Ortonville- The day was sunny and hot, music filled the air as the Brandon High School band marched and applause rang out as military veterans in uniform placed wreaths at World War I and II markers in the village during the Memorial Day Parade.
Many citizens braved the 90-plus degree heat to follow the procession to the Ortonville Cemetery for a ceremony honoring those who have served in the U.S. military and died.
Lee Stewart estimates the crowd was at least 500 people’what he believes is good attendance. But during his speech, Stewart voiced concerns about the attendance at Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States meetings. The quartermaster of VFW Post 582, Stewart, 62, is the youngest member of his local post. Although there are about 100 members in Post 582, a large number of those are elderly, retired, live out-of-state or are in nursing homes.
‘Our World War II guys are in their 80s and Korean War vets are in their 70s,? says Stewart, a Vietnam War veteran. ‘What we’ve got active in the post that show up to meetings and are active is about 10 to 12 members. Some of those are limited? they couldn’t walk in the parade, they had to ride or meet us at the cemetery.?
Stewart, who served two tours in Vietnam from 1968 to 1970 and served in a peacekeeping operation in Lebanon from 1983-84, retired from the U.S. Army in 1995. In 2000, he joined the VFW, an organization whose mission is to ‘honor the dead by helping the living? through veterans? service, community service, national security and a strong national defense (www.vfw.org).
Nationwide, the VFW has 2.4 million members, according to their website. However, Stewart says that like the local post, nationwide membership is also dwindling.
He believes there are a few reasons and explains that the bulk of the guys in the VFW were World War II vets, while veterans from World War I joined the American Legion and Korean War veterans were spread between the two organizations.
‘The guys from Vietnam joined the Vietnam Vets of America or didn’t get active in anything,? says Stewart. ‘The Vietnam guys, because of the nature of that war and the way they were received when they came home, said ‘screw it.??
Stewart himself recalls being cursed at and spit on when he returned home from Vietnam. He calls World War II a ‘black and white? war, but says every conflict since then has had ‘a whole lot of gray,? particularly Iraq and Afghanistan.
Stewart also believes another reason for the declining VFW involvement is because younger vets from such conflicts as Grenada, Panama, and Lebanon have been busy holding down jobs, raising families and generally getting on with their lives.
‘A lot of vets don’t get involved until they’re older,? says Stewart. ‘I don’t think we’ll see a substantial change in the number because of generation differences… I grew up in the era following World War II when there were lots of vets and the importance of patriotism was ingrained very deeply. A lot of the understanding of the importance of service to country has been lost in today’s society.?
On Memorial Day, Stewart appealed to veterans to come forward and help carry on the organization and traditions they support such as the parades and ceremonies.
Mark Robinson, a 45-year-old veteran, was at the ceremony, but was unsure whether he would qualify for the VFW.
The Brandon Township resident served during peacetime in the U.S. Army from 1983-86 as part of the military police.
‘I would be interested in learning about it and what it involves,? says Robinson. ‘I don’t know how much time I could devote, with working full-time, volunteering at church, and other commitments.?
Robinson’s son, David, walked in the parade as a member of the Army National Guard.
David Robinson, 21, says he will likely join the organization one day, but has a theory as to why the numbers are low.
‘I think a lot of people that were in the service (during peacetime) might not be as gung-ho as guys that served in wars. No matter whether you served in a war, if you’re in the military, you’re a vet. It would be a great thing if more service guys joined for support.?
To join the VFW, Stewarts says a veteran must have served in combat, or have a specific campaign medal for a specific action (such as Panama, Grenada, Lebanon, the Persian Gulf, etc.)
After the Memorial Day ceremony ended, Stewart notes he was approached by several veterans about forming an Ortonville Veterans Memorial Association, a generic veteran’s association that would encompass all veterans who have served honorably and not tied to a national association.
Stewart welcomes any effort to preserve traditions, parades and ceremonies honoring veterans.
‘I would like to have a means of preserving it so it’s not lost,? says Stewart. ‘But without younger people to pick up the load and carry it on it will be lost.?
For more information on joining the VFW or forming a new veteran’s organization, call Stewart at (248) 627-3324.