Save Long Island's veterans' posts

Long Island has long been a bastion for veterans. Since before the Second World War, they have congregated at American Legions and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts for comradeship, to continue public service and advocate for their needs.

These posts, some humble and others as large as catering halls, are a home away from home. Here we work on critical community missions such as the American Legion Boys' State and the VFW's Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Pen, programs for young people that foster patriotism and teach civic engagement. The veterans' organizations host food drives and community cleanups and support veterans who have fallen on hard times.

But on this Veterans Day, we must recognize that these posts, staples of our communities, are struggling.

With the World War II and Korean War generations largely gone now and the Vietnam generation aging, there are fewer members of veterans' posts, leading them to close or to no longer have the presence they once had. We must ask ourselves why this is.

The World War II generation was the largest generation of veterans in American history, with about 16 million Americans proudly answering the call to serve. This led to a ballooning number of posts on Long Island. Nassau County has 52 American Legion posts, many of which opened after the war for returning veterans.

On the other end of the spectrum, there's the lack of interest from the Global War on Terrorism generation, which is mine. I am a 26-year-old U.S. Army combat veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division and proud officer of VFW Post 9592 in Levittown. More than 4 million service members answered the call of duty between the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and 2023. Yet many of these younger veterans are not joining these chapters.

Veterans of my generation have given me many reasons. Many cite the longer hours they must work on the Island to afford the cost of living, leaving little time for leisurely activities. Another reason I often hear about is the "gatekeeping" that goes on in some posts. Older veterans obstinate to change, holding on to their positions for too long and not letting the next generation take over. (This has not been my experience; I was welcomed with open arms.) The main culprit is the lack of recruiting. I believe that many veterans, especially younger vets, are not aware of the posts.

There are around 81,000 veterans living on Long Island, many of whom don't belong to one of these groups. This needs to change. We must do a lot more recruiting, starting with social media, where the generation you are trying to reach is more active than ever. If your post doesn't have accounts on Instagram, Facebook, X or yes TikTok, you're wrong.

The other methods are more traditional and direct. I can't count the number of flyers I have handed out and posted. If I see someone in my area with a service flag, bumper sticker, veteran's license plate, or even a hat or shirt on, I hand them a flyer or have a conversation about joining my post. I alone brought in three new members to Levittown VFW Post 9592 last year. It's not much but it's honest work. These veterans are now happier and more active as part of our organization.

If you are a veteran or know a veteran who is not involved in a post, whether it's American Legion, AMVETS or VFW, look up your nearest one and give them a call. Join your local post to keep the veterans' community on Long Island alive and strong.

This guest essay reflects the views of Michael J. Stinnett, an Army veteran who lives in Levittown.