Veterans groups need new members to help
On your way to work this morning did you pass a building with a howitzer on the front lawn? Who were those men who walked through the cemetery on Memorial Day and left a flag on certain graves?
Does your son play ball in Little League? Why is his team's uniforms lettered the "Legionnaires"? In the parade on the Fourth of July, who were those men marching, led by a color guard carrying the flag between men bearing rifles?
Do you remember the military funeral for the Smith boy killed in Iraq? There were those men who stood at attention at the graveside for the burial. Others folded the flag and gave it to his mother. Some acted as an honor guard and fired as commanded and from a distance a lone man sounded taps, the bugle call that the "day is done, go to rest."
I know now who these men are. They are veterans. Their meeting place is that house with the howitzer on the lawn. They do all these things in the community to honor their service to the country. They belong to one or another of several veterans organizations. There is the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, AmVets and the Marine Corps League.
These are formal organizations which are organized at national, state and local levels. It is in this alignment of level that lies the strength of the organization, which can listen to the needs and cares of Joe Smith, a veteran in a post at Watertown and represent him when the roll is taken on a bill in the U.S. Senate in Washington.
The commanders at all levels await new members with passion so they can help veterans acquire health and educational benefits, ensure the honors due to those veterans who gave their lives for our country and promote programs of good citizenship and youth leadership in the community.
If you are a veteran recently retired or honorably discharged from the military, wear your title proudly and continue to serve your country, community and family by joining one of the established veterans organizations.
Rev. George M. Phillips
Ogdensburg
