VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS (VFW) NEW HAVEN HOSTING CHARTER MEMBER RECRUITING EVENT
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (May 18, 2015) – State and local members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars are hosting a charter member recruiting event before Memorial Day weekend for the “new generation” VFW post forming in New Haven. Eligible veterans and the public are urged to attend the recruiting event on Monday, May 18, 2015 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Hill Regional Career High School (140 Legion Ave.).
VFW member Charles M. Pickett said organizers were surprised how quickly they surpassed the minimum number of veterans needed to apply for a charter. While many VFW posts have difficulty recruiting younger or “Millennial” veterans, Pickett said the prospect of building a VFW post in the Elm City from the ground up resonated with Global War on Terror (GWOT) veterans. “All but three of the current charter members are student or GWOT veterans,” Pickett said of the “new generation” VFW post—making it unique in the state if not the country.
Pickett said the project received an outpouring of support from VFW state leadership and the greater New Haven community. “From the generous donations of meeting space by the New Haven Elks Lodge #25 and the New Haven Free Public Libraries, to the promotional support from the Connecticut Army Reserve National Guard, Southern Connecticut State University, Yale University, the University of New Haven, Gateway Community College, the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, the New Haven Veterans Advisory Committee, and the veterans who continue to serve in the New Haven police and fire departments, all their efforts have really helped this project take off. With some luck, we should have our application for a post charter approved by the VFW national commander by Memorial Day.”
The VFW New Haven meets the second Thursday of the month at 7:10 p.m. at the New Haven Elks Lodge #25 (524 State St., New Haven). Organizers are actively recruiting additional charter members. To join the VFW, a veteran must have served honorably, served in a foreign war, and be a U.S. citizen.
ABOUT THE VFW: The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is the largest and oldest major combat and war veterans service organization in America. Our members bring veterans together, we take care of each other, and we continue to serve our country and our communities.
