WHY BELONG?

THE VFW SPANS A VAST DISTANCE; FROM WORKING WITH THE MARCH OF DIMES FIGHTING BIRTH DEFECTS, TO PERFORMING GRAVESIDE SERVICES FOR A LOST VETERAN. THE VFW IS COMPRISED OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO SPEND MILLIONS OF HOURS AND DOLLARS SUPPORTING SUCH PROGRAMS AS YOUTH ATHLETICS AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS. IT IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WORK TO FIND JOBS FOR VETERANS SO THAT THEY CAN FEED THEIR FAMILIES AND LIVE WITH DIGNITY. IT IS CARING INDIVIDUALS WHO TAKE TIME AWAY FROM THEIR OWN FAMILIES SO THEY CAN VISIT THE HOSPITALS AND REST HOMES, BRINGING LIGHT INTO SOMEONE�S LONELY LIFE. IT IS PEOPLE WHO WORK ALL WEEK AND THEN SPEND THE WEEKEND PLACING AMERICAN FLAGS ON VETERANS GRAVES TO HONOR THEM ON MEMORIAL DAY.

THESE THINGS ARE BUT A FRACTION OF WHAT THE VFW DOES BESIDES DOING WHAT IT DOES BEST, FIGHTING FOR VETERANS AND THEIR BENEFITS. THE VFW SPENDS COUNTLESS TIME AND MONEYS TRYING TO CONVINCE POLITICIANS THAT THE VETERANS DO NOT WANT ANY HANDOUTS, THAT THEY ONLY WANT THOSE ENTITLEMENTS PROMISED TO THEM BY THE GOVERNMENT, WHOSE HONOR THEY FOUGHT FOR AND MILLIONS OF THEIR COMRADES HAVE DIED FOR.

THOSE OF US WHO BELONG TO THE VFW TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN OUR ORGANIZATION, AND WHAT IT HAS ACCOMPLISHED. HOWEVER, IT IS NECESSARY THAT WE DO MORE. WE MUST GET OUR STORY OUT TO THOSE MEMBERS WHO DROPPED OUT BECAUSE THEY REALLY NEVER KNEW WHAT TO DO. WE MUST TELL THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN ASKED THAT WE WANT THEM TO JOIN US IN OUR FIGHT FOR FAIR TREATMENT BY OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND SUPPORT OUR DEMANDS THAT OUR GOVERNMENT LIVE UP TO ITS PROMISES. IF WE FAIL IN DOING THIS, THEN WE FAIL NOT ONLY OUR FELLOW VFW MEMBER, BUT ALL VETERANS WHO HAVE PLACED THEIR FAITH IN US.