Memorial Day

To the editor:

I have been a subscriber to Marion County Record for more than 50 years and will remain as such even though I was saddened by comment made toward Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6958.

I am sincerely sorry that your traditions have been foiled. If anything, blame it on the lack of an auxiliary, which I was president over until 2016, at which time I resigned and would not take that position for an 11th year.

Because no one wanted to be elected to that position, the auxiliary was terminated.

Traditions at the VFW post haven’t been the same since Chaplin Emil Kapaun started being honored and commemorated on the same days and times that the post in Marion would have special lunches.

Help also became limited when we lost so many of the workers to death. Most now just want to be members without attending meetings or functions.

Just like any person who owns a home, expenses are incurred and have to be paid somehow. The “bar” you so harshly pointed out is one way to make money to spend towards these expenses.

I think what hurts the most, though, is the fact that the veterans at Marion VFW Post 6958 are mainly Korean (forgotten war), Vietnam (hated war) and Desert Storm vets, with the majority of them being from the Vietnam era.

When they returned home, they were not thought of as heroes. Some were even spat on. With the stroke of a pen, it seemed that way again.

I can tell you that some of these VFW veterans are members of or support the Florence American Legion.

If you could only see that the ones overseeing and working hard to keep their support home going are very minimal — like maybe two-thirds 50 years of age others in their 80s.

The ones in their 80s are still fighting the Vietnam War because they all have been affected physically along with mentally.

I know for a fact about the physical aspect since I’m caregiver of one of the Vietnam veterans, and we go to the VA a lot.

Then there are veterans of recent wars, who don’t want to join or can’t because of not being in a war overseas.

I have compassion and empathy for you and your staff as to how the City of Marion and others have treated you.

I only ask you have the same for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6958. Maybe even come to one of the events that they manage to have.

Thank you for hearing me out. Thank you for a great publication.

Donna Kreutziger
rural Marion