Published: April 16, 2008 09:29 am         

Former commander offended

Reference letter by Chaplain Hines on March 23, regarding changes in VFW.

As a member of the American Legion and the current VFW-MS Dist 6 Judge Advocate and a past VFW District Commander and past Post Commander of VFW Post 1983-Kosciusko, I am shocked at the course the VFW is taking.

Before I go into detail about the change of course in ideologies by the VFW, let me assure the readers of this paper that to my knowledge, the following VFW Posts do not condone or “support” the changes and especially the VFW leaders making these changes. They deserve the continued support of the public so they can administer to our local veterans.

They are Kosciusko, Ackerman, Starkville and a few others.

Some of the VFW Posts that support the changes are Carthage, Eupora, Magee, Aberdeen, and Districts 1, 5, 6, 9 and sadly, many others.

Until Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008 at a District 6, VFW-MS meeting at VFW Post 1983, veterans in this area were unaware of the fact that the application to join the VFW, had been changed, no longer requiring an applicant to profess a belief in GOD.

Another revelation brought to the members attention by the VFW-MS Junior Vice Commander and the VFW State Judge-Advocate was that in addition to no longer requiring a belief in God, an applicant also can’t be denied due to being an open “homosexual.”

The aforesaid VFW state leaders, almost in unison, and very supportive of these new ideologies, stated that it didn’t matter what an applicant believed or had done, the only requirement for membership is that the applicant meet eligibility rules.

When asked why these changes were made, the answer to each was that the VFW “DOESN’T WANT TO OFFEND ANYONE.”

A candidate for VFW-MS state qtr-master then arose and “put the icing on the cake,” so to speak. His remark was “If you believe in God, Jesus Christ or ‘Buddha’, it’s all the same thing as long as you believe in a supreme being.”

Appalling as this remark was, a candidate for VFW state chaplain did not rebuke this absurd analogy.

As I play back the remarks these VFW state leaders made, I must ask, “how long will it be before the prayers are taken out, with only a “moment of silence” substituted and the chaplain position deleted?

I will always support Christian veterans, but I will not support the VFW above Post level anymore, unless, and until a belief in God is put back in the application, because in case you haven’t guessed it by now, let me make it very clear, “I AM OFFENDED.”



“For God and Country,”

Tony L. Ballard