Lansdale VFW Post 32 Sergeant-At-Arms John Lombardi – who is going on his 14th year as a Pennsylvania Army National Guard intelligence officer, with two deployments under his belt – has a new mission to complete here at home: Keep the membership alive and thriving at the 90-year-old West Second Street social hall and bar.
The target: Younger veterans looking for camaraderie and community improvement.
According to an interview with The Reporter, Lombardi, who joined the VFW last summer, is facing the challenge of recruiting and retaining veterans from post-9/11 foreign wars, as the Lansdale organization membership dwindles from local World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veterans passing away.
“We’re just trying to inject some youth into the post and trying to stay relevant in the community … we’re really trying to find some of that younger base of veterans … we’re now 20 years post-9/11, and we’re having a tough time reaching those folks, my peers,” Lombardi told The Reporter.
The VFW has three memberships: Veterans of Foreign Wars, Auxiliary, or social member. Find out more at this link.
The VFW, which offers, among other things, karaoke open to the public on the first Saturday of each month, was recognized as one of 15 “All State” posts in Pennsylvania, per the report. Furthermore, it recently earned its first national “All-American” designation, per the report. This means the Lansdale VFW Post 32 went above and beyond with fundraising, local partnerships to support vets, increasing its online presence, and impacting the Lansdale community, according to the report.
Lansdale VFW Post 32 will celebrate its 90th anniversary with a public cookout event on Sept. 17, beginning at 11 a.m., with food at 3 p.m.
The post and bar are open seven days a week. Entertainment includes pool tables, darts, games of chance, scratch off games and more.
Read more on the Lansdale VFW recent recognitions and its current recruitment goals here.
