What drives each of us to feel that we have offered service to the community, and not just taken from the community? It makes no difference whether that service is to your family, your house of worship, your school, your local community, or the country. Service is what adds something special to our lives, not for the recognition, but for the feeling that you helped improved somebodies life.
We each belong to multiple communities, and may offer service in one or more communities. For me those communities are amateur radion and The American Legion. Both are topics unto themselves, so I want to focus on the Legion at this time. I already have an amateur radio blog at http://ww7ba.wordpress.com/.
I started my military service in Air Force ROTC at the University of Idaho. Prior to the lottery system, every mail was elegible to be drafted, untless they were 4F (physically not fit to service). I didn’t have any doubts about serving my country, I just didn’t want to be a ground-pounder. As part of the university graduation ceremony, I received my commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.
Every Vietnam Veteran knows the hostile and cold reception that those who served the country in Vietnam received from the community-at-large. It was difficult, and left a lasting impression.
At that time, I didn’t join the Legion, because nobody asked me. I didn’t even receive a mailing for years, and years. Finally, I received mailings from both the Legion and VFW, but always but them aside for later consideration.
It was 9/11 that really changed my feelings. I wanted to service again, but thought I was too old. I didn’t know until I was too old that I could have joined the National Guard. Had I known, I would have done it in a heart beat. Still nobody had asked me to join the Legion. It was my wife Monica, who kept pushing me to join the Legion. I finally did send in the direct mail card, and was assigned to the Headquarter’s Post for American Legion of Montana.
It took another year to transfer to the Carbon Post 17, and another year before I started regularly attending meetings. I started attending meetings in January 2008. The Spring District meeting was my first district meeting. At that time, Vice Command Elmer Palmer was looking for someone to be the Webmaster. I volunteered my services. After several emails, I became the Webmaster at the Department Conference at the end of June, which was the first Department Conference I have ever attended.
One year later, the Sprint District meeting is once again approaching. The one difference is that I was asked to throw my hat in the ring for District Commander.
Life changes fast. It really helps to keep the seat belt buckled to steady the course.
