thedrifter
05-06-09, 06:10 AM
VET SOCIAL CLUBS' NUMBERS SHRINK
County decline reflects national trend
By KEVIN HOWE
Herald Staff Writer
Updated: 05/06/2009 01:25:43 AM PDT
In the post-World War II decades, an American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars hall was a refuge where former soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen could get together, swap stories, shoot pool and drink in their own smoke-filled, neon-lit bar bedecked with flags and war trophies.
Sometimes a round of bingo or other low-rolling game of chance was in progress. The hall was a venue for military "prop blast" retirement parties and other social events, and a headquarters for mounting community service campaigns, parade units or funeral honor guards.
That clubby ambience of beery comradeship appears to have lost its appeal to a new generation of veterans.
Enrollment in veterans organizations in Monterey County has been declining, reflecting a national trend, said officials involved in government veterans' assistance and in fraternal organizations.
Membership shrinks as veterans move out of state, and there are fewer vets than in the past, said Monterey County Military and Veterans Services Officer Rich Garzas.
"There were 3.1 million veterans in California not that long ago," he said. "That number was below 2.1 million in 2008. That is a decline of one-third in the veteran population."
Such a decrease is bound to have a significant effect on the membership in veterans' organizations, he said.
"The decline in the ranks of the World War II and Korean War veterans hits the veterans' organizations especially hard," Garzas said, "since they were the bulk of the membership in most organizations. Now, the majority are probably Vietnam-era veterans" — men and women in their 50s and 60s — "and we aren't that young anymore, either."
There were two chapters of Disabled American Veterans chapters in Monterey County when he took on the duties of veterans services officer five years ago, Garzas said. Now there is only one.
The DAV decline has stabilized, said James Bogan, a member of that organization as well as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and United Veterans Council.
"In this area, it's pretty much holding its own," he said, but membership in the United Veterans Council, which represents all veterans organizations in the county, and other organizations has been on the decline.
"Part of it, I think, is because we don't have what it takes to offer to young vets," Bogan said. "They're looking for places with Wi-Fi (wireless Internet service) so they can sit down and do laptops. A lot of posts don't have this facility. They're just not into shooting pool. They'd rather play video games or use their laptops."
The ambience of American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars halls doesn't appeal to young veterans, said Karl P. Karl, director of the Veterans Transition Center in Marina.
Some of the turnoffs, he said, include drinking in the lounge — "many younger vets want a clean, sober environment" — a feeling among young veterans that they aren't welcome, and infighting within and fragmentation of veterans' organizations.
Smoking in legion halls and VFW club rooms was banned long after it became illegal in civilian bars and restaurants.
Some local veterans' groups have closed their doors and membership in all traditional veterans groups has declined severely during the past 20 years, Karl said, noting that American Legion Post 31 in Salinas had 1,300 members in 1975 and now has about 500.
He said he'd like to see one large veterans' organization that could combine funds and resources to help all veterans, and said he is trying to start a local group similar to Vietnam Veterans of Monterey County for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.
"This would be a no-drinking, community involvement, not-national-based, locally owned and operated, tri-county-based group," Karl said.
Attrition is part of the loss in membership, said Abel Quinones of the county United Veterans Council.
The Monterey Bay Fleet Reserve Association represents 78 veterans — Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard — from Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties, he said, and the association's West Coast regional organization is considering reapportioning its rural branches where memberships are on the rise.
The Monterey Bay association, he said, has been losing an average of six members a year during the past 10 years.
"Many of the losses are because we are unable to maintain shipmate contact with members in Santa Cruz and San Benito counties," Quinones said. "Sailors and Marines since boot camp, they are taught they are part of a crew, squad or unit. And there is always help within."
American Legion memberships in the tri-county area, he said, have declined less than 10 percent in the past 10 years, less than the national trend.
Kevin Howe can be reached at 646-4416 or khowe@montereyherald.com
Veterans' local gathering places VFW posts · Monterey Peninsula Nisei Memorial Post, P.O. Box 1854, Monterey · Sea-Mont Memorial Post, 1996 Fremont Blvd., Seaside · Fort Ord Memorial Post, P.O. Box 475, Marina · Lt. Billy Paulsen Jr. Post, P.O. Box 7025, Spreckels American Legion posts · Marina, 694 Legion Way · Monterey, 1011 Veterans Drive · Salinas, 14 W. Laurel Drive · 35 W. Market St. · 1160 Loyola Drive Source: Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion Web sites
Ellie
County decline reflects national trend
By KEVIN HOWE
Herald Staff Writer
Updated: 05/06/2009 01:25:43 AM PDT
In the post-World War II decades, an American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars hall was a refuge where former soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen could get together, swap stories, shoot pool and drink in their own smoke-filled, neon-lit bar bedecked with flags and war trophies.
Sometimes a round of bingo or other low-rolling game of chance was in progress. The hall was a venue for military "prop blast" retirement parties and other social events, and a headquarters for mounting community service campaigns, parade units or funeral honor guards.
That clubby ambience of beery comradeship appears to have lost its appeal to a new generation of veterans.
Enrollment in veterans organizations in Monterey County has been declining, reflecting a national trend, said officials involved in government veterans' assistance and in fraternal organizations.
Membership shrinks as veterans move out of state, and there are fewer vets than in the past, said Monterey County Military and Veterans Services Officer Rich Garzas.
"There were 3.1 million veterans in California not that long ago," he said. "That number was below 2.1 million in 2008. That is a decline of one-third in the veteran population."
Such a decrease is bound to have a significant effect on the membership in veterans' organizations, he said.
"The decline in the ranks of the World War II and Korean War veterans hits the veterans' organizations especially hard," Garzas said, "since they were the bulk of the membership in most organizations. Now, the majority are probably Vietnam-era veterans" — men and women in their 50s and 60s — "and we aren't that young anymore, either."
There were two chapters of Disabled American Veterans chapters in Monterey County when he took on the duties of veterans services officer five years ago, Garzas said. Now there is only one.
The DAV decline has stabilized, said James Bogan, a member of that organization as well as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and United Veterans Council.
"In this area, it's pretty much holding its own," he said, but membership in the United Veterans Council, which represents all veterans organizations in the county, and other organizations has been on the decline.
"Part of it, I think, is because we don't have what it takes to offer to young vets," Bogan said. "They're looking for places with Wi-Fi (wireless Internet service) so they can sit down and do laptops. A lot of posts don't have this facility. They're just not into shooting pool. They'd rather play video games or use their laptops."
The ambience of American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars halls doesn't appeal to young veterans, said Karl P. Karl, director of the Veterans Transition Center in Marina.
Some of the turnoffs, he said, include drinking in the lounge — "many younger vets want a clean, sober environment" — a feeling among young veterans that they aren't welcome, and infighting within and fragmentation of veterans' organizations.
Smoking in legion halls and VFW club rooms was banned long after it became illegal in civilian bars and restaurants.
Some local veterans' groups have closed their doors and membership in all traditional veterans groups has declined severely during the past 20 years, Karl said, noting that American Legion Post 31 in Salinas had 1,300 members in 1975 and now has about 500.
He said he'd like to see one large veterans' organization that could combine funds and resources to help all veterans, and said he is trying to start a local group similar to Vietnam Veterans of Monterey County for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.
"This would be a no-drinking, community involvement, not-national-based, locally owned and operated, tri-county-based group," Karl said.
Attrition is part of the loss in membership, said Abel Quinones of the county United Veterans Council.
The Monterey Bay Fleet Reserve Association represents 78 veterans — Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard — from Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties, he said, and the association's West Coast regional organization is considering reapportioning its rural branches where memberships are on the rise.
The Monterey Bay association, he said, has been losing an average of six members a year during the past 10 years.
"Many of the losses are because we are unable to maintain shipmate contact with members in Santa Cruz and San Benito counties," Quinones said. "Sailors and Marines since boot camp, they are taught they are part of a crew, squad or unit. And there is always help within."
American Legion memberships in the tri-county area, he said, have declined less than 10 percent in the past 10 years, less than the national trend.
Kevin Howe can be reached at 646-4416 or khowe@montereyherald.com
Veterans' local gathering places VFW posts · Monterey Peninsula Nisei Memorial Post, P.O. Box 1854, Monterey · Sea-Mont Memorial Post, 1996 Fremont Blvd., Seaside · Fort Ord Memorial Post, P.O. Box 475, Marina · Lt. Billy Paulsen Jr. Post, P.O. Box 7025, Spreckels American Legion posts · Marina, 694 Legion Way · Monterey, 1011 Veterans Drive · Salinas, 14 W. Laurel Drive · 35 W. Market St. · 1160 Loyola Drive Source: Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion Web sites
Ellie