Reed, VFW Post 4006 to focus on outreach and service
Aug. 19 marked the changing of the guard at the Grimes VFW Post 4006 in Navasota when former Desert Storm Army veteran, computer guru, husband and father, Hal Reed was installed as Post Commander. Reed will complete the unexpired term of former Commander Tony Lambert who relocated for a new job.
Reed lives in Magnolia but is no stranger to Navasota. His wife, Nicole Shupe, is the former editor of the Navasota Examiner and he became involved with Post 4006 in 2017. When asked why he chose to affiliate with this particular Post, he responded with two words – Carl Dry.
Speaking of his former post commander and mentor, Reed said, “He inspired me in a way that not a lot of people do. Carl has a passive leadership quality that’s really unique and you want to do things for the man.”
In case you don’t know Reed by sight, you might recognize his voice. Reed and Dry team up with Kenny Graves on Willy 1550 for Vets Voice, a radio show which shares information of special interest to veterans and fields questions from callers.
Reed described the show a “point of outreach for us,” and said, “We get a lot of topics out there.”
New name, fresh vision
Taking on the role of commander means becoming the public face and voice of Post 4006 in the community, overseeing membership drives, handling community service requests, maintaining the post and making sure veterans feel comfortable coming in.
Reed said, “Not only does the commander maintain that part of it, he’s also a parttime counselor, parttime service officer and a parttime comrade who sits there and commiserates. Generally, just be there for the veterans.”
Along those lines, one of Reed’s primary objectives will be veteran outreach, and that inclusiveness started this month with a name change to Grimes County VFW Post 4006. Expect to see Reed in Bedias, Iola, Anderson and other Grimes County communities meeting with veterans in those areas.
Reed said, “We’ve been remiss in reaching out to the county. All of these areas are underserved, and I want these guys to understand they have a place to go. We’re all the same whether we served in World War II or we’re the new guy from Afghanistan. We can immediately have a connection, and there’s no other organization that does that.”
More than a place to drink a beer
It was the death and destruction of the Civil War which prompted the creation of organizations like the VFW
Reed said, “Not too many people know we’ve been quite combative as a country. We’ve done a lot of deployments, a lot of wars. The Civil War started everything, but we’ve got the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam - you’ve got a lot of veterans who feel like they’re the only ones that have experienced what they’ve experienced. That’s part of the commiserating and counseling.”
The VFW was chartered by Congress as were the Disabled American Vets and the American Legion, and Reed says they share the same goals, “We want veterans to get the help they need, and we want to meet them where they’re at in their life at this time. No one does more for veterans than the VFW.”
According to Reed, 3% of the population “protect the freedoms of 97%,” and for that 1% whose service qualifies them to be a member of the VFW, there are many resources available. In addition to assistance with benefits, financial difficulties, physical and mental wellness, issues affecting female veterans, there is the VFW National Home for Children where “where families left behind by war could remain together,” and VFW Veteran’s Village.
No vet should go hungry
One of the biggest concerns to veterans, especially older veterans, is the benefits they’ve missed.
Reed said, “We have to remember that some veterans, especially Vietnam vets during the Reagan era, had a lot of benefits stripped from them. The percentages they got originally in the seventies were stripped and they were forced to refile. It’s one of the biggest disservices the U.S. government has done to a veteran.”
He continued, “Some of these guys just give up. It’s my job to try to get these guys to understand that we need to do this, and things have changed a little bit, so let us help walk you through the process.”
He said, “My job is not only to run the post but to look at the needs of the community, and if we have a veteran in need, we try to help that veteran. There’s no reason why a veteran should be hungry, homeless or without lights. I want them to come talk to us. There are so many resources.”
Disabled parking change
According to Reed, the state and district tier of the VFW monitor legislative activity and one change effective Sept. 1 relates to Disabled Veteran (DV) license plates.
Reed said, “You have the plate that has just Disabled Veteran of Foreign War and a number with DV. Then you have the plate with the international symbol of the wheelchair for disabled. The new legislation says that if you don’t have that wheelchair on your DV plate, you must have a placard to park in disabled parking, otherwise, you’re going to get a ticket. It’s free for those with more than 50% disability. Just take your disability letter in.”
The challenge of change
Post 4006’s biggest challenge is navigating the generation gap between older veterans who resist change and the younger veterans who want nothing to do with joining an organization.
Reed said, “We have to change in order to grow. Membership outreach is no longer a passive thing. The days of veterans walking through the door saying they want to join, are few and far between.”
Offsetting that challenge is Post 4006’s strength - a desire to serve.
Reed said, “We have this driving need to serve the public and to serve our people. My main goal is to create an atmosphere where all veterans are welcome and feel comfortable.”