Serving After Service: The 21st Century Needs Strong Veterans Service Organizations
Kingsport, Tennessee- On October 31st, 2016 after 20 years and 29 days of faithful and honorable service to the nation in the U.S. Army, I retired at the age of 38 years, 9 months and 17 days and on November 8th, 2016, I began serving as the membership chairman of American Legion Hammond Post 3 in Kingsport, TN and I’ve been busy serving others in Veterans Service Organizations (VSO) ever since, which includes serving in the highest position within the Volunteer State, when I served as Department (State) Commander for the 2025-26 membership year, but this op-ed isn’t about me, but I’ll weave in some personal experiences to tell this important story where needed.
This op-ed also will not make you an expert regarding VSOs, but should pique your interest to get involved, and that’s the important take away, don’t be apathetic and think that someone else will do the heavy lifting for you. In fact, there’s been many for decades who have fought for you, not just on the battle fields, but in the halls of congress, fighting for the benefits you’ve earned, from healthcare, education, to survival benefits and more. Now, we see fewer hands pitching in and the load is getting heavier annually as membership numbers dwindle due to many who become too old to be active or due to deaths. Sadly, the numbers are declining mainly because younger veterans aren’t willing to join and become active due to many reasons. Some are valid reasons; some are just excuses.
This op-ed is primarily about the need for younger fellow veterans to step up and continue their life of service after taking off the uniform, and it’s an opportunity for their families to serve alongside one another in any number of ways through auxiliary organizations and legacy programs, such as The American Legion Auxiliary and The Sons of the American Legion.
As you read, you’ll note me referencing The American Legion, which is the VSO I have more experience with, but I’m advocating for every nationally recognized (especially Congressionally chartered) VSOs, many I’m a life member of, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and many more. Mind you, local VSOs and those of us who are active members don’t just serve veterans, we serve entire families, from spouses, children, especially widows and orphaned children, and our local communities by volunteering and offering scholarships etc., something that is lacking in many communities across this land.
VSO?
According to congress.gov, VSOs “offer a range of services for veterans, servicemembers, dependents, and survivors. Some VSOs may provide programming for veterans in their communities, such as job fairs. Others may organize events to raise money for subsets of veterans, such as housing for homeless veterans. Some VSOs train individuals to represent claimants before the Department of Veterans Affairs and its Board of Veterans' Appeals. This report answers frequently asked questions about how VSOs are funded, administered, and connected to the federal government.”
However, I think I can help give a better understanding. To do that, I must dispel the stereotype that a VSO is just a dirty bar full of old male veterans sitting on barstools drinking, smoking and telling the same old stories, where something is added each time, they tell the story and that don’t welcome families.
An active VSO brings many things to a local community, not just a bar, or as we call them a “canteen,” but I’ll stick to bar given the term can be confusing. In fact, the stereotype that a local American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars etc. are just a bar is just that, a stereotype. While it’s true, many VSOs biggest draw is the bar, which can be attributed to many reasons, in the 21st century many VSO bars have closed or have been revamped to not be just another stereotype. Bars are now the exception, not the rule and I find that to be a good thing, but this isn’t the moment to go into why I feel this way.
In fact, as I alluded to, most VSOs don’t offer a bar, while some still offer one as a perk of membership as a place to unwind after a long day or to meet and to raise money to support programs. Another fact, most of the VSO bars left today offer food, nonalcoholic beverages, in short, they operate much like any other local restaurant, but with many exceptions, the biggest is the mission of the VSO is funded in part by the proceeds, versus money flowing out of your local area to fund a corporation far removed from the local community. Regarding far off corporations who don’t have the same care for your local community as a local VSO does, I’ll quote “Team America: World Police,” a favorite of deployed service members in years past, “…the corporations sit there in their... in their corporation buildings, and... and, and see, they're all corporation-y... and they make money.” You see, a local VSO is where you can also find humor and share stories of past deployments or to just be heard by those who understand you.
What do VSOs offer citizens, not just veterans, but programs for people of all ages?
To answer this question, I’ll be brief and will only use The American Legion and The American Legion Auxilliary as examples, as there’s not enough room to write all the possible things all VSOs offer in their communities. Across the many different VSOs, there’s a plethora of options that maybe offered in your local community that interest the whole family, take a look, stop by one and talk to them, you may find something that you’re passionate about.
For example, The American Legion offers, American Legion Baseball, which has been around since 1926. We also offer Boys State and Boys Nation, which is an immersive, hands-on government education programs where rising high school seniors run mock state and federal governments, with select delegates advancing to Washington, D.C. We also offer a National Oratorical Scholarship Contest, which is a constitutional speech competition where high school students showcase their knowledge and appreciation of the U.S. Constitution. Other programs include Junior Shooting Sports Program, Youth Cadet Law Enforcement Program, and Scouting to name but a few youth programs. While the great American Legion Auxilliary offers Girls State and Girls Nation and other Junior Activities that engages young members (infancy through age 17) in volunteer service, patriotism, and earning achievement patches, again these are just a few youth programs offered, again by one VSO and its Auxiliary counterpart.
A few other things we offer to members is Temporary Financial Assistance (TFA), which awards cash grants to minor children of active-duty military or Legion members to help cover basic needs like housing, utilities, and food. We also have a National Emergency Fund (NEF), which provides disaster relief grants to Legion members and posts affected by natural disasters. Many VSOs, offer a rider program, in fact, The American Legion Riders connects motorcycle enthusiasts through chapters nationwide that participate in fundraising and community events.
In addition, The American Legion and other VSOs offer similar support to veterans and their families by advocating for sound legislation at the local, state and federal levels. We also focus our efforts directly through our Be The One mission, which focuses on veteran suicide prevention awareness, destigmatization, and training. While Operation Comfort Warriors, delivers non-government-supplied comfort items and recreational equipment to recovering wounded and ill service members.
But we do more than that to strengthen our communities, our states and our nation. For nearly 10 years, I’ve been more active than 4 or 5 people combined, then I look at others who are far busier than me, all serving others while putting their own lives and livelihood on hold to fulfill a major need brought on by many reasons, the biggest is apathy in younger generations and older generations becoming unable to be active for many obvious factors.
The next two people you’ll meet are both fellow veterans and friends, they come from different generations and circumstances, but they share the love of service, and they understand why we need a generational shift in active membership within all VSOs. No, I’m not advocating for ousting or supplanting older veterans, on the contrary, I want for my generation and younger ones to say thank you, learn from them as I have, thank you Robert “Bob” Hensley and fulfill our promise to them as they have to us. Another person who understands younger veterans is, bow tie loving Matthew Shuman (he’s a cool character), who’s picked up the mantle of responsibility for the foreseeable future, until it’s our generation’s turn to turn over the keys to younger veterans and the cycle repeats, hopefully unbroken for generations to come.
Still Serving
Legionnaire Robert “Bob” Hensley of American Legion Post 61 in Moutain City, TN, has served as Department Commander as well as our National Executive Committeeman amongst other positions. Bob is an Air Force retiree and Vietnam Veteran and like me doesn’t sleep well, our minds never shut off, so we must find constructive ways to expend our energy, so we’ve decided to do it by serving the greater good through being active in the VSO community. Bob qualifies as an older veteran, but I don’t want to give the impression that older veterans don’t have anything to offer, in fact, they helped build our VSOs and made them into positive places that “changes lives and save lives,” in many ways, as I just mentioned the American Legion’s Be The One mission in the section above. However, older veterans can’t be expected to keep the doors open forever, but we’re not going to be turning you away no matter how old you are, we want you to join and become as active as you possibly can.
What drove you to serve your country and what drove you to continue to serve in a VSO?
“Most of my male classmates were drafted or volunteered for military service during their senior year of high school and/or immediately following graduation. I chose to attend college but after my first year, I felt the need to serve my country. It was late 1966 and the Vietnam “War” was intensifying. Although I had no idea where Vietnam was, I knew it was our responsibility to try to save democracy there. Except for the Army and Marines there was a long waiting list to enlist in the Air Force and Navy. My father served during WWII and was at Bastogne and the Battle of the Bulge. He tried to discourage me from joining the Army. My uncle served in the Navy during WWII and Korea. He retired before he would have been sent to Vietnam. The Navy had a longer waiting list than the Air Force, so I signed up for delayed enlistment in the AF. Bottom line - I joined to honor my father’s service and to create my own destiny. He continued serving by joining The American Legion and VFW when he returned home and was a charter member of the Johnson County Honor Guard. I, too, following his example and honoring his continued service, joined the VFW and later The American Legion, becoming a PUFL in both organizations.”
What are some things your local Post in Mountain City do to strengthen your local community?
“We coordinated with the Senior Center Director in creating a Senior Center Veterans Cafe, meeting once per month. Our Auxiliary Unit, with FCE and DAR members serve a free lunch, occasional bingo, free blood pressure tests, occasional guest speakers on veterans’ issues, updates on legislation affecting veterans and recognizing a Senior Center Veteran of the Month with a plaque. Through the Honor Guard, we host annual Veterans Day and Memorial Day programs, provide color guard for Cranberry Festival, 4th of July and Christmas parades. We are outside sponsor for the Veterans Club at Northeast Correctional Complex. We have annual flag education presentations with 4th graders. We provide needed assistance to local veterans/families with funds from our Auxiliary Poppy Fund. The Auxiliary had a community yard sale twice a year to aid locals in need. We coordinate with County Mayor to proclaim annual Be the One Day in the county and the City Mayor to proclaim Mountain City a Purple Heart City.”
What are some ways older generations can reach out to the younger veterans?
“We can and should continue to be proud of our service but remember each generation has its own perspective of military service, and each progressive generation has new and innovative technology to garner information. We can be proud of our service and at the same time recognize and appreciate the younger generation’s service. Me must do our best to rid our generation’s public perception of our being a good old boy, hard drinking organization. We must get away from the “that’s the way we’ve always done it” attitude and move into the 21st century.
Gaming is a new way to encourage younger members (and some older ones) to join.
#1 thing to do is educate us on the four pillars. It is impossible to encourage anyone to join when we don’t know what the organization stands for.”
What are some ways older generations can reach out to the younger veterans?
“We should always make ourselves available to coordinate, communicate and cooperate with other Posts and VSOs.”
A Generational Shift
One person I know who gets it is fellow veteran Matthew Shuman of Arizona, who has put his personal life on hold for several years and is now the leading candidate for American Legion National Commander, meaning he’s the most likely to be elected to serve as National Commander for the 2027-28 membership year at the 2027 national convention in Kansas City. I consider Matthew a friend and he agreed to answer several important questions on the topic of younger veterans getting involved in a local VSO.
What drove you to serve your country and what drove you to continue to serve in The American Legion?
“I joined the Army at 19 because I wanted to serve something bigger than myself. I served as a military police officer from 2009 to 2012. I don’t miss the orders or being voluntold, but I do miss the people. The American Legion gave me a way to keep serving alongside them and to help make sure veterans are heard and supported.”
What are some ways you’ve witnessed that active local VSOs strengthen a community?
“I’ve seen Posts in disaster areas open their doors as shelters and centers of relief. I’ve seen a Post help a Legionnaire visiting from out of town to care for her aging father, even though its members had never met her. I’ve seen Posts host events on college campuses, welcome homeschool groups and join other veterans’ organizations for fun runs and ruck marches. I’ve seen Legionnaires help revitalize a business district by coordinating people to show up together. Our Posts can be amazing, epic centers of community.”
What are the advantages a VSO brings to bear when it comes to fighting for earned benefits versus going it alone?
“An accredited Veteran Service Officer learns the VA claims and paperwork process and can become a real ninja at helping veterans navigate it. Their help is free, as it should be. Use them. You shouldn’t have to figure out a complicated process by yourself.”
How does having an organization such as The American Legion or other VSO behind you help, especially when going before Congress and advocating for legislation and other policies?
“I was The American Legion’s National Legislative Director. I was the tip of our legislative spear, and I could do that work only because of the power of the Legion and its blue cap members. I helped create, strengthen, and pass the VA MISSION Act, which helped streamline veterans’ access to community care. Having an organization like the Legion behind you gives the veterans’ voice a PA system and a bullhorn that can reach across Capitol Hill, the VA, the White House, and the world.”
Why should a younger veteran or any veteran join a VSO and why should a family member join an auxiliary or legacy program?
“We all miss the people we served with. People just like them are at The American Legion. If you’re looking for your people, the ones who will check on you and show up when you need them, come find them at the Legion. Family members can carry that service forward through auxiliary and legacy programs, too. Come on down.”
Finally, what’s the biggest concern facing all VSOs in the 21st, especially as we become a more “virtual,” world?
“Membership organizations like The American Legion and the VFW are shrinking, and in too many places they’re dying. If the Legion fades away, it will be a terrible stain on our nation’s history. For generations, it has been one of our most important advocates and watchdogs, holding government accountable and defending veterans. If we let it disappear, we lose a powerful national voice for veterans. Virtual outreach can help us reach people, but the future depends on veterans and families joining, showing up, and carrying the work forward.”
My Personal Plea
Don’t be one who complains about the Department of Veterans Affairs, be it in Washington or your state equivalent and don’t complain about Congresses lack of action or your state legislatures in many respects when it comes to veterans’ issues, especially if you’re not helping to ensure they are truly responsive. The reality is these institutions listen to who shows up in numbers, not that you must travel to our nation’s capital, but those of us who do bring you with us in terms of membership strength. In other words, there’s strength in numbers and when we have a strong membership base, trust me, we’re taken seriously and listened to. Sitting on the sidelines and hoping someone else does it is no longer an option. The days of millions of service members becoming veterans and becoming active is VSOs is now a thing of the past, especially as the numbers of service members decrease, so too are the number of veterans.
In other words, we’re fewer in numbers competing for resources that larger organizations are also competing for, this includes the well healed lobbyist floating around our state and national capitals. I’m not wanting for my fellow veterans and I to receive more than we deserve, but I want to ensure we receive all we’ve earned and that’s where you come into play, join us today, we need you.
As the 1st Supreme Allied Commander during World War 1 and honorary American Legion National Commander Marshall Ferdinand Foch said regarding the American Legion, “You may have something in this American Legion. It may cradle the future of your country.” This sentiment applies to nearly all VSOs, but we need help to ensure this continues to remain true.
Join a VSO today, do your part, I attest that you’ll not regret it!
“VOLS: Veterans Offering Lifelong Service”
Todd A. McKinley, BA, MSL
Immediate Past Department Commander,
Special Projects Chairman,
Legislative Liaison TN-01,
Member National Conventional Armed Forces Committee &
1st Vice Commander,
Hammond Post 3, Kingsport,
American Legion Department of Tennessee
