Posted on Feb 9, 2017
Young vets trying to modernize American Legion, getting pushback
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For your not Political and 100% Vet related post of the day.
So I grew up in a Vet house, my Father was Corps, My Stepfather was Air Force, one Grandfather was Army and the other was well most was classified but it involved making people glow in the dark...
I have been in many a VFW Post and quite frankly they all have the same issue... To many committees, to many agendas, and to many people stuck in their was and refusing change. I have seen infighting, hostile leadership take overs, petty rivalry's, cattiness, bitterness, and lack of accountability.
The VFW / Legion is losing young Vets interest and quite frankly respect. I am 42 I have had several ask me to join I never do. What do they offer me? A place to have a beer? A cheap meal? Listen to people tell me "in my day stories" What relevance does the VFW have now? One of the local post couldn't even send a member to check on the spouse of one of their own that was in the VA Hospital.. I know this because I go to the VA and visit those in the Hospice section now and again. Here you have a young Vet trying to bring them in to the 21st century who is doing all he can to improve Vets lives and give them a purpose and what happens? Push back from an out of touch establishment that think Patton is still around.
The VFW / Legion, the VA quite frankly everyone have two choices in life Move forward or lay down and Die. Be relevant to the world or get out of the worlds way.
Just my two cents.
So I grew up in a Vet house, my Father was Corps, My Stepfather was Air Force, one Grandfather was Army and the other was well most was classified but it involved making people glow in the dark...
I have been in many a VFW Post and quite frankly they all have the same issue... To many committees, to many agendas, and to many people stuck in their was and refusing change. I have seen infighting, hostile leadership take overs, petty rivalry's, cattiness, bitterness, and lack of accountability.
The VFW / Legion is losing young Vets interest and quite frankly respect. I am 42 I have had several ask me to join I never do. What do they offer me? A place to have a beer? A cheap meal? Listen to people tell me "in my day stories" What relevance does the VFW have now? One of the local post couldn't even send a member to check on the spouse of one of their own that was in the VA Hospital.. I know this because I go to the VA and visit those in the Hospice section now and again. Here you have a young Vet trying to bring them in to the 21st century who is doing all he can to improve Vets lives and give them a purpose and what happens? Push back from an out of touch establishment that think Patton is still around.
The VFW / Legion, the VA quite frankly everyone have two choices in life Move forward or lay down and Die. Be relevant to the world or get out of the worlds way.
Just my two cents.
Young vets trying to modernize American Legion, getting pushback
Posted from kgw.comPosted in these groups: 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
The American Legion
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) The American Legion
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 13
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I tend to agree. We (VFW) have tried to change some of this. I have tried to change a lot of this. In my own Post there was a member(Desert Storm) and his father (Vietnam) who had joined so they could go have a beer from time to time. One night one of the Nam vets turned around and looked at the son and basically told him he hadn't been in a warwhat was he doing in here. Although I am a life member I do not go to my local post unless it is to help with a funeral dinner. I have been a Department (State of Nebraska) Commander. I brought about a lot of change. But once I was done they started going backwards again. Now when I give my breeding (POW/MIA) I also include the facts about 22 suicides a day. The younger vets pay attention, while the older ones look on. They don't even realize that 22 a day includes vets back as far as Korea. They just look to pay themselves on the back.
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this is one of the reasons i stopped going to the VFW/Legions
the Older member were doing little... they were sitting around drinking beer and once a Month had a chicken BBQ sale for fund rising and every quarter has a region meeting and cook out...
Minimal outreach and community involvement...
the Older member were doing little... they were sitting around drinking beer and once a Month had a chicken BBQ sale for fund rising and every quarter has a region meeting and cook out...
Minimal outreach and community involvement...
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SSG Randall Speck
If you are near, try VFW Post 5154. It is a pleasant surprise from what you've experienced! Louisville, Tennessee. Just West of Knoxville.
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I am a lifetime member of the VFW but I never go. Why? Because it is open to the public, and ran like a hole in the wall bar. The meetings are so boring and depressing who would want to be part of that. I don't understand how a tax free business can be doing so poorly.
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SSG Randall Speck
If you are near, try VFW Post 5154. It is a pleasant surprise from what you've experienced! Louisville, Tennessee. Just West of Knoxville.
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