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Danny Calvo

Professor Batty

English 101

March 23, 2014

Experience the Post

The Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) Post 10040 is a local club in North Hollywood,

California. It is a members only club whose members consist of veterans of foreign wars and

their families. The main part of the club consists of a classic looking bar, full of dull and dark

colors with a recreational hall attached that is used for events and celebrations. Wilted dusty flags

line the walls with their faded red, white, and blue still proudly displayed for all to see. My father

has been a member of this club for over five years now, which has allowed me the pleasure of

getting to know these individuals on a more intimate level than I ever thought I would. From

experience, I can honestly state that the primary purpose of this establishment is to sell alcohol

and provide the traditional bar experience with its cheap drinks and discounted pool games;

while its secondary purpose works on a deeper level to act as place where veterans can go and

connect with each other and feel safe.

The VFW is an organization that has been around since the year 1899, and has over 9,500

locations worldwide with 1.7 million members. It has been serving veterans with services from

sending care packages to current deployed military members to raising awareness of mental and

physical obstacles that many returning soldiers face by organizing events where the public can

get involved and help spread the message. Their mission statement is not just a bunch of words

put together as an act of public relations, they mean every word of it. To foster camaraderie

among United States veterans of overseas conflicts. To serve our veterans, the military and our
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communities. To advocate on behalf of all veterans. (NO ONE DOES MORE FOR

VETERANS) An example of this charitable spirit is an event called Solider Run. It was initially

started by one veteran, Chris Carney, when he decided he wanted to run across the country, over

5,000 miles to raise awareness of injured soldiers. The following year, he was followed by a few

more, and year after year, it has become something extraordinary. In 2008, President George W

Bush called it the most inspiring athletic event in the country,"(Newswire) This annual event

and others like it show the undeniable love and good nature of this organization and veterans

alike.

One of the benefits of the VFW are the Posts (club locations). The post that my father is a

member of and that I frequent regularly is Post 10040. Like many of the posts that have been

around for decades, this post has what I like to call, Character. As soon as you walk into the

post, the smell of stale beer, mixed with fresh home cooking, and intermittent clouds of perfume

and cigarettes all hit you at once; not to say it's a bad smell, it just takes some getting used to.

Members from all branches of the military are welcome there. Army, Naval, Air Force, Coast

Guard, and Marine medals and flags decorate every corner of this club. To keep things

interesting, you are able to make a donation to the club, and have your specific branch sign

posted up above the bar to say either Marines run this post or The Army runs this post.

Things just get better when you peak behind the bar and can see the wide variety of alcohol there

is to choose from, with packages chips and jerky for sale along with home cooking that the

bartenders tend to cook and either sell for donations or just provide to the members. I would say

on most occasions, I leave there most full on food than alcohol. The weekly pool tournaments,

dart boards, 6 big screen TVs, juke box, and a lotto machine are all added bonuses to the

experience. When reviewing material for this essay, I found a quote that summed up my entire
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experience with this organization, This is more a place where families get together, people come

to watch sports, and wives come in without their husbands for lunch or just to get together with

friends. It's a mixed group in and out every day, more of a family atmosphere. We want not just

veterans here, but families and kids. (American Legion, VFW Post Change their Image in

Efforts to Draw Younger Vets and Their Families, Myers) It is in their nature to be giving;

especially since I am not in the military or a veteran myself.

After a few minutes at a seemingly low key bar, you can come to realize its secondary

purpose; it is a place where veterans can connect with others who have lived through similar life

experiences and feel like they are in a safe place without being judged or looked at differently.

Most, if not all of these men are true American heroes. Its members range from survivors of the

2nd World War, Vietnam War, Korean War, and most recently the wars in both Iraq and

Afghanistan. Going from extremes in the war then back to civilian life can be an overwhelming

experience, and to have friends who survived just like you, when many others did not is a

sobering yet comforting feeling. Most of all, they just want a place to relax after a stressful day.

Often times, veterans who are new to the area or who are just driving through the area decide

they want to stop by for a drink. Immediate reactions from the bar tender usually consist of

Come have a seat. Everyone! This is .! And then one by one, members embrace them and

introduce themselves. You can see the sense of relief that passes through their faces, a nonverbal

cue of thank you. It is not just male veterans either, female veterans are members too and often

attend the club. These members know that when they arrive, they are welcomed. They know its

affordable and there is always an open ear. Even if it is not specifically talking about their

combat history, these individuals seem to connect on many other levels. Political conversations

can become a tense situation; I have learned to keep my opinion to myself in a few situations. Its
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not to say that they are not accepting of my political views, it is more out of respect. These guys

risked their lives, lost their friends, and accepted a changed mindset when serving; who am I to

challenge them on their views? The benefit of this, is that I get to experience what they went

through by just listening. The stories I have heard go back to WWII, and the details described

offer something that you cannot get a Buffalo Wild Wings. History from their perspective is

being told, and it has been a life experience that I will forever be grateful for.

It took me until this assignment to see the true nature of the Post 10040. Its potential to

offer something more than just a bar experience is more powerful than most can imagine. In our

fast paced life, of working, school, kids, pets, and modern technology, we get distracted from

really understanding the sacrifice that military members give when serving. Its the lucky ones

that return home, and no matter how damaged they might be physically or mentally, the ability to

have a constant support system can make or break a person.

Word Cited
PR, Newswire. "Comradery Heals Wounded Veterans during National Cycling Event." ["WWP-
Soldier-Ride-TX"]. PR Newswire US, 11 Nov. 2015. EBSCOhost, library.lavc.edu/login?
url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=bwh&AN=201511111138PR.NEWS.USPR.DC54856&site=eds-live.

"About Us." VFW. NO ONE DOES MORE FOR VETERANS., 2017. Web. 30 Mar. 2017.
<https://www.vfw.org/about-us>.

Myers, Valerie. "American Legion, VFW Posts Change Their Image in Efforts to Draw Younger
Vets and Their Families." Erie Times-News (PA), 08 Nov. 2015.
EBSCOhost, library.lavc.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=n5h&AN=2W6423569589&site=eds-live.