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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The local VFW is close to me, but I have multiple cancers and the VA doctors refuse complimentary (read Naturopathic methods of dealing with it. With my muscle atrophy and IBS, I cannot eat anything but clear bone broth; The great tacos they make on Wednesdays are off limits for me right now, but I'm slowly getting stronger and have visiting them on a Wednesday when I am stronger (a couple month from now, I'll see what I can do. I had no idea the VFW needed new members. They helped me get reading glasses and distance driving glasses for free through Flying Doctors. I'll help; Pray that I heal. It is difficult to have conversations with the VA doctors, because they are rude and don't see yet what I can do before surgery, surgery, surgery.
They don't understand that I need to fix the IBS myself because they only order prescriptions that are in direct incompatible with my diagnoses. Power over is all the doctors at the VA know and I refuse to let them kill me by their own lack of genuine care.
They don't understand that I need to fix the IBS myself because they only order prescriptions that are in direct incompatible with my diagnoses. Power over is all the doctors at the VA know and I refuse to let them kill me by their own lack of genuine care.
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I went to my local AL, they were very hostile to both Navy and me. It was just a click and they did not seem to want new members. If they are really AL, then all services should be welcome. I am retired Navy and they really seemed as if they did not want retired Sailors as part of the membership there.
My "local" Branch of the FRA is more than 40 miles away. I thought the AL would be like them, not! FRA in many cities is family oriented, but not so here.
Since I never served in a War Zone (I was on active duty from 1966 to 1996). My ships and I never entered a Combat Zone, so VFW is out! I went in once as a guest, never again since I am not a REAL Sailor or I get, "Never served in Nam- get out!" I was surprised the Vets from WArs and not just "police actions" are not let in without all of the garbage.
I am a life member of the DAV (no clubs) and FRA.
My "local" Branch of the FRA is more than 40 miles away. I thought the AL would be like them, not! FRA in many cities is family oriented, but not so here.
Since I never served in a War Zone (I was on active duty from 1966 to 1996). My ships and I never entered a Combat Zone, so VFW is out! I went in once as a guest, never again since I am not a REAL Sailor or I get, "Never served in Nam- get out!" I was surprised the Vets from WArs and not just "police actions" are not let in without all of the garbage.
I am a life member of the DAV (no clubs) and FRA.
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CMDCM Gene Treants
CPL General's Driver General's Driver - I was sure I was not eligible to join the VFW and verified that at the VFW Site. Eligibility requirements as listed are:
"There are two primary qualifiers for membership in the VFW, as set out in our
Bylaws. An individual must meet both in order to become a member. They are as
follows:
1: Honorable Service – must have served in the Armed Forces of the United
States and either received a discharge of Honorable or General (Under Honorable
Conditions) or be currently serving.
2: Service in a war, campaign, or expedition on foreign soil or in hostile waters.
This can be proven by any of the following:
- An authorized campaign medal.
- Receipt of Hostile Fire Pay or Imminent Danger Pay (verified by a military
pay statement)
- Service in Korea for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days"
The waters of the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf were not considered "Hostile Waters" in 1979. Nor was rescuing Vietnam Boat People and taking them to the PI.
There is nothing about "wartime Vet if you were in the military at all during Vietnam or the Gulf war, even if you didn't see combat". I would feel like an interloper since I was in from 1966 to 1996 but never was in a Combat Zone.
Not interested in the AL after my only visit.
"There are two primary qualifiers for membership in the VFW, as set out in our
Bylaws. An individual must meet both in order to become a member. They are as
follows:
1: Honorable Service – must have served in the Armed Forces of the United
States and either received a discharge of Honorable or General (Under Honorable
Conditions) or be currently serving.
2: Service in a war, campaign, or expedition on foreign soil or in hostile waters.
This can be proven by any of the following:
- An authorized campaign medal.
- Receipt of Hostile Fire Pay or Imminent Danger Pay (verified by a military
pay statement)
- Service in Korea for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days"
The waters of the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf were not considered "Hostile Waters" in 1979. Nor was rescuing Vietnam Boat People and taking them to the PI.
There is nothing about "wartime Vet if you were in the military at all during Vietnam or the Gulf war, even if you didn't see combat". I would feel like an interloper since I was in from 1966 to 1996 but never was in a Combat Zone.
Not interested in the AL after my only visit.
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CPL General's Driver General's Driver
I never received disrespect while active duty Army regarding my gender, but my own family still treated me as "I will always be their little girl even up to the day my parents died; And again, my brother and sister, I will always be their little sister and they refuse to say that they are proud of my not only honorable service, but I was impact awarded twice. Then I worked for Defense Intelligence agency and was impact awarded, but not a peep from my surviving brother and sister. It's disgusting. There may be women haters in our lives of all kinds, one big one was my church, which tried to marry me off to some of the men in the church. That is "veiled prejudice. I left that church and never went back to another one.I wanted to live in Germany and whomever became my husband or not needed to enjoy Europeans, not just Americans.
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CPL General's Driver General's Driver
Oh, I forgot to say the positive: I moved off post in a German apartment and learned to cook and bake in metric system. I've had a cottage law bakery making German, French, Swiss, Dutch, Italian,Irish and English breads and pastries as well as American. My clients appreciate me and I get to share what a wonderful place Europe is.
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CMDCM Gene Treants
CPL General's Driver General's Driver - It is amazing how the military,. as a whole, can overlook gender, race, etc., as long as you do the work. At one time in my career, I was the CC of a female company. Prior to that I was not that happy with the idea of female Sailors; they opened my eyes. I found that my ladies were as capable and often more, than many of the male Sailors I knew and worked with.
Religion is like a cook book, it it works for you, embrace it and follow the recipes, if not find a new one. God, by any name, is not the problem, it is people. Families are often the best anchors, they try to hold you down, not allow you to roam.
Good luck in Germany. I was born there and would love to visit again. It has been since 2010 since I was there. Berlin was the best and then improvements between 1997 and 2010 were fantastic. Enjoy.
Religion is like a cook book, it it works for you, embrace it and follow the recipes, if not find a new one. God, by any name, is not the problem, it is people. Families are often the best anchors, they try to hold you down, not allow you to roam.
Good luck in Germany. I was born there and would love to visit again. It has been since 2010 since I was there. Berlin was the best and then improvements between 1997 and 2010 were fantastic. Enjoy.
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I was the Department of Texas VFW State Assistant Adjutant. And yes I will agree that some not all of the older Vietnam vets are not welcoming. However, look beyond that. Pay mo mind to them, specially if you want to be involved in the community. After a couple of Pist or District meetings they usually come around and embrace your tenacity for not giving in to the negativity.
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CMDCM Gene Treants
At 75, I don't have time to wade thru the Bravo Sierra. I was 49 when I retired and tried the AL. I went with a friend to a VFW Neither was the type of friendly Veteran accepting place I expected.
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a lot of this goes back to the draft with many people from the same high schools, colleges and communities part of the relationships were already formed in their home towns. These people grew up with vets from WWII and Korea often their parents. It was a different life style and Nam was only 10 years away from Korea. There is a 30 year gap from Nam to the War on Terror, no draft, fewer in the military it is a different world than us old folks know. take some time give us a chance ask us what it was like . there is a big gap where we can both build some bridges.
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VFW is for Those who served overseas, in combat times, The American Legion on the other hand is now allowed by law to Welcome ALL Veterans, (according to Congressional law could not previously, younger Vets have blamed the American Legion for this, but it was not of their choice).
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Well, the answer is about as varied as the sands in the desert. I have been involved with both AL and VFW. I have in the past served on the Executive Committee, Post Adjutant at my Legion Post, and AL Dept.
Color Guard for a while. I am just now getting involved with my VFW post after years of swearing I would never join that post because after 5 or 6 attempts to move my membership to that post from State at large membership, they never did anything. I only moved my membership there this last year because the gentleman, who is now post commander, personally engaged with me and pushed the paperwork through to make it happen. He is trying to move the post in the right direction and get new members in. Leadership is the key to the survival of any organization, VSO or otherwise. The reality of a lot of these posts is, these “old hats” in charge will eventually die off. If they don’t care any more about the purpose of the organization to which they belong and keeping the membership in that organization lively, you have an organization that dies. The local posts, so to speak, are the roots of the national organization and if those roots die, so does the organization. This all goes back to leadership, from the top to the bottom and vice versa.
Color Guard for a while. I am just now getting involved with my VFW post after years of swearing I would never join that post because after 5 or 6 attempts to move my membership to that post from State at large membership, they never did anything. I only moved my membership there this last year because the gentleman, who is now post commander, personally engaged with me and pushed the paperwork through to make it happen. He is trying to move the post in the right direction and get new members in. Leadership is the key to the survival of any organization, VSO or otherwise. The reality of a lot of these posts is, these “old hats” in charge will eventually die off. If they don’t care any more about the purpose of the organization to which they belong and keeping the membership in that organization lively, you have an organization that dies. The local posts, so to speak, are the roots of the national organization and if those roots die, so does the organization. This all goes back to leadership, from the top to the bottom and vice versa.
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I remember when it was the Vietnam or Vietnam Era vets that were not welcome. All were painted with the same brush when it came to things like employment or acceptance in society.
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I am a Life Member of the VFW and a Legionnaire. I encourage everyone to join both if eligible to do so. Not all members of these clubs are as described. I would assume it can vary but most clubs are always looking to recruit more members to ensure these posts remain open. If you are in the Harrisburg PA area visit Highspire VFW Post 8638, you will be welcomed.
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This onus is on me, and I readily admit it. My American Legion post is a few miles up the road. They sought me. They are very family oriented and although I have been a member for about two years, I have yet to attend a regular meeting. I am 68, so I don't know if that makes me one of the "old guys." I don't drink, and I don't like driving after dark. I do hope my dues are helping the Legion accomplish some of its goals.
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