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?
The American Legion
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
Family
Posted 4 y ago
Responses: 568
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Most of them in my experience have become country clubs for National Guard members who ride motorcycles.
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I'm a life member of the VFW, but I never go because of the smoke. Thanks to damage from the burn pits, I now live with asthma and chronic bronchitis. Even the slightest whiff of cigarette/cigar smoke causing an attack.
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SGT Joseph Stephany
most post are going smoke free. My legion post has been smoke free for the last 20 years. The few smokers we have go outside. Hope you can find one.
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Perhaps opening membership to those who served in peacetime as I did and those who served during war but were not called into the theater as I did also. I was a 13N when I served because I thought as I was growing up in the 80s the next war would be nuclear.
The VFW helped me out a lot by processing my claim for Crohn's Disease disability. I would always love to join and pay them back but although I served in Germany as part of V Corps, I did not go to Saudi as the rest of my VII Corps post did. Instead, I did a lot of roving patrol and gate guard duties but I did not go to war. But we were always ready to go. We even out-processed when we were supposed to go to Turkey and then that deployment was canceled.
The VFW helped me out a lot by processing my claim for Crohn's Disease disability. I would always love to join and pay them back but although I served in Germany as part of V Corps, I did not go to Saudi as the rest of my VII Corps post did. Instead, I did a lot of roving patrol and gate guard duties but I did not go to war. But we were always ready to go. We even out-processed when we were supposed to go to Turkey and then that deployment was canceled.
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SGT Joseph Stephany
SPC Stephens. I served with the Louisiana Guard back during Desert Storm. I got called up and was sent with advance party to Fort Polk, 3 weeks later I was home after my unit status was downgraded and my orders were canceled. This made me eligible for American Legion. Not VFW. Even though we did a mission in Jordan in 94. No official conflict or war was going on. No VFW only Legion.
Those items you speak of is just the kind of things Legion does. We have reps at VA hospitals their to help it's members with problems and claims. Each state (mine is Louisiana) has a office of Veterans affairs. Even the small Parish (County) I live in has a office of Veteran Affairs.
It so hard for Veterans to understand, all these Veteran groups are there to help them both while in uniform and after.
Legion, as of 4 years ago. Membership is open to all Veterans. I hope you join us.
Those items you speak of is just the kind of things Legion does. We have reps at VA hospitals their to help it's members with problems and claims. Each state (mine is Louisiana) has a office of Veterans affairs. Even the small Parish (County) I live in has a office of Veteran Affairs.
It so hard for Veterans to understand, all these Veteran groups are there to help them both while in uniform and after.
Legion, as of 4 years ago. Membership is open to all Veterans. I hope you join us.
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Lack of acceptance of spouses seems to be the biggest stumbling block that drove me away after only a year. Granted I was late to the game, having to seek them out myself, but that's no excuse for forcing a new member to break into a clique. We're all brothers and sisters in blue or green, that shouldn't change.
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Having the opposite at some of our VFW (RI), not getting enough Vietnam Vets. My post has only 2 or 3. I also interact with other posts as the State VFW Inspector and Vietnam vet.
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CPL Amie Mclaughlin
What part of RI are you in? I am from RI and have a sister who still lives in RI she also is a Veteran. How far are you from Coventry?
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Not interested in rehashing time in combat. Besides, we are mostly of a different generation. I visited one with my father, long before I retired, and all it seemed to be about was drinking. So, nothing that interests me. I can volunteer with a number of different groups…Civil Air Patrol comes to mind.
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I'm a Vietnam Veteran, I feel any person putting their life out there for God an country Deserves the Respect they Have Earned and be treated as such, nam vets may feel there way from getting spit on departing plane from which most never came back! All War is Hell guys no need to take it out on our selfs, age does not matter what we all went thru Does! BO
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I looked at both veteran organizations and found excessive drinking in both. I would up joining the DAV they helped me with disability claims and also they don't serve boos or food, just give good service.
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SGT Joseph Stephany
Sir you can join Legion on line and not join a Post. That is called 401 (no post. You help us at a National level. You can search and find a Post that fits what your looking for. someone at State level can help you find one.Most Post with bars as you describe are a bit of a problem and add to the stereotype.
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Try getting involved. Go to the monthly meetings and participate. You will be AMAZED at how desperate most posts are for leadership. Volunteer. Soon enough, you will be running the whole show, and you can ensure that younger veterans are welcomed the right way. You don't have to start out as the Post Commander. You can try another post, and when you do well in those, move on up. Don't let a couple of grumpy old farts ruin your membership.
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