×

Pride & purpose

Fifty years of service to military personnel familiar with the rigors of foreign wars was marked recently by members, friends and auxiliaries of Merrimack’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8641.

The 50-year anniversary celebration, held in late October, featured a banquet at the VFW’s function hall, a display of historical memorabilia and salutations from some of the VFW’s past commanders. The gathering was led by Max Quayle, an Army veteran who has spent a total of 17 years as the post’s current commander. He served in Vietnam.

Anita Creager, president of the Merrimack Historical Society, said what is now the VFW started out as an old school house, moved from Loop Road to its current site in 1953.

“There were originally 13 district school houses and five still exist in one form or another,” Creager said. “A portion of one is incorporated into the VFW. The main part of the VFW is the school house. An addition came later. Those buildings were so strong they could be moved with no ill effects.”

Quayle, officiating at a Veterans Day ribbon-cutting that marked the opening of a newly constructed elevator lift at the VFW, said the post’s 50 years of service is reflected in the wellbeing of area veterans and their families. Men and women veterans come for the camaraderie, he said, but also for help with finding resources related to educational, financial, medical and employment issues.

According to VFW.org, there are some valuable benefits associated with VFW membership. Vets may tap services related to college test preparation, financial services, VFW-sponsored insurance programs, veteran employment services and more.

Eligibility to join the VFW is based on several criteria, according to the Web site. A person who has received a campaign medal for overseas service, spent an allotted time in Korea, received hostile-fire pay or received imminent-danger pay may be eligible to join the VFW.

Quayle said the men and women of the VFW oftentimes are survivors of wars long gone but nowadays an increasing number of members are veterans from modern-day conflagrations in far-away hotspots.

Members of the VFW today include people who served in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Somalia and elsewhere. Currently, the Merrimack VFW has 196 members and a healthy auxiliary of men and women who mostly are related to someone that experienced service in a foreign land. Quayle said members are dedicated to helping one another, in any way possible.

Testimony to that sentiment comes from Merrimack’s William Staffiere, 43, a veteran of the Marine Corps and 13 years of military service in many parts of the world. He was severely wounded by an IED – an improvised explosive device – while he was on duty in Iraq.

“I’m a single father of two daughters,” Staffiere said. “I’m a 100-percent disabled veteran. The love and the support they’ve given me at the VFW is overwhelming. The VFW and the American Legion have really poured out their hearts to me and my daughters.”

Quayle said there are scores of area veterans who frequently take a moment to seek out the peace of mind that is a part of sharing time among friends. He credited the nearby American Legion Post 98, a short distance away on Baboosic Lake Road, as another source of solid support.

“The VFW has always been a second home to veterans,” Quayle said. “It’s where they can come and feel comfortable. They’re among others who know what it’s like to have served and survived.”

For more information on the VFW, 282 Daniel Webster Highway in Merrimack, call 424-7719.