I’ve noticed a trend lately. Enlistments in the military are going up, but membership in veterans clubs like the VFW and American Legion is going down. Way down. 

Now, in case you didn’t know, VFW stands for Veterans of Foreign Wars. The American Legion is open to all veterans, regardless of combat experience. The trouble is, veterans my age are getting older, and younger veterans aren’t joining. This concerns me. 

Why? Because these groups provide Honor Guards at funerals, scholarships for kids, memorials for the fallen, community service, and a whole lot more. If you’ve ever heard a twenty-one-gun salute, well, that wouldn’t have happened without these organizations.

Some veterans may think, “I never saw combat, so I don’t belong.” Allow me to say, plain as day... if you raised your right hand and swore an oath to serve this country, you belong. Period.

Years ago, a fella named Dan Finke invited me to join the American Legion in Carterville. I did, and I’ve been a proud member ever since. Dan has since passed on, but we still honor him to this day. That’s why these clubs are so important; they preserve the memory of service, sacrifice, and brotherhood.

Let me tell you, the feeling never leaves. To this day, when I hear the National Anthem, the hair on the back of my neck stands straight up. The anthem often evokes pride. It can also elicit pain. Sometimes, it stirs both at once.

There’s a saying hanging on my wall that says, “A veteran is a person who at one time wrote a blank check to the United States of America for an amount up to and including his or her life.” 

Only a few are willing to do that.

That’s why I love my flag. That’s why I love my country. And that’s why I encourage all of my veteran brothers and sisters to find, join, and be active in your local American Legion or VFW. We need you. And you’ll be surrounded by folks who share a common bond of service, sacrifice, and respect.

If you have any questions about these organizations, don't hesitate to give me a call. I'd be honored to talk with you.

Be well. Stay well. Thanks for readin’.

-Francis Pass

P.S. I’m so grateful to Dan Finke for introducing me to the American Legion. That one invitation gave me a lifetime of friendship and a sense of purpose. Yours is waiting, too.