A Letter from The Commander
Why We Aren't Growing
“I’m not going to go to the Legion and drink and smoke cigarettes. I want to be out in my community.”
That quote is from a post-9/11 female veteran, and it was reported over a decade ago. It still gets cited because it captures something that has not changed: the visceral disconnect between what younger veterans experience when they walk into a traditional VSO post and what they were looking for when they walked in.
She said that she wants to be out in her community. That is what this generation of vets is all about. It is not about the building, yes it is nice to have a building but it can’t be the emphasis of who we are. We are the legion that the public sees. So is it the building or us?
What are the needs of the community that we can help with.
If we don’t engage with the community to help fulfill their needs, we might as well close our doors and go home. If we don’t show that we care about our community they will not come and help us when we ask. It doesn’t have to be only us helping we should have the public helping too.
The basic needs of people are
Food – Food banks getting the food to the people. We help with the food delivery in Trenton.
Shelter – Helping people find homes. We can open up the post during the winter for the homeless to come in.
Recognition – Award programs, teaching the children Americanism.
Commander Post 287
~Bob Howland~
