Members of VFW Post 10380 in Green Township, Ohio, once again headed out to the Harvest Home Fair earlier this month to spread the good news about VFW. Held in Cheviot, Ohio, a Cincinnati suburb, the fair took place Sept. 8-11.
According to member Bob Abrams, “hundreds of people” stopped at the VFW booth. He said that number is greater than in past years.
“We handed out more than 500 U.S. flags to children and their parents who came to thank us for our service,” Abrams said. “There were many veterans inquiring about VFW membership, too.”
Member Ed Murphy said it is too soon to say how many members were recruited without first checking eligibility.
“We did have at least three veterans join our VFW,” Murphy said. “We have several more considering membership.”
Murphy said the success of the VFW booth this year was due, in part, to its location at the fair.
“Location made a huge difference,” he said. “Last year they had us by the rides and very loud music. It made it hard to communicate. This year, we were located by the main gate.”
Nearly 20 VFW members throughout the weekend manned the booth. They worked in shifts answering questions about membership, but also about what the VFW does in the community.
Murphy said that Post 10380 does not have a bar or restaurant which allows the Post to give the majority of its money to veterans and their families.
“Many people at the fair were surprised to hear that our color guard does nearly 100 military funerals each year,” Murphy said. “We also do about 8-10 missing man ceremonies as well as act as the color guard at other activities when requested.”
Abrams and Murphy agree that while recruiting new members is great, they are pleased that more people know about the work of the VFW.
“We know how to get things done,” Murphy said. “People attending the ‘Biggest Little Fair in Ohio’ are definitely getting to know more about Green Township VFW Post 10380.”