For some 90 years, the Henryetta Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 539 has been serving the needs of veterans and their families.
Most of those years have seen the veterans marching in parades, honoring fallen comrades on Memorial Day and Veterans Day and grieving with families at funerals.
The numbers of those participating have been shrinking and that is causing a major problem for the post.
Incoming post commander Bill Goodner said more involvement by members is needed.
“The members who were most active goes back to Second World War types and they are all 80 and beyond.”
He said the post has an enrolled membership of over 400 but only a dozen or so are active.
“If we are going to keep the VFW going as a viable function we are going to have to bring in more people.” He urged the veterans from Vietnam and the Mideast wars to become involved.
“The national VFW has a requirement that says we must have a quorum at each meeting. If we can’t have the required number over a year, we can lose the charter and Henryetta won’t have a VFW post. We now have about eight or ten people at our meetings. Without the help and involvement of our Vietnam or Middle East veterans, we can’t survive.”
The meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month in the 40-year-old metal building on Frisco Avenue.
the building used to hold dances, bingo games and other activities throughout each month. For the most part, those activities have gone by the wayside. “We need to get more focused on civic and charitable activities,” Goodner said.
Each year, VFW members conduct the Memorial Day services at Westlawn Cemetery and, on Veterans Day, they go to the schools and talk with students about the holiday.
He pointed out veterans traditionally believe in the “Band of Brothers” attitude where a veteran is there to help another. “You look out for each other. “We want to be there to help others if they need to talk, get help from the VA or even with medical equipment.”
Membership is not just open to men any more. “Now there are female members of the military who are serving in combat operations. They are welcome.”
Goodner said the next meeting will start at 7 p.m. April 4 but he and other veterans will be on hand around 6 to visit with anyone interested in joining.
“We have one incentive for new members where the post pays the first year membership dues,” Goodner said.