VFW Posts Are Dying. They Need Hesitant 9/11 Vets to Fill the Void.

[Sherman A1]

Jim Barger's throne at Charleston, South Carolina's VFW Post 445 is the corner barstool, where the 91-year-old Army veteran sits back and sips from a foamy glass of Stella Artois.

It's "Wing Wednesday," the one night each week where the cinder block building tucked onto a side street comes alive. Veterans trickle in for their routine of heavy-handed pours of Jameson or a cold bottle of Bud Light.

Barger, the commander of the post, watches over the scene from the far end of the bar, happy people are here. His organization has fallen on some tough times, especially during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. He stops to scan the wrinkled faces of the regulars, veterans who mostly served in Vietnam and Korea.

Chuck Blankin, the chaplain at the VFW post, comes up to Barger and grips his hand and smiles. Blankin has been a member for 14 years, and openly talks about being shot in Vietnam and the physical and emotional pain he's had to work through since returning home.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/04/08/vfw-posts-are-dying-they-need-hesitant-9-11-vets-fill-void.html

[jaysunb]

1. Same racist/racism, different venue nt

[Aristus]

2. A toxic gaggle of "In my day..." and "Kids these days..." assholes?

Not for me, thanks. Let the VFW die on the vine.

[Glorfindel]

3. I can't imagine frequenting a VFW post

Let the organization fade away.

[The Polack MSgt]

4. I guess I'm outnumbered here.

Last edited Sat Apr 9, 2022, 07:33 PM - Edit history (1)

But I fully support the VFW.

Whether it's testifying before Congress, or assisting veterans with VA claims or installing ramps for disabled vets we do good work.

My solution to trumpeter VFW folks was to move to a majority AA post.

Sad to hear the organization getting shit on here.

Whatever. KMA.

[progree]

5. Yes. They served their country and let themselves get old, they should apparently be ashamed of

Last edited Sun Apr 10, 2022, 10:50 AM - Edit history (1)

themselves. Kind of shows that DU is not free of stereo-typing and bigotry. Sickening. This thread really stuck in my craw.

Edited: perhaps I should say "we" rather than "they". I'm an old veteran too, although I don't go to VFW or American Legion posts, because I DON'T want to talk about my military service or even be reminded of it.

[DashOneBravo]

6. I don't belong to one.

My dad did.

But our local one does a lot community service stuff.

[Sherman A1]

7. The one close to me in pre pandemic times did some great

breakfast and dinner events about once per month. I really enjoyed picking up carryout from them, because the food was good and I knew it was a fund raiser for a group that helps veterans.

[Mysterian]

9. VFW lobbying is very important

The collective force of united veterans' organizations is why we have the benefits we earned.

When Congress chips away at veterans' benefits, younger vets might regret not sending in their $35 a year.

All those old un-cool gray-haired vets are the ones who stuck together, sent in their dues, and got those benefits passed.

[keithbvadu2]

8. Many VN vets felt rejected by the WWll and Korea vets who looked down on them as not in a 'real' war

Many VN vets felt rejected by the WWll and Korea vets who looked down on them as not in a 'real' war.

It took a long time to get them to join the vets' orgs.

In many towns, the VFW and American Legion are now sharing a single building.