What's the deal with VFW Post 1
“We need you to do what you have done since you first wore the uniform. Be Americans at their very best. This approach to service has always been the hallmark of the VFW, and no one has done it better than Post 1.” - Retired Admiral William H. McRaven, VFW Post 1 Life Member
Introduction:
Before I moved to Colorado, I had no idea that the first VFW Post in the world was in Denver. Coincidentally, a few years later, I met the Junior Vice Commander at a veteran charity event, who invited me to their next membership meeting. The rest, as they say, is history.
1, 2, 3, 4, I declare a meme war!
Brief History Lesson
We all know that the precursors to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States were three different Veterans Service Organizations that had formed after the Spanish-American War. What is unclear to many, however, is why VFW Post 1 is in Denver when VFW Day marks the founding of the Ohio group.
This is what I've come to learn. At roughly the same time (late 1899), groups in Colorado, Ohio, and Pennsylvania formed to advocate for veteran benefits. The Colorado veterans learned immediately upon returning to the United States what the federal government thought of them when they were dropped off in San Francisco and told to find their own way home to Denver. So when they finally made it home, General Irving Hale gathered some of his men at the Brown Palace and formed what was then known as the Society of the Army of the Philippines.
Thankfully, the founders of the Colorado group recognized that the US Government had a history of waiting out the conflict-specific veteran groups that had come before them (like the Grand Army of the Republic). Their predecessors were literally dying while waiting for benefits.
Then, in 1913, Colorado invited Ohio and Pennsylvania to attend the encampment in Denver, and it was there that everyone agreed to join forces. Additionally, instead of limiting the new group to only those veterans who served with them, they opened up eligibility to future generations of veterans of foreign wars (hence the name change).
Since any merger and acquisition requires negotiation and compromise, the first Commander-in-Chief was from the Colorado group, and Denver, having home court advantage, was issued Post 1. It has also been said that the Ohio group declined number 1 because they wanted to keep their existing number, which corresponded with the address of their Post. Pennsylvania quickly snapped up Post 2 (Philadelphia) and Post 3 (Altoona).
Near Demise
In the early 2000s, VFW Post 1, like many other Posts, was on a downward trajectory. Their Post not only had a canteen but also operated a Chinese Restaurant. Two businesses that run on very thin margins, no matter who owns them, and being near downtown Denver meant the competition was fierce. As the Post coffers dwindled, the members decided to move and traded their existing building for the one next door. Unfortunately, this move did not resolve the financial situation, and the Post was suspended.
In fact, a special meeting was called to determine if the Post should voluntarily turn in its charter.
Upon receiving notice of the special meeting, three Desert Storm era members decided they could not, in good conscience, see the world's oldest VFW close for good. Instead, they became the leaders of Post 1 for the next 13 years. George Caulkins, a Marine Cobra pilot, helped sell the building and, for 5 years, worked to get the Post back on solid financial ground. Izzy Abbass took over for the next 5 years and grew the membership, primarily through his work with local student veterans organizations (University of Colorado - Denver, Metro State College, University of Denver, etc.). Then, Michael Mitchel, as Commander, found VFW Post 1 its current home.
Rebirth
I joined while Izzy was still Commander and became an officer for the first time during Michael's tenure. But there was another gentleman who played a pivotal role in the rebirth of the Post. Ray Starkey was a WWII veteran who joined the VFW in 1952. In fact, when he joined, there were still Spanish-American War veterans at the Post, meaning Ray was sworn in by some of the true Founders of this organization.
Ray was a living link between those visionaries and what I like to call "this generation's Founders." Because it was with Ray's blessing (pun intended, as Ray was the Post chaplain) that George, Izzy, and Michael set off to lead the VFW into the 21st Century.
The leadership in 2014, when we bought our new building, was determined not to recreate a wheel that previously proved it was broken. Besides that, there was a brewery at either end of our block, so we knew trying to serve cheap beer was a losing prospect. Instead, we leaned into our location within Denver's Art District on Santa Fe.
Membership Organization
Instead of the line officers deciding the direction of the Post now that we had a building, the leadership empowered the members. Thanks to Izzy's efforts, Post 1 had a lot of energetic members with a lot of good ideas. Many of whom were students from Metro State University, and early on, it was decided to keep the building an art gallery. One member also happened to have his own non-profit organization, called The Art of War, and established the art program, which eventually became the Veterans Arts Council.
Another member was about to get his license to teach yoga and suggested we use the wide open gallery space as a yoga studio. He brought on a few fellow Marine yoga instructors, and our yoga program was born.
While a third member at the time introduced VFW Post 1 to the Healing Warriors Program, a non-profit that brings non-narcotic therapies to our Post on the second Saturday of every month.
Generally speaking, our members asked for a space where they can focus on wellness. If we want to grab a drink, there are plenty of bars in the area. If we want to drink at a VFW, there are several of those not too far away. But it was a ground-up approach that has allowed us to flourish over the last decade.
Stewardship Over Ownership
Just like inter-branch rivalries are fun, it can also be fun to give other Posts a hard time. I know my classmate from Ohio, Colleen Wiley, and I go back and forth on where the "real" Founders are from. But when it comes down to helping veterans, we always come together.
Going back to my earlier reference to this generation's Founders, membership in Post 1 is very personal to me. Because I see my actions reflecting on those men, who, in 1899, regardless of where they were, founded this organization. We honor the dead by serving the living, and we honor the Founders by enhancing their legacy.
We cannot let "petty jealousies or trivial personalities influence our deliberations," and if we maintain a stewardship mentality over one of ownership, we will continue to be a great organization for another 125 years.
