Veterans’ organizations
11/30/2022While Veterans Day has passed, each day of the year can present an opportunity to celebrate our veterans and to recognize the contributions they have made — and continue to make — to their country and community. While World War I and World War II veterans shaped the veterans’ organizations we know today, it is the veterans of subsequent generations who will determine the future of these groups. ♦
Gregory Allen
WEST DES MOINES
Valley Junction’s Emerick-Williams Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 8879 celebrated 75 years last year. Gregory Allen took command of the post two years ago.
Allen, who served during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm in the U.S. Army, became involved with the VFW later in life, when the busyness of raising a family and working full-time eased.
The VFW Post 8879 has about 100 registered members. Most are retirement age, Vietnam or Desert Shield veterans. Allen explains why younger veterans may not join the VFW.
“When they get home from deployment, they want to spend time with their families, not those they were deployed with,” he says.
Allen says he’s concerned about the lack of younger veterans.
“We’re starting to get a few younger members, which makes me excited,” he says. “If we can get activities that involve families, then we’ll grow. I’ve got a lot of hope for the future.”
Allen says he is glad he’s become involved with the VFW.
“This is the best thing I’ve gotten into in a long time. The VFW is a really good comfort to help veterans. I feel good I’m able to help guide people.”
Source: Jordan Creek Living November 2022; by Jackie Wilson
Dennis Appelhons
JOHNSTON
Dennis Appelhons has been a member of the VFW since 1977 and joined Post 9668 in 2016, where he has served as post commander for the last five years.
He explains that local organizations fill in the gaps when it comes to veteran support, because the federal Department of Veterans Affairs cannot do it all.
Post 9668 has helped veterans pay their mortgage or car repairs, provided a down payment on a house for a single mother with three kids, provided transportation and connected them with a VA service officer to arrange medical treatment.
“For the VFW and the Legion, we want to get more involved in community activities and get our names and post information out in front of the public,” Appelhons says.
Activities have included holding flag retirement ceremonies, distributing poppies around Memorial Day, placing flags on veterans’ graves and hosting food drives.
“If the community is aware of what our groups can do for veterans, we’re most likely to hear about those who might need our help,” Appelhons says. “It goes both ways — people helping people.”
Source: Johnston Living November 2022; by Ashley Rullestad
Dean Yordi
NORWALK
Dean Yordi enlisted in the Navy in December 1963 and spent most of his service on a ship in the Mediterranean Sea with 1,200 other Marines, ready to enter Vietnam should the troops need them. He eventually ended up in Norwalk as the city’s public works director. Since then, he’s been active with the local American Legion Post 562.
“This is how I continue to serve my fellow comrades and friends,” he says.
Yordi jokes that his involvement keeps him busy and out of trouble. He explains that the American Legion Post 562 in Cumming has 227 active members who do things like honor guards at funerals, color guards in parades and elsewhere, and support other local activities like the high school baseball team. The organization is very big in supporting Boy Scouts.
“We are very active,” Yordi says. “It’s kind of my family, the Legion.”
Ultimately, for Yordi, living as a veteran in the Norwalk community is something he does with pride. He wears his Navy cap when he’s out and about and shares that people come up to him often to thank him for his service.
“That’s very rewarding,” Yordi says. “I’m very proud to be an ex-service person.”
Source: Norwalk Living November 2022; by Lindsey Giardino
Paul Meyer
ANKENY
Paul Meyer served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War and has been a member of the Legion for more than 30 years.
“I have served in various ways through the years,” he says. “I was commander at one point and chaplain, secretary, and did the color guard.”
The Albaugh-McGovern American Legion Post 42 post was established early in the history of the American Legion, in 1919. It currently has 180 members, with 12-15 active, Meyer estimated. At age 92, he’s one of the older members.
“The young veterans are not joining the Legion because they want nothing to do with the military at all,” says Meyer. “A few of us old guys are keeping the Legion going. We are working at getting more young people involved.
“It’s important that veterans consider joining these organizations just to continue promoting the fact that America is a free country. There are also benefits to membership, like a $1,000 funeral benefit that goes to your survivors if you’re a Legion member. If you don’t honor veterans… They’re the ones that in many cases gave up their lives to preserve our freedoms, and it’s important for a community to remember those who served others around them.” n
Source: Ankeny Living November 2022; by Ashley Rullestad
