Why We Are Still Serving: Finding Your Place in the VFW

Each of us has a different reason for why we joined the VFW or why we joined a veterans service organization. Maybe it's because we needed help with our veterans' claim, and we found a service officer that offered us to be part of their organization? Maybe we were looking for the comradery we missed when we left the military? Or, maybe, we were just looking for a way that we could still serve even though we were no longer in uniform?

In this episode, Host Rob Couture is joined by VFW Assistant Adjutant General Dan West. A proud Texan who tells us about his long and illustrious career in the Marine Corps, how he became a VFW member, and how he is still serving. Then, in the still serving spotlight, Rob speaks with two individuals from post #6027 in NE Maryland. They are two generations of veterans working together to reach veterans in their community with their #InviteaVeteran program.

Dan West, VFW Assistant Adjutant General

• Dan describes his long and diverse career in the US Marine Corps. [2:42]

• After being discharged, Dan had a difficult time finding a job and was filled with rage until he discovered a service officer and a support system within the VFW. [9:29]

• In Dan's Texas VFW post, he found peers who truly understood what he had been through. [16:14]

• Dan shares some of the fond memories he acquired moving through the VFW on his way to becoming the Assistant Adjutant General. [30:14]

• The first thing Dan will do when he becomes Adjutant General and what he expects to accomplish as he accepts the role to lead the VFW. [36:27]

• Dan offers leadership advice to VFW employees and members. [43:35]

Post Commander Gene Daley and Tommy Lyons, VFW Post 6027, North East, Maryland

• Gene and Tommy share their military service and how they still serve in the VFW. [49:25]

• Tommy describes the multi-faceted #InviteaVeteran program. [50:43]

• Gene describes the new direction VFW Post 6027 is taking to support veterans in NE Maryland. [58:03]

• The exciting things happening at VFW Post 6027. [1:02:57]

• Addressing the homeless veteran population in the area around Post 6027. [1:05:37]

• Gene stresses the importance of using social media and how it works as a force multiplier. [1:07:56]

• Tommy and Gene speak to younger and older veterans about the benefits of joining the VFW and the volunteer opportunities at the Posts. [1:10:46]

For more information or to continue the conversation, please visit:

Veterans of Foreign Wars Website

VFW Podcast Page

@VFWHQ on Twitter

VFW on Facebook

@RobCoutureVFW on Facebook

VFW Unmet Needs Program

Call 1-888-JOIN-VFW

Text "NEEDS" to 20222 to donate to the Unmet Needs Program

Today's VFW — Share Your #StillServing Story

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