By Nick Buglione
Owing to dwindling membership, the aging veterans have been canvassing East Meadow for the past several months in search of prospective members willing to one day take the reins at Post 2736.
So far, though, they've come up empty.
"We were supposed to get a new [Vietnam veteran] this week, but the guy didn't show up," said a dejected Sam DiPalo, an 80-year-old World War II veteran and past commander of East Meadow VFW Post 2736. "We're always constantly looking for new members, but we're not getting any response from the veterans."
Once boasting 655 members in its heyday, the East Meadow VFW's membership is now half that number. Out of that number, only 50 to 60 are truly active, according to Sal Pellegrino, 74, a Korean War veteran and Post 2736 past commander.
At one time the post, which started almost 60 years ago, had its own hall on East Meadow Avenue, but had to sell it off because members could no longer maintain it.
"We're dwindling quickly; we're burying approximately 1,000 World War II veterans a day in America," said Pellegrino, who has been a member at the East Meadow VFW for about 50 years. "Even in Nassau County, we're burying 25 to 30 per month."
The vast majority of the East Meadow VFW's remaining members fought in World War II and are in their 80s, with a sprinkling of 70-plus Korean War veterans. There are virtually none from Vietnam or later wars.
Without younger members, the East Meadow veterans fear no one will be around to run the post in years to come. With the World War II and Korean War veterans aging, they won't be able to keep things going alone for much longer.
"I enjoyed being commander but my wife was getting concerned that I was out a lot at night and my vision isn't so good anymore," DiPalo said. "I just couldn't do it anymore, it was just too demanding."
That's why the post is seeking young blood, handing out fliers and posting notices around the neighborhood. They haven't had much luck, though.
"The Vietnam vets have their own organizations and they usually join those organizations and not ours," Pellegrino said. "The Gulf War veterans, we can't get any of them whatsoever. Why? I don't know. There's plenty of them out there."
The reason most Vietnam veterans are reluctant to join VFW posts is because they don't feel welcome, said Bob English, commander of the Bellmore-based Veterans of the Vietnam War New York Post 3.
"We were turned away," said English, claiming Vietnam veterans were swept under the rug after the war. "They told us we weren't in a war. They called us cry babies."
Pellegrino maintains that's not the case. He says that, during Vietnam, he went door to door and signed up some 80 East Meadow residents fighting in the war as honorary members. Only a handful actually joined the post upon returning home.
Instead, local Vietnam veterans have gravitated toward other organizations, such as the East Meadow American Legion Post 1082 or groups geared specifically for them.
The East Meadow VFW is not alone; in fact, declining membership is something posts across the nation have been experiencing.
Started over 100 years ago as an advocacy group for veterans, the VFW has some 9,500 posts around the world.
"During the last couple of years, our membership had been declining," said Jerry Newberry, spokesman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. "We realized some years ago that the veterans population was aging and that our membership, as a result, would decline."
The VFW recently started several new programs, including a military emergency relief fund, aimed at attracting younger veterans and those currently serving in the military.
A year ago, the government also loosened the criteria prospective VFW members had to meet in order to join.
"We have people deployed all over the world who are drawing hostile fire pay or imminent danger pay and those soldiers are now eligible to join," Newberry said. Before a person had to serve overseas in a war to become a member.
The modifications have helped, Newberry said, and the VFW's national membership has started making a comeback. There are now 2.6 million VFW and ladies auxiliary members in the United States.
The East Meadow post, however, continues to struggle. "What's going to happen in a couple of years? I don't know," Pellegrino said. "The VFW is going to fade away."
Anyone interested in joining East Meadow VFW Post 2736 can call Sal Pellegrino at (516) 794-5036, or write to P.O. Box 508, East Meadow, N.Y. 11554.
