Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Reshaping VFW Posts

Young members explore ways to reshape the VFW
KANSAS CITY STAR
BY RICK MONTGOMERY
08/23/2014

“If our generation doesn’t do it,” said Villa, “who will?”

Relaxing in a Lawrence courtyard at the new digs of Post 852, Iraq veterans Michael Siroky and Amanda Villa recalled the city’s former VFW hall.

Not many of their peers knew it existed. And when the two checked it out, they understood why.

“It was a round building, with no windows, out by the hospital,” said Villa, 30. “It looked as if the World War II veterans wanted to socialize in a bunker.”

So if they didn’t like it, get involved, a VFW Kansas Department commander urged her. It was up to the nation’s latest war veterans to change things.

Slowly and far between, younger veterans are reshaping their local VFW posts and practices, bringing glints of new life to an organization they respect.

“If our generation doesn’t do it,” said Villa, “who will?”

She joined a post committee looking to relocate. Boyfriend Siroky, 33, became post commander. And last year he cut the ribbon at the post’s new social spot in the center of Massachusetts Street nightlife.

The place is drawing dozens of new members, as are other VFW posts injected with youth.

Vietnam vet Jerry Karr, 64, was among the shrinking cadre keeping the old post going, sometimes taking out personal loans to pay the bills.

“It’s not about my war, their wars or World War II,” Karr said. “We’re also here for the kids in third grade whose conflict hasn’t happened yet.

“They’ll be coming home decades from now and will need us.”
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