Prior to this war, there was no medical care, pension and those who sacrificed for their country were left to care for themselves. Despite this, they soldiered on, banded together and formed what is known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW).
Since that time, the VFW has played a vital role in support of the GI Bill (the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, known as the GI Bill) which is a law that provided a range of educational, financial and medical benefits for returning WWII veterans. It was available to every veteran who was on active duty for at least 90 days and honorably discharged. Combat was not required. For the 20th and 21st centuries, it expanded educational benefits to active duty service men and women, the National Guard, and reserves fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. The VFW began with a small group of comrades, now with over 2 million members, 7,200 Posts nationwide and in 14 countries.
We have a growing VFW here in Saratoga Springs–Gurtler Brothers Post 420, located at 190 Excelsior Avenue (www.vfwpost420.com). In order to be eligible for membership, a veteran must have earned a campaign medal or participated in conflict designated as a “conflict.” For example, in Korea, 30 days or more of ‘boots on the ground’ are also eligible. For Navy veterans, a SSBN (Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear) patrol pin has been added as a qualification for membership. Dues are minimal, $30 annually and if a veteran chooses to become a Life Member, there is an option of a 12-month installment plan or payment in full, with the application and a certificate for serving in the conflict area.
“We do everything to advocate for veterans’ benefits and to resolve issues, including those left behind, the veterans’ wives and children,” states Post 420 Quartermaster, Gene Ratigliano (who also is the Commander of District 3).
Master Chief Petty Officer Ratigliano, USN (Ret) began with Post 420 in 2004, was elected Chaplain that same year, served as Commander 2006-2008, earned All State Commanders Award in 2008-09, and again this year as County Council Commander for 2013.
“We want veterans as well as others to know the VFW supports veterans and their families. It’s a family-oriented organization, helping to meet the needs of service members, as well as their spouses and children, widows and orphans. We are concerned for veteran’s rights and securing benefits during and after deployments and also for the health and well-being for the veterans. We even adapted a no smoking policy with this Post to encourage healthy living conditions for our members,” explains Commander Ratigliano.
“That’s not all that is offered as a member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars”, he continued, “The VFW has many other programs supporting veterans.”
Some of those programs include UNMET Needs, which helps service members and their families experiencing sudden financial hardship; Military Assistance Program (MAP), whereby a military unit is adopted and provided with care packages, personal items, books and other necessities; Patriot’s Pen and a Voice of Democracy (VOD), which are student scholarship programs involving essay’s for their own experiences and democratic views.
“There is also a Scout of the Year Award and a Teacher of the Year as well as VFW Veterans in a classroom outreach initiative,” said Ratigiliano.
For further details and more information regarding membership and the programs reach out to Gene Ratigiliano at (518) 885-9666 or contact him via email: mcpo4@ nycap.rr.com.
Commander Ratigliano is just one of the VFW members with decades of military service. He entered the US Naval Reserve in August 1965, was ordered on active duty aboard the USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7), and participated in a number of deployments where he earned his Foreign Expeditionary Medal and his eligibility for membership in the VFW. (He was released from active duty in November 1968 and returned to active duty in late summer, 1973, not before earning an AAS in Business Management and as well as a B.A. in Business Administration). This is just one of several medals, awards and ribbons throughout his naval career, advancing himself to Chief Recruiter and Command Master Chief and eventually to Director of Administration for the staff of Commander, Readiness Command Region II, where he retired from his naval career after 26 years and then continued to work another 21 years and earning a Master’s Degree in Military Studies while with the Department of Energy (Naval Reactors) in West Milton.
The VFW offers “plenty of support for veterans,” adds Vietnam veteran and post member, Jim Hartman, also highly educated and accomplished. This self-proclaimed storyteller joined the VFW Post 420 in 2011 and offers his perspective as a 30-year government employee before retiring from his position as the Director of Veteran Affairs at his Alma Mater, Buffalo State and from his appointment at the US Department of Labor’s Veteran Employment and Training Service where he became the NYS Director of that agency until retiring in 2004.
In the beginning of his employment as Director of Veteran Affairs, “There were 1,800 students enrolled at that time,” Mr. Hartman stated. “I dealt with the issues regarding the transition out of the military, the discretion out of the military. We did not have the highest suicide rate of our veterans, nor the highest divorce rate or the one million in back-logged claims of disabled veterans that we are faced with today,” he claimed with an urgent tone.
“The Vietnam War was still going on when I first began as Director and the reserves were just emerging. The readjustment nowadays is much more difficult. In the military it’s a more structured environment; everything is planned for,” explained Mr. Hartman. “Your medical care, retirement, it was all planned for. Now, these veterans are entering into a workforce with civilian jobs where this is not so.”
He continued, “In my personal view, I believe as long as you are honorably discharged, a medical care solution for veterans should be immediate access available at any military base.”
When asking these military gentlemen one of the most important benefits of becoming a member of the VFW, they both agreed, “To help support other veterans; to learn from each other and experience a sense of camaraderie.”
To illustrate, there are Service Officers of Veterans of Foreign Wars (two in New York State—New York City and Buffalo,) who have helped service members filing VA claims, securing $82,565,145 in total awards for those veteran claims. Mr. Hartman strongly encourages veterans to become members, as does Mr. Ratigliano.
“The more members, the louder the voice for our veterans when we appear before Congress,” they both declared.
With one final outreach to support veterans Mr. Hartman says it best: “We’ve walked in your boots,” which was met with two somber veteran nods in agreement and one civilian nod with tear-filled eyes. Camaraderie, support, understanding—members of the Veterans of Foreign wars ‘have walked in your boots.’
For more information, visit www.vfw.org.
