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SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS REACH OUT TO YOUNGER VETS
AND NON-VETS -- As members die off, the groups
are
banking on increased visibility to young people
and their families to keep traditions going.
Story here...
http://www.southeasttexaslive.
com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18691735&BR
D=2287&PAG=461&dept_id=512588&rfi=6
Story below:
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Area veterans' groups reach out to young people
By MIKE D. SMITH, The Enterprise
ORANGE - When Andrew Richard finished his peacekeeping stint in Kuwait
with the U.S. Air Force in 1999, his uncle, a Veterans of Foreign Wars
member, encouraged Richard to join the group, also.
"He said it would be a good thing to join because they do a lot of
people good by helping veterans and their families," Richard said. "I
like to help people the best way I can, so I thought it was a good
opportunity to show my skills."
The benefits also lured him. There were potential scholarships to
continue his schooling, discounted medical and car insurance rates and
cell phone and Internet services.
Now, at 28, Richard has rubbed shoulders with mostly World War II and
Vietnam War veterans for the past six months as the youngest member of
VFW Post 2775.
But Richard is a fresh, young exception to the aging typical rule of
veterans' service organization membership.
As members die off, the groups are banking on increased visibility to
young people and their families to keep traditions going and keep time
from limiting their abilities to help those who have served the country.
Decline
VFW 2775's active membership list numbered more than 440 last year, post
Commander Albert "Bear" Braneff said.
That number has starkly dwindled from several years ago, when there were
twice as many. Some members have died since last year's official count,
so the new census could be even lower, he said.
"We worry about it because of our fast-moving world," Braneff said. "We
need our younger generation to come in and fulfill their forefathers of
Veterans of Foreign Wars."
Statewide, VFW membership has hovered around 95,000 for the last five
years but dipped to about 92,000 in 2006, state organization
adjutant-quartermaster Roy Grona said.
Grona attributes the steady numbers to recruitment which adds more than
6,000 new members each year to replace declining numbers.
But not every post in Texas has seen the benefits, he said.
"When you get into the smaller cities, you're young people aren't just
moving there, they're moving to the large cities where the jobs are,"
Grona said.
Nationwide, American Legion membership has consistently hovered at about
2.7 million, national spokesman Wade Habshey said.
Though Orange's American Legion Post 49 bested this year's membership
goals by 40 percent with 342 active members, "We used to have about 600,
a number of years ago," post financial officer James Delome said.
Deaths and rising dues are partly to blame, Delome said.
If the gradual declines continue unchecked, Braneff said he fears that
veterans everywhere will eventually feel the impact. Fewer numbers means
less clout for the group as a whole, he said.
"If we don't have somebody helping the veterans, and in Congress
fighting for our rights, there's not going to be anything," Braneff
said.
Outreach
The solution could be increasing interaction with young people.
The Sons of the American Legion program is a group for young relatives
of Legion members. There are no age limits, and Post 49 boasts
participation of 51 members, Delome said.
The Legion and Legion Auxiliary also sponsor youth programs such as Boys
State and Girls State, which are annual mock government participation
programs.
The VFW has loosened its membership criteria somewhat to allow in more
members, such as allowing the spouses, children, grandchildren and
stepchildren of eligible veterans join the group and related
organizations even if the eligible veteran is not a member, according to
a VFW 2775 press release.
Richard said he has approached eligible friends about joining the VFW,
but no takers, so far.
Many of them cite busy schedules as the main reason they wouldn't join.
The attitude is a symptom of today's younger generation, which can seem
self-absorbed, Richard said.
"That's what I want to change," Richard said. "I want to make a
difference in me so they'll follow my footsteps for generations to
come."
msmith@beaumontenterprise.com (409) 880-0723
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Larry Scott --
