Currahee Chris
Sergeant Major
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2007
- Messages
- 4,776
So back in June I am sitting at my computer doing work (for the most part {sm4}) when my phone rings. Caller ID says its the VFW so I figure they are hitting me up on a fund drive. I answer and have my card info ready to spot them a $20. The guy on the other end introduces himself as a retired Army CID officer (OH CRAP What idiocy from my past life has caught up with me Yikes!!! {sm2}) Turns out he is in charge of the Commonwealth's recruiting drive and my information came up on the VFW's system as eligible for membership (guess I have been for quite some time now just didnt know it). I get suspicious because it could be some kind of phone scam trying to get information. We have a Q&A back and forth, he gives me his name again and I feel confident he is legit. I give him just enough information to get me enrolled in case it was some nonsense. Sure enough, we hit it off and talked for about 20 minutes before he had to go. 48 hours later my membership card and welcome packet arrive.
Upon realizing I was now a member, I teared up and cried a little. Yeah, I got soft BIG TIME!!! This is an immense honor for me. I know these types of organizations have a tendency to have a bad rap as a beer drinking group of misfits sitting around telling old war stories but to me, at that very moment, I felt truly accepted by my generations or warfighters throughout our country's history. The VFW is selective- my dad served 22 years and retired as a MSG and isnt eligible. The last family member who was in was my grandfather. I felt like he was reaching out to me from across time or something and patted me on the back and told me I did good.
Ever since, I have felt utterly complete as a man. I think this might have been that one last thing my soul needed to feel truly complete, like I did something of worth during my time on God's earth. I have received two medals since I got out and was even asked some questions by local reporters about Major Winters when he passed away. Still, as nice as those things were, it didnt have the feeling this did. For me, this was something far greater that makes me feel like my life had a purpose.
I do look forward to contributing ever single ounce of energy I can and hopefully I can make that call to some other dude in Pa and give him the same sense of satisfaction and fullfillment I have. Unfortunately, the timing was a bit off as with it being the summer, I have been busy as heck running my kid up and down the mid atlantic to baseball tournys. The The local post Board meets the first Wed night of each month. My wife is super pumped because they also have bingo gatherings every wed night too!!! {sm4} What is ironic about this is that I will attend my first meeting on Wed, September 1st- my 49th birthday.
Just wanted to share some great news with my friends here on the Forum.
CC
Upon realizing I was now a member, I teared up and cried a little. Yeah, I got soft BIG TIME!!! This is an immense honor for me. I know these types of organizations have a tendency to have a bad rap as a beer drinking group of misfits sitting around telling old war stories but to me, at that very moment, I felt truly accepted by my generations or warfighters throughout our country's history. The VFW is selective- my dad served 22 years and retired as a MSG and isnt eligible. The last family member who was in was my grandfather. I felt like he was reaching out to me from across time or something and patted me on the back and told me I did good.
Ever since, I have felt utterly complete as a man. I think this might have been that one last thing my soul needed to feel truly complete, like I did something of worth during my time on God's earth. I have received two medals since I got out and was even asked some questions by local reporters about Major Winters when he passed away. Still, as nice as those things were, it didnt have the feeling this did. For me, this was something far greater that makes me feel like my life had a purpose.
I do look forward to contributing ever single ounce of energy I can and hopefully I can make that call to some other dude in Pa and give him the same sense of satisfaction and fullfillment I have. Unfortunately, the timing was a bit off as with it being the summer, I have been busy as heck running my kid up and down the mid atlantic to baseball tournys. The The local post Board meets the first Wed night of each month. My wife is super pumped because they also have bingo gatherings every wed night too!!! {sm4} What is ironic about this is that I will attend my first meeting on Wed, September 1st- my 49th birthday.
Just wanted to share some great news with my friends here on the Forum.
CC
