What we hope to accomplish with this column is to promote veterans organizations in Montezuma County and provide you the veteran, and the public with information. We also hope that you will contact us with concerns or omissions. Each month we hope to provide you with current information that exists on veterans issues and the happenings of local organizations.
The lists of organizations that follow are those that we know are active in the county and provide services to veterans and their families.
American Legion Ute Mountain Post 75, 325 N. Harrison, Cortez The principals of this organization are fostering a strong national security, taking care of veterans, mentoring the youths of our nation, and promoting patriotism and honor. The organization was chartered by Congress Sept. 16, 1919, as a patriotic veterans organization. This groups focus is on service to veterans, service members and communities. This organization also has a Ladies Auxiliary. The post and Auxiliary meet at 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at 320 N. Harrison St., POC: 560-6032 (Legion.org).
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Dunger Smith Chapter 44 Building better lives for American disabled veterans is a principle the DAV strives for daily. The first meeting of the DAV was held Sept. 25, 1920. In 1932, the DAV was congressionally chartered as the official voice of the nations veterans. This group is made up exclusively of service members disabled in defense of our nation. The local post provides a vehicle to transport veterans to their appointments at community-based outpatient clinics in Durango and in Farmington, N.M., and trips to the Albuquerque VA Hospital. The DAV is always looking for volunteer drivers to support the driving effort. The chapter meets at 2 p.m. the second Friday of each month at the American Legion, 320 N. Harrison St., Cortez. POC: 882-4531 (DAV.org).
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) The purpose of this organization is fraternal, patriotic, historical, charitable and educational. Chartered by Congress on May 28, 1936, this group can trace its roots back to 1899 after the Spanish American War. The VFW has been instrumental in providing Veterans Administration benefits, the first GI Bill, compensation for Vietnam Veterans for Agent Orange, Gulf War syndrome and assisting Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who served on active duty, National Guard and reserve. The organization continues to lobby on behalf of disabled veterans for benefits.
John Derricks Hall Post 5231 meets at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at the VFW Post at 136 W. Grand, Mancos. POC: 560-4350. This post has a Ladies Auxiliary.
Mesa Verde Post 5241 meets at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at the Cortez Journal conference room, 123 Roger Smith Ave., Cortez. POC: 560-1891.
Lake McPhee Post 6068 meets at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at Dolores Community Center. POC: 882-7783.
Blue Star Mothers of America, Southwest Chapter 2 (BSM), Cortez The purpose of this group is to perpetuate the memory of all the men and women who have served our country as members of the Armed Forces and shall further be patriotic, educational, social and for service. On Feb. 1, 1942, 300 mothers met in Flint, Mich. On Feb. 6, the organization was reported on the congressional record. The Blue Star Mothers of America Inc. was chartered by Congress in June 1960. These mothers provide needed support for service members, mothers and families. BSM meet at 6 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday of each month at the American Legion, 320 N. Harrison St. For meeting information, please call 565-9249 or 560-2572.
The Blue Star Mothers is not a veterans organization, but provides a very valuable service and is directly related to the veterans who serve our country. The veterans organizations in this county provide services every day, from the drivers who volunteer their time to drive the DAV vehicle, to the veterans who participate in the Honor Guard at funerals, to the drivers who take a veteran to a local appointment, to the many who help with the flags on Memorial Day to honor fallen and laid to rest veterans.
On Aug. 13 of this year, the Blue Star Mothers of Cortez put on the George Geer Memorial Car Show. For those of you who do not know about George, he gave his life in service of his country in January 2005. While on patrol, George was taken from us by an improvised explosive device. Specialist George Geer is the only fallen veteran from this county due to the Iraq war and what a great loss it has been for family and friends, and anyone who ever met George. To keep his memory alive, The Blue Star Mothers stepped up to provide the community with the annual car show in which George participated every year. Many veterans volunteered to help the Blue Star Mothers park show cars, and provide a rod run, barbecue and dance for those who participated in the show.
The show and activities were a success from the standpoint that all who came out enjoyed themselves and many are looking forward to next years show. The teamwork involved to pull this off was a max effort from veterans, spouses, friends and of course the Blue Star Mothers. Those who devoted their time to support such a worthwhile cause can never be thanked enough, and Harold, Georges father, and family thanked everyone involved all day long. It should be the rest of us thanking Harold and his family for the sacrifice of a son who believed in the country he served. It is a wonderful feeling when your effort is rewarded with a tear, smile, and a kind word. I think everyone went away knowing this was a good thing.
Be it a funeral when the local veterans combine their effort to honorably lay a familys veteran to their final resting place, a memorial service to honor all the brave men and women who have gone before us, the placing of the American flag at the headstone of a fallen comrade on Memorial Day, a small child and his parents rendering honors as our nations flag passes at the Fourth of July parade, or when someone walks up to you and shakes your hand for serving our country these things are what causes a veteran to shed a tear, as well as the comfort in knowing many like George are still out there every day and night, protecting our freedom right here in Montezuma County, Colo.
Next time a veteran offers you a Buddy Poppy, or when you see an Honor Guard conducting a funeral, or someone wearing a veterans hat proudly displaying their service, say thanks. They are proud of their service and what they are doing, and, contrary to what you might think, these veterans receive no pay for their time, nor do any of the service organizations mentioned. To those veterans out there sitting on the fence, these organizations will welcome you. Your voice and help are always needed to help assist or be assisted. I have often bumped into veterans and asked why they no longer attend, participate or join the organizations. The biggest reason is time. A wise veteran once told me, It takes a greater sense of maturity to serve other veterans. I leave you with this saying I always used while I was on active duty when someone would ask why I served: I do what I do so you can do what you do.
Robert Bert Valencia is a retired U.S. Army veteran, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5241 of the American Legion and Disabled American Veterans. He can be reached at 560-1891.
