Veteran Service Organizations

Jim Fausone
Veterans Disability Attorney

We work with hundreds of veterans every week.  We also work with VSO's on a weekly basis and know the good they perform. We have been concerned that the ranks of the VSOs have been diminishing as WWII, Korean and Vietnam veterans pass on.  For example, the American Legion in Michigan has seen its 100,000 membership in the 1990s drop to 70,000 in 2012.  With an average 10 to 15-year gap between a veteran’s time getting out of the military and joining a service group, the two leading organizations, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion, are battling to hang on until reinforcements hit. A good article on VSO's need to and effort at involving younger vets.

http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/01/03/news/doc50e5ccfe1e96a579064367.txt?viewmode=fullstory

American Legion Birthday

Jim Fausone
Veteran Disability Lawyer

Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) plan an important role for veterans including re-integration, education of benefits, and camaraderie.

March 15 is the birthday of the American Legion. In 1919, the first American Legion caucus, held by members of the American Expeditionary Force, convened in Paris. March 15 is the date when the American Legion came to life. They did not form the organization out of self-interest. The bedrock of their existence would revolve around four pillars — a strong national defense, Americanism, support for veterans and mentoring our youth.

Today, the American Legion remains vital and as its Preamble to the Constitution of The American Legion states:

“For God and Country, We associate ourselves together for the
following purposes:

“To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of
America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a
100 percent Americanism; to preserve the memories and incidents
of our associations in the Great Wars; to inculcate a sense of
individual obligation to the community, state and nation; to combat
the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to make right
the master of might; to promote peace and good will on Earth;
to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice,
freedom and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship
by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.”

Happy birthday Legionaries and keep up the good work.

Veteran Service Organizations & Facebook

by Jim Fausone

VSOs play an important role in the reintegration of troops into society and the delivery of veteran benefits information. The reduction in members is of concern to the survival of VSOs. These groups have to make themselves more relevant to today's veterans. The groups are adopting the use of social media.

The American Legion has about 20,000 Facebook members. IAVA has 169,000 supporters on Facebook. VFW has 64,000 Facebook followers. Connecting by use of social media is just one step in remaining relevant. Others are discussed in the attached article.

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/11/army-vets-turn-to-social-media-111910w/