estates Ga American Legion
Congress changed the laws recently so that any Veteran may join the American Legion, not just wartime.
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Several years ago I joined the American Legion for one year. Several times a week I received mailings asking for donations. I never received anything advising about who I can contact if I need assistance, what assistance the American Legion offers or how I can help other veterans, it was about donating more money. Now for a brief history that very few people know. The original commander of the American Legion, and is considered founder is none other than British Brigadier General Benedict Arnold. Yes, the same Benedict Arnold that double crossed George Washington. The American Legion was actually a Calvary and Infantry British unit.
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SFC Howard Holmes
SSG Flick, You ARE CORRECT, and to ALL, please accept my apology. I recently watched the History Channel's Series, "Washington." They mentioned how Arnold took command of the American Legion. I looked it up and there were a couple of articles alluding to a connection between Arnold's unit and the current American Legion. I didn't dig deep enough I guess because I was somewhat dismayed. There is NO Connection between the two.
SSG Brian Flick - "Upon his arrival in New York, Bissell discovered that defectors from the Patriot side were being pressed into the British Navy. To avoid this, he joined Benedict Arnold’s American Legion, a Loyalist unit, where he served for thirteen months..." Retrieved from: https://www.intelligence.gov/evolution-of-espionage/revolutionary-war/new-nations-first-spies
"Arnold received a commission as a brigadier general in the British Army, commanding the American Legion in the later part of the Conflict."
Retrieved from: https://artsandculture.google.com/entity/m025_0c
"The American Legion is notable for the fact that Brigadier General Benedict Arnold was the commanding officer."[1]
Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Legion_(Great_Britain). Collections of the New Brunswick Historical Society. Volume I. Saint John, N. B.: The Daily Telegraph Steam Book and Job Print. 1894. pp. 210-211. OL 7199069M – via Internet Archive. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
SSG Brian Flick - "Upon his arrival in New York, Bissell discovered that defectors from the Patriot side were being pressed into the British Navy. To avoid this, he joined Benedict Arnold’s American Legion, a Loyalist unit, where he served for thirteen months..." Retrieved from: https://www.intelligence.gov/evolution-of-espionage/revolutionary-war/new-nations-first-spies
"Arnold received a commission as a brigadier general in the British Army, commanding the American Legion in the later part of the Conflict."
Retrieved from: https://artsandculture.google.com/entity/m025_0c
"The American Legion is notable for the fact that Brigadier General Benedict Arnold was the commanding officer."[1]
Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Legion_(Great_Britain). Collections of the New Brunswick Historical Society. Volume I. Saint John, N. B.: The Daily Telegraph Steam Book and Job Print. 1894. pp. 210-211. OL 7199069M – via Internet Archive. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
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I have to echo this with some additional comments. I was a member in North Carolina, and also a Scout leader with the troop the legion post sponsored. However, the legion member who became the liaison with the Scouts decided during the transition between Scoutmasters that the Scout units were going to basically answer to his whims, and when we pushed back he became more and more belligerent to the point that the program suffered at the post, and an overwhelming number of youth left to form a new unit elsewhere. My son was verbally attacked during a Board of Review for rank by this individual, and when I backed my son and the troop leaders that disagreed with his conduct, he became belligerent and threatening towards me as well. I found that the unit had a clique of older members, and the "Sons", and if you were not part of that clique you were not part of the post except as a source of money. I transferred to at-large status under the state post, and when the membership lapsed I did not renew, even though I had moved from North Carolina to Fort Myers, FL. The whole experience left a bitter taste in my mouth, especially when that same individual wound up as post commander and made no secret of the fact that he felt anyone who disagreed with him on anything needed to exit the post and seek membership elsewhere.
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