Recently, a veteran friend of mine passed away. Likable but grumpy old guy. I guess I can stereotype him as the typical veteran.
When he died, the local veterans organization sent out a request for members to show up for the funeral ceremony. Crickets. Another request. A couple more bodies popped their heads up. Then they had to call the Sons to help fill out the ranks.
Here’s what bothers me about that.
Under federal law, every veteran is entitled to military funeral honors. Sometimes you get active-duty military performing the ceremony. Sometimes that’s not possible. Usually it falls to local veterans organizations—the Legion, VFW, DAV, MCL. Then you’ve got the Sons, Legion Riders, and other offshoots that aren’t always vets themselves but have close ties. There are several of these groups around. They all lack members willing to step up when needed.
So my question: If you’re a vet, or a close relative eligible to join one of these organizations, what’s keeping you? Politics? Grumpy old men who don’t like change? Work schedule? Family obligations?
We all have our excuses. That’s fine. But are you really going to let your excuses prevent you from showing up for a fellow veteran’s funeral? Because if you won’t show up for theirs, what makes you think anyone’s going to show up for yours?
Now here’s my disclaimer: I joined when I was young, found out I had nothing in common with WW2 members, so I quit going. Never gave it another thought until a guy called years later and asked why I hadn’t joined the VFW. I had no good reason not to, so I joined. Since then I’ve joined a few others. Some I’m active in, some I’m not.
Don’t do as I did. Do as I say.
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