Posted on May 8, 2016
The Changing Face of the Veterans of Foreign Wars - AARP
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Good article in AARP Bulletin on what some VSOs like the VFW are doing at certain Posts to attract Post-911 Veterans...
The Changing Face of the Veterans of Foreign Wars - AARP
Posted from aarp.orgPosted in these groups: 
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
The American Legion
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) The American Legion Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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VSO's should host town meetings in neutral locations like city hall or a school auditorium. Call to action is something like "You've served our country. Now what can we do for you?"
Give these young heroes a chance to know what "can be" and not what "has always been."
Their world and their war is not yours. The music is different at you dances and they have children at home. A lot of them are single parents.
As I see it we step up with something for them in our VSO's or they will start their own that has physical fitness and other outside activities and not connected to bars.
I am a Life Member of the VFW because I thought it was the right thing to do after retiring in 1991. Almost all of us were VN and Korea and listened to the same music and drank. I'm not that person anymore so I don't go anymore.
If these new heroes want to start something new, I'll help them anyway I can because it's all about them and their healing now.
Give these young heroes a chance to know what "can be" and not what "has always been."
Their world and their war is not yours. The music is different at you dances and they have children at home. A lot of them are single parents.
As I see it we step up with something for them in our VSO's or they will start their own that has physical fitness and other outside activities and not connected to bars.
I am a Life Member of the VFW because I thought it was the right thing to do after retiring in 1991. Almost all of us were VN and Korea and listened to the same music and drank. I'm not that person anymore so I don't go anymore.
If these new heroes want to start something new, I'll help them anyway I can because it's all about them and their healing now.
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I've seen a few younger vets show up at our VFW meetings, but never come back. I suspect the the smell of "old" isn't very appealing to them
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COL John McClellan
Same at our Post, and they are missing out on meeting and getting to know some true hero's with lots of life experience!
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CPO Gregory Smith
I went to a few VFW's when I got back from my first deployment. Never felt welcome. Tried to start a few conversations with no luck.
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Exactly. Younger Veterans bring diversity to these Veteran's Organization.
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COL John McClellan
Agreed! The challenge is getting Post-911 Vets, and especially women, involved. I'm one of only a few active in my VFW, and the only one holding an office (Adjutant) until recently. We just elected though a Post-911 Junior-Vice Cdr AND a female Quartermaster.
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CSM (Join to see)
COL John McClellan - Sir, I would think like the article said to offer more things that attract the younger Veterans. Plus other issue that effect Female Veterans.
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COL John McClellan
CSM - Absolutely!! Change is slow but our Cdr is really working on it! They've done a great job at Post #1 in Denver, and the word is getting around, slowly! Making sure that older male Vets don't dismiss female Vets who walk in as a "spouse" and automatically hand them a form for the Ladies Auxiliary, is one example of the education process we're undergoing.
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