By Lauri Lee
Northside Economic Development Coalition
The VFW is celebrating 100 years during 2019. VFW Post 8483 has been located on the Northside since the 1960s, but since it is located at 5737 County Road CV, it’s a little out of sight for many who travel through our community.
To help Northsiders honor the VFW’s work with veterans for so many years, I spoke with VFW Post 8483 Commander, Carolyn Morgan. “Memorial Day is more than a three-day weekend signaling the start of summer vacation,” said Morgan. “Memorial Day is a solemn day of remembrance for everyone who has died serving in the armed forces. The VFW started buddy poppy distribution in 1922 to serve as the official memorial flower of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. The VFW is about honoring the dead while serving the living who served in a foreign war.”
“We assist vets to get their well-deserved benefits,” said Morgan. “The VFW is a place for comradery and we help keep vets from struggling. There are a number of ways they can be involved in community projects. Vets participation in ‘VFW in the Classroom’ helps bring history to life. They’re able to share their perspective about the sacrifices veterans make to maintain freedom for everyone. Roadside cleanup in the local community is another VFW project.”
Morgan is a disabled Gulf War veteran. She served 16 years in the Air Force from 1980–1996 and spent eight-and-a-half months in the sand. She became disabled while serving in the Gulf War. Serving is in her blood. Carolyn, her dad and her son have all served at Truax Field over the years. In 2018, her peers voted her in to be the volunteer Post Commander and lead Post 8483.
“It’s time for a changing of the guard at the VFW,” said Morgan. “The VFW started by helping WWII vets and now Vietnam vets are slowly stepping aside. We need younger vets to come in and make this place their own. If they think the VFW is only for older vets, they need to realize the only way to make things change, is to come in and change them to be the way they want them to be. We invite and welcome Gulf War veterans and younger vets to become the leaders.”
Morgan wants VFW Post 8483 to get more involved in the Northside community and welcomes ideas. One upcoming community event is the National Veterans Golden Age Games (blogs.va.gov) meat raffle being held at the VFW July 20 starting at 1 pm.
It is a national priority for the VFW to work alongside America’s youth and instill a sense of patriotism. They have scholarships and awards for youth, such as Scout of the Year. More than 40,000 high school students take part nationally in the “Voice of Democracy” audio-essay program for the opportunity to enter to win their share of $2.1 million in educational scholarships and incentives. The national first-place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship. The 2019-20 theme is “What Makes America Great.” All student entries must be submitted to a local VFW Post by midnight, Oct. 31. Go to VFW.org for more details on programs or email 8483commander@gmail.com.
Perhaps one of the least known aspects of the VFW is that it is open to the public. They have great food (see ad in this Northside News issue) and are open seven days a week, from 11 am–10 pm Sunday through Thursday and 11 am until bar time, Friday and Saturday. The popular Friday night fish fry at the VFW could easily become one of your new favorites in town.