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Members of the Mendon VFW Post 4898 from left, Merlin Huff, Morris Ballman, L.D. Ballman, Vernon Yeomans, Sharon Buchner and Ted Talbot are upset their post is closing. (Photo by Jonathon Gruenke) |
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Posted on 01/29/2008 2:39:37 PM PST by Incorrigible
By JEFF BARR
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Members of the Mendon VFW Post 4898 from left, Merlin Huff, Morris Ballman, L.D. Ballman, Vernon Yeomans, Sharon Buchner and Ted Talbot are upset their post is closing. (Photo by Jonathon Gruenke) |
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MENDON, Mich. — Powder-blue paint peels from the surface of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4898. The brick-and-wood building sits next to a farmer's field gone barren for the winter and, like the adjacent acreage, it sits empty.
The Mendon post, located south of Kalamazoo, was ordered closed Nov. 24 — 62 years to the day after being founded by 60 World War II veterans. Dwindling membership, combined with confusion and spotty adherence to state VFW bylaws, resulted in its shutdown.
VFW officials at the state and national levels, along with former Post 4898 members, say the post is symbolic of a more widespread issue.
Since 1997, the number of VFW posts nationwide have decreased from 10,500 to 8,400. National membership stands at about 1.7 million — less than 10 percent of the approximately 20 million U.S. veterans eligible to join the VFW.
Mendon is one of three Michigan posts to close since November. Post 5003 in Bronson shut down in December and Post 393 in Detroit surrendered its charter earlier this month.
"It's not just Mendon," said Robert Weiss, Michigan's VFW Adjutant Quartermaster and a Vietnam veteran. "It's happening all over."
When Weiss was appointed state adjutant in 1997, there were 404 VFW posts in Michigan. Today, there are 340. In the past year, VFW membership in Michigan declined by almost 5,000.
The Mendon building was an old schoolhouse when it was built in 1871, and then sat vacant for years. It then was transformed into a medical-implement manufacturing facility, sat vacant again, then was given to the VFW in 1971.
"We felt bad about closing down the Mendon post, but there were so few members and they weren't turning in officer-election reports or attending district meetings to keep up on VFW affairs," Weiss said.
VFW membership is aging, and as we members pass on, they aren't being replaced by younger veterans, Weiss said.
"At a lot of places, it's just a few guys in their 80s," he said.
Thirty-nine members were on the books when Mendon's Post 4898 was padlocked, but only six or seven in their late 70s or early 80s took an active role. The vets helped organize community blood drives and they marched annually in local Memorial Day parades.
"The VFW represents tradition, sacrifice and patriotism," said Ted Talbot, 80, a U.S. Army veteran who joined Post 4898 in 1948 after returning home from World War II duty in Honshu, Japan. "I think the reason posts are closing, the reason there are fewer members, is because there is less of all three of those qualities in society today than there used to be.
"Everyone is so busy ... Being a veteran doesn't seem to be as important as it once was."
Former Post 4898 member Merlin Huff, 77, a Korean War veteran who lives in Mendon, was more blunt.
"People don't even want to stand up for the national anthem anymore," he said. "It's as if they don't even understand what the flag represents. It makes me sick."
The most public displays of VFW activity might be the parades and honor guards, but the organization's primary focus is to help veterans receive Veterans Administration disability benefits.
The VFW fights for compensation for Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange and for veterans diagnosed with Gulf War Syndrome. The group also has worked to improve VA medical centers, including better screening procedures for breast and lung cancer.
According to VFW statistics, the organization annually recoups more than $1 billion in VA benefits and compensation claims for veterans or their dependents.
VFW officials say the claims process can be exhausting and frustrating, and often takes years to complete. The VFW guides veterans through the process.
"Without advocacy from the VFW, a lot of veterans apply for benefits, are refused and then just drop it," Weiss said. "But with our help, we let them know what to expect and we stay with them for the long haul."
The most serious ramification of declining VFW membership, according to Weiss, is the danger of the group's bargaining power diminishing.
"If we are to remain a legitimate agency when it comes to fighting for veterans' benefits, we have to be viewed as an organization that represents a good number of veterans," he said. "There are Vietnam vets, there are Persian Gulf vets, but not in the numbers we need.
"We will exist in the future, but in order to remain viable, we're going to have to be leaner and meaner."
(Jeff Barr is a reporter for the Kalamazoo (Mich.) Gazette. He can be contacted at jbarr(at)kalamazoogazette.com.)
Not for commercial use. For educational and discussion purposes only.
“Not surprising at all,”
Duh - the general driving population are the control group that DID NOT have an accident.
“You seriously don’t think alcohol delays your reaction time?”
Lots of things do lots of things - thats why I think that it is a crime to put poeple in jail that have never had an accident.
And you do believe in throwing people in jail who have done no harm to no one.
They used to call that communism.
“You still haven’t answered the question, would you fly on a plane with a legally intoxicated pilot, or have your brain operated on by an intoxicated brain surgeon?”
If they can do a proper job, why not?
I dont think alchohol is evil - you do.
sorry but there are lots of people that should have a drink or two before they get behind the wheel.
Ok...you don't qualify...get over it and quit whining....you must have served in a very narrow window of time to not qualify for the American Legion...Thank you for your service...
Oh...I get it...you were on secret missions that don't reflect your actual whereabouts....BS....the Raven FACS have it on their DD214.....
I'm not surprised that a REMF retired AF E-8 would make that comment....
203-4 There are none publicly listed as having been in VN. It is a specifically Vietnam AFSC. We served in-country and at Kadena and NKP. Our Navy counterparts have the same DD214s that do not directly show VN service presence. I was at Pleiku and TSN. You were a remf? or a mudsucker? perhaps?
Uh-huh, but when they’ve had more and are over the limit, that’s when the problem comes in.
Conservatives say people that see no necessary limits are liberals.
I’ve never said anything about alcohol being evil, I think it’s simply immoral to drink and drive when you’re intoxicated.
Actually I’m in the VFW and served in Korea in ‘86.
I'm not whining. To spell it out for you, it was one week after I became a civilian that I inquired about membership in these organizations. I was ignorant about the details of their membership rules. I assumed that they were organizations for veterans who had honorably served their country. I was wrong.
They chose to place limits their membership to whose service occurred during periods of time they determined to be worthy of their approval. That is their right. I have no quarrel with their structuring their organizations in a manner they deemed appropriate to their needs and interests at the time they were formed.
I didn't know that they had these rules. Had I known I would not have applied.But when I, first hand, heard the stupid outbursts from some of their national leaders about our Viet Nam vets, and when I first hand, witnessed some of their members denigrating the service of veterans who had honorably served when their time came, war or not, I gave up on these clowns.
Now about your apparent need to attack me when I only related my experience in this matter, I wonder why you attempted to call into question the veracity of what I have related or even the truth of my military experience.
There are more questions here about you than there are about me.
I never call names on this forum. It is too easy to do and I believe names and insults should only be done face to face.
If he was over the limit he was putting other people’s lives at risk.
I know I’ve seen people that get behind the wheel stone cold sober, and have absolutely zero business on the road, and I’ve seen people put down a 12 pack and drive perfectly fine.
I’ve also seen seasoned drinkers get out of cars unable to stand up let alone walk a straight line. Didn’t even know where they were, where they were going...had no idea what was going on!
The problem is the police can’t possibly judge a person’s tolerance or that magical point where a seasoned drinker has had too much and might pass out behind the wheel, once they pull off, let alone some way to test each person individually.
I’ve seen gals who have no business on the road sober then have a drink or two and become flat out LETHAL!
So I don’t know how there’s a way to police all the differrent scenarios and it seems psychtotic to just wait until somebody has an accident!
“We buried my father yesterday in the National Cemetery in Riverside, CA.”’
Sorry about your Dad, peace to you.
thank you
4 DUI's? Hmmm guess they really should have waited for him to kill a family of 4 on their way home from the movies before throwing him in jail. That would be justice for him.
I have a GTO...I can handle it at 150mph on the interstate. Guess I should be allowed to drive as fast as I want since I can handle it...at least until I kill someone. Then you can punish me. Punish only actions...don't try to deter.
Please. Someone who has had 4 DUI's is an IDIOT and deserves to go to jail for life...simply because they don't GET IT.
Maybe I shouldn't call the cops on all these drunks I see weaving all over the road after they leave the cantina.
Cool...by that logic there should be no speed limits...no school zones...and no laws prohibiting the planning of a murder...as long as you don't go through with it. After all...no harm was ACTUALLY done. Reckless driving? Not a problem until someone gets hurt. Heck...let me shoot my rifle into the air on New Year's...you can charge me if I hit someone.
Oh...and you might want to review the definition of communism. As I recall...plenty of people in this Representative Republic were put in jail...lynched...etc...for doing nothing wrong. The socioeconomic structure has nothing to do with it.
You need to go find someone who will believe your AFSC story...I don't and by the way...I was a REMF every chance I got!!!
Suggestion or idea...
Merge both organizations into a new "American Veterans" organization.
In some places that have supported both with meeting halls it could mean closing one of the two, but it would be better than losing both when neither group has enough to keep their post going. And another thing -- open membership to all veterans regardless of whether or not one served in a foreign war, or during one of the qualifying periods for the Legion.
And let’s also include Brits, Canadians, Aussies, and New Zealanders who also have served often alongside Americans in many wars.
“I’ve never said anything about alcohol being evil, I think it’s simply immoral to drink and drive”
THAT IS THE PROBLEM We are no longer bound by our actions, but by things.
By the reverse token, if we get someone who kills their significant other, no judgement can be made until we know if certain “things” are involved.
Were they black or white? Rich or “Disadvantaged”, involving sex or honor, this religion or that.
Do you see, it is not about the action anymore - good and evil is now a function of things, not deeds.
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