In 2002, lone Memorial Day spectator retired teacher Elva
Yoak (now deceased) was seated across from the Calhoun
courthouse, attending VFW Post 5959's observance, despite
9-11 the public's movement toward patriotism was short-lived
Despite the US about to get a fresh crop of veterans, the future of one of the best known veterans organizations, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, remains in question.
Glen Gardner, the VFW's National Commander, came to West Virginia this week visiting many VFW posts and expressing concern.
Gardner says the purpose of his trip to West Virginia is two fold.
He says the first order of business is to thank those at the post level who are doing veterans service work, but the second is to convince those new vets returning from war that the future of the VFW is critical to their future.
"These young men and women serving today need to understand the only way they can protect their future entitlements is to belong to a veterans organization," Gardner said.
At the same time, he admits the future of the organization is precarious.
In Calhoun, VFW Post 5959 in Grantsville continues to raise flags, be standard bearers for "old glory," assist with funerals and honor veterans for their service to the country.
VFW Post members honor America's soldiers in 2002
The VFW was enriched for years by millions of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam veterans.
Those members are dying off and the veterans of Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan are fewer than those of yesterday.
"Today there's 24 million veterans in the United States, probably 15 million are eligible for the VFW and, of those, probably 1.5 million are members," Gardner said.
He says the organization faces a public relations dilemma in which few people know exactly what the VFW does.
Most consider them the marchers in parades, participants in military funerals and sponsors of the local little league.
The VFW is an active lobbying organization in Washington working to preserve veterans entitlement programs.
Gardner admits there is an overriding problem in the US, fewer and fewer people even want to be part of a civic organization.
"The young men and women today are not 'joiners'," he concluded.
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