LETTER: ’Old men’ seek younger recruits

To the Editor:

I again had the privilege of being part a “line of old men” performing military honors for a member of what is now being called “the greatest generation.”

It is a small task to stand for those who gave of themselves not only to protect our way of life but to save the people of other countries from horrible tyranny. Those who, as the song says, had the courage “to march into hell for a heavenly cause.” Or in the words of America the Beautiful: “O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife, who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life!”

This is true of all who served but somehow holding at “present arms” that heavy old M1 and thinking of carrying that through the mud and the snow it seems it took men of the “greatest generation” to do the job.

The thing that bothers me when we do this is that the average age of that “line of old men” is somewhere between 65 and 75 and we are desperately seeking some “young” men to replace us in providing military honors for veterans funerals.

These “old men” are proud to provide this for any veterans and their families but are aware that it won’t be too long and guns will be fired and Taps will be played for them.

Occasionally I find myself wondering who will to do this for these who have done it for so many. All Legions and VFW’s need new members and more existing members to become active to keep these organizations alive.

Robert Neuenfeldt

Commander,

American Legion Post 111

Somerset

Tags: letters to the editor, opinion