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Printer-Friendly ModeVFW post seeks veterans, family
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1566 looking for new members, families welcome
February 11, 2008 —
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1566 in Saginaw is currently on the lookout for potential up-and-coming young veterans to join the organization.
In particular, the group is looking to recruit veterans from Operation Enduring Freedom (OEI) in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in Iraq. Post 1566 is willing to offer a free one year trial membership for any veteran or person currently serving in the armed forces who is interested in joining. Families of veterans or families of current military personnel are also welcome to join as auxiliary members.
Veterans who have served in past conflicts are also welcome to join. Yearly membership fees are approximately $30.
Dennis Harvey, a 28-year-old VFW member who served in Afghanistan under Operation Enduring Freedom with the 10th Mountain Division, says that Post 1566 is a great opportunity for young veterans to contribute to their local community.
Harvey, a member of Post 1566 since serving in Afghanistan in late 2003, said he has been intimately involved with area elementary schools. He said he goes to these schools in full military uniform with some of the equipment he used in Afghanistan and explains to the students the purpose of each item.
In addition to interacting with the students by showing them military equipment, Harvey said he instructs elementary school childen on proper flag etiquette and on the importance and meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance and patriotism in general.
Harvey said when he isn't busy working toward his degree at American Military University - an online college - or when he isn't at his full time job working as a counter-terrorism analyst in the Detroit area, he's in Saginaw spending time with his friends at the VFW club.
"We got a lot of younger guys here," Harvey said. "We get together, shoot darts, play pool, and get a couple of drinks."
Harvey pointed to numerous advantages to being able to spend an evening at Post 1566. In addition to the beverages and food being relatively cheaper than some privately owned establishments, Post 1566 has a members-only policy. The front entrance to the club, located in the basment of the basement of Post 1566, is locked. Individuals wishing to enter have to be "buzzed" in by someone on the inside.
"No dirtballs are coming in," Harvey said. "There's no trouble here."
Post 1566 is located around Old Town Saginaw. Harvey said that he and his friends from the VFW also spend time in some area establishments as well. He said this is due to the close proximity of the privately owned bars to the post.
According to the official VFW Web site, the organization has close to 2.3 million members worldwide. Its roots date back to the late-19th century during the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection. Many of the soldiers involved in these conflicts came back to the United States from the war disabled or sick. Without any military pensions or benefits in existence at the time, veterans of these conflicts formed organizations to help gain healthcare and other benefits for themselves.
The VFW was also instrumental in helping establish the Vietnam, World War II, and Korean War memorials in Washington D.C. Post 1566 in Saginaw is one of 8,400 VFW posts worldwide.
Post 1566 has been heavily involved in the Saginaw community. For instance, Post 1566 has been involved in numerous community service endeavors such as helping at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Saginaw, hosting cost-free military style funerals for fallen veterans, and donating to the Special Olympics. The post also helped consolidate the war memorials that were once spread all across Saginaw into one location.
Anyone interested in joining the VFW at Post 1566 or those simply looking for more information can do so by contacting it through e-mail at vfw1566@yahoo.com or by telephone at (989) 792-9111.