My husband and I, visiting from Queens, New York, look to visit Veterans of Foreign Wars posts as we travel. We were happy to find one open in Durango, especially with Christmas lights on display.
We stopped to say hello. The welcome we received from the members, guests and the veteran firefighting crew was a heartwarming experience and enhanced our impression of Durango.
Our home post is in danger of closing as are posts across the nation. To find one open is becoming a rarity, making it incumbent upon the diminishing number of qualified veterans to support their local posts.
We learned that the state of Colorado posts between 2004 and today have been reduced from 174 to less than 130 today. Equally significant will be the loss of the active programs this post provides to veterans, such as family assistance, joint Disabled American Veterans handicap equipment program, claims assistance to veterans – and was instrumental in bringing the VA clinic to Durango as well as obtaining the first DAV van for trips to the Albuquerque VA Medical Center.
This is an exceptional post and deserves the support of the community.
Hank and Carolyn Morris
Queens, N.Y.
