Veteran Dick Ruffini approached the Morton Village Board Monday night in hopes of gathering support from the village to undertake a veterans’ memorial project.
“Where is the veterans’ park here in Morton?” Ruffini asked. “There (are) none.”
So, he personally drew a sketch of an ideal memorial that could be placed in Birchwood Park next to Freedom Hall.
This, Ruffini believes, is a necessary addition to a community that often — outside of Memorial Day and the Fourth of July — looks past the sacrifices of veterans.
A memorial would be an excellent addition to Morton’s landscape. More importantly, veterans need something like this now more than ever.
The past decade has been difficult for veterans’ organizations of any type — American Legions, Veterans of Foreign Wars, ladies’ auxiliaries — they are all struggling.
It is a mixture of surprise and disappointment among the outspoken of Morton’s veteran organizations. Larry Stimeling, Morton American Legion adjutant and the senior vice commander for the American Legion 16th District in Illinois, said he is well aware of what needs to change in order to bring a solid membership base back to the organization.
In the Feb. 17 edition of the Morton Times-News, Stimeling explained a stereotype that Legions are trying to avoid — members are “too old, too white and too male.” Additionally, Stimeling said the Legion is trying to put its focus back on family-oriented services and activities so as to change the mentality that the Legion is just the “bar down the street.”
These are all issues that are not far from the truth. The struggles of veterans’ organizations are unfortunate, but a prime example of why change is necessary. Without the support of those serving the United States during today’s worldwide conflicts, veterans’ organizations will be a thing of the past.
The services these organizations provide to those who have served their country in a military capacity are more a necessity to veterans than a privilege. These organizations represent veterans with the department of veteran affairs.
That being said, such a benefit still has not been enough to garner the support of younger veterans. Therefore, the problem may rest solely on the shoulders of those who are already members.
Perhaps the best starting point is to offer those not directly related to veterans an opportunity to lend a hand. By allowing non-military members to be a part of the organizations, they may be able to encourage more community involvement.
Traci Traylor, a member of the VFW Ladies’ Auxiliary, said she grew up at the VFW. She has been an active member of the organization ever since her involvement during her childhood. She would hate to see the VFW Ladies’ Auxiliary disappear, she said.
Membership within the VFW Ladies’ Auxiliary has faced its fair share of struggles. Traylor is concerned that members assume that just by being a member, they are not required to help.
Additionally, Traylor said she thinks that if people want to consider themselves members, they need to show up when help is needed. She said she is more than willing to open the door to those not directly related to non-veterans to keep their services afloat. She needs all the help she can get.
“I cannot just do this by myself,” she said.
Morton, Ill. —
