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VSOs SAY VETERANS' FUTURE COULD LIE WITH
MEMBERSHIPS --
Claim if younger generation of veterans doesn't
show support,
VA services could suffer.
Story here...
http://www.sun-herald.com/NewsArchive4/010207
/tp2de2.htm?date=010207&story=tp2de2.htm
Story below:
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Veterans' futures could lie with club memberships
By ALYSSA SCHNUGG
Staff Writer
The future is looking brighter for veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq
wars compared to their fellow vets from Vietnam or World War II in terms
of medical and mental health services.
That is, if they can keep up the fight in Washington, D.C.
But if the younger generation of veterans doesn't support their local
military organizations -- like the Veterans of Foreign Wars or the
American Legion, which use their membership dues to pay for lobbyists --
those services could suffer, according to Port Charlotte VFW Post 5690
Commander Frank Valora.
"Most of our vets are from WWII and Korea," he said. "Our average age is
72. If I was young and wanted to get involved in something, I'd want to
be with people my own age."
Valora said most of the younger vets also have families, which give them
less time to get involved in clubs.
Membership dues for the VFW and other veterans groups help pay for
lobbyists in Washington who fight for veterans rights, increased health
benefits and tax cuts, like the recently passed Amendment 7, which will
give some disabled vets a discount on their property taxes.
Valora said there is no way to tell what the veterans of today may need
in the future.
"Vietnam guys are being affected by Agent Orange. Who knows what these
younger vets will face 10 years from now?" he said. "Who is gonna fight
for them if not us?"
Post 5690 has about 650 members. Valora said about 10 of them are from
recent wars.
"They aren't active members, though," he said.
But becoming a "paper" member still helps, according to Valora.
"Even if they don't become active, their dues will still help pay for
our people in Congress who are fighting all the time on behalf of
veterans," he said.
Jim Barrett, veterans service office manager for Charlotte County
Veteran Services, said some veterans from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars
are already suffering from health problems related to the war.
"We are seeing some veterans with undiagnosed problems that could
indicate they were exposed to some chemicals over there. Some are
experiencing respiratory conditions and memory loss," Barrett said.
As in any war, some younger veterans experience post-traumatic stress
disorder, but Barrett said most of those issues are handled by the
military before the soldiers are released.
"They all get evaluated at medical centers before even being
discharged," he said. "But if they find after the fact that they are
dealing with that or any war-related illness, physical or mental, all of
our local veteran clinics have medical and social workers there for
them."
The nearest VA hospital is Bay Pines in St. Petersburg, although there
are several clinics from Sarasota to Port Charlotte and down to Naples.
Barrett said it may be up to the clubs themselves to increase their
memberships.
"I tell them all the time they all need to change," he said. "How are
they going to attract the younger generation?"
Some clubs have membership restrictions. The VFW, for example, is open
only to veterans who have fought a war on foreign soil.
"What about the 15 years of non-war time?" Barrett said. "Where do those
vets go?"
The American Legion is open to anyone who was on active duty during
wartime, according to Post Commander Dennis Bruland. AMVETS is open to
all veterans.
But Bruland said the Legion is working to attract younger vets.
"We have 760 members now and about 20 are considered Gulf War veterans,"
he said. "Most of our families are grown and gone. We've gotten away
from the family mode. We have to gear ourselves to get back to that
position."
Bruland said that some of the family-oriented programs already
established include Christmas and Easter parties, school scholarships
and Boy's State, in which the Legion sends eight local youths to
Tallahassee each year to learn about government.
"We are always looking to attract new members," Bruland said. "We are
trying to live by our creed -- to serve all veterans."
You can e-mail Alyssa Schnugg at
schnugg@sun-herald.com.
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Larry Scott
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