QUINCY – For over 60 years, the Logan Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3528 in Quincy has provided veterans returning home after serving overseas with not only support and a place to socialize with other American heroes, but also a way to give back to the community through various activities. On Thursday, the longtime organization ceased to exist following the surrendering of its charter to VFW officials.

“We decided to surrender our charter because of various factors including declining membership, a lack of member participation and a lack of young people coming on board,” said Denny Brown, a Vietnam Veteran and one of the final members of VFW Post 3528.

So why hasn’t the younger generation of veterans joined organizations like the VFW? Brown said he believes the answer is pretty simple – their priorities are different than previous generations.

“I think joining the VFW is low on most veterans’ priority lists when they get out,” he said. “Most come home to a family and are busy finding work and reacclimating to civilian life.”

Brown said the size of the area served by each individual VFW post also plays a role in recruiting younger members.

“I think some of the bigger posts in towns like Bellefontaine, Sidney and Lima have seen young people come on board because their demographics are bigger. A lot of the small posts are just not able to keep going,” he said, citing posts in Quincy, Jackson Center and Roundhead all had to surrender their charters because smaller populations mean less veterans to chose from.

One last hurrah

Before surrendering their charter, members of VFW Post 3528 had one final decision to make. What to do with the organization’s $25,000 certificate of deposit?

“Back in 2002, the post sold its building (now the Quincy Community Building) to the Village of Quincy, and the money has stayed in a CD ever since,” Brown said.

When discussing what to do with the money, Brown said members tossed around ideas including using it to fund scholarships. In the end, Past Commander Paul Overholser suggested the money be divided up evenly between Riverside EMS and Quincy-Miami Township EMS.

“Everyone got behind Paul’s idea,” Brown said. “We voted on it, and it passed unanimously.”

During a ceremony held on July 7 at the Miami Valley American Legion Post 652 in DeGraff, where VFW Post 3528 members had been meeting for the past decade, a representative from Riverside EMS was presented with a $12,500 check as was a representative from Quincy-Miami Township EMS. Brown noted the VFW also donated some money to American Legion Post 652 to use for Memorial Day activities.

“Many people, including myself, are dual members in both the VFW and American Legion,” he said.

For those former VFW Post 3528 members wanting to remain part of the organization, Brown said their membership will transfer to any VFW post in the county, state or nation.

“Being here in Logan County, I imagine most members will transfer to Bellefontaine (VFW Post 1080),” Brown said.

As for the Quincy/DeGraff area, Brown reiterated that American Legion Post 652 remains open, and local veterans interested in joining can contact him at 585-9035, Post Commander Mike Allman at 441-0342 or Post Financial Officer Don Roach at 441-3644.