FORT PIERCE, Fla. — At our Let’s Hear It meet-ups across South Florida, I’ve listened to military veterans. And WPTV wants to be your voice in solving a problem.
Longtime veteran organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars, or VFW, are looking for a younger generation to pick up the torch for the future.
At 41, many consider Chris Armstrong on the younger side to hold a VFW commander position at his Post 8058 in Fort Pierce. When he goes to district-wide or state meetings, he hears from other veterans.
“We’re kind of looked at as the young guys down there in Fort Pierce,” Armstrong said.
On its national website, the VFW says it has 1.4 million members nationwide.
In Florida, there are just more than 50,000 VFW members and approximately 25,000 auxiliary members, according to Florida VFW District 1 commander Mike Messer.
Just this week, I’ve talked with VFW commanders overseeing Palm Beach County posts, and VFWs on the Treasure Coast. They all said one thing: there are not enough young members.
Boynton Beach Post 5335 member Larry Blocher told me approximately 20 of their 100-plus members are under 50 years old.
Jensen Beach VFW Post 10066 tells me they have more than 100 members over 50 years old.
At our WPTV Jensen Beach Let’s Hear It meet-up, Post 10066 auxiliary member Mary Conkle wished to see the younger guard more.
“We need the younger generation to come out and be involved,” Conkle said.
Chris Armstrong has said it since our Let’s Hear It Tradition meet-up in December.
“A lot of these folks that are keeping the VFW and a lot of these other organizations going are aging. And they need younger folks to step up and take the reins,” Armstrong said.
I followed up with Armstrong at VFW Post 8058 in Fort Pierce and saw that he leads by example. Armstrong said about 20% of his 141 members are under 50 years old.
Getting Afghanistan and Iraq war vets on-board takes convincing. For Armstrong, it’s explaining the $45 yearly VFW dues helps lobby for pro-veteran legislation.
“The VFW means to me a powerful voice in Congress, a powerful voice in Tallahassee, in Washington,” Armstrong said.
Nearly all of my VFW members I spoke with see the same trend: Vietnam-era veterans make up the bulk of VFW posts.
Armstrong said Vietnam-era veterans are great to work with and hopes the new guard of veterans answers the call to restock the oldest veterans organization in America.
“The collective experience of life and dealing with military and civilian problems is invaluable and people are missing out on that," Armstrong said.
To be eligible for VFW membership, you must have honorably served in the U.S. Armed Forces in a war, campaign, or expedition on foreign soil or hostile waters.
More eligibility requirements can be found here by clicking here.
To find your nearest VFW post, click here.
