As World War II veterans are dying, veteran’s organizations are trying to rebuild their membership.

VFW Lakeshore Memorial Post 9816 in Oregon’s Bayshore neighborhood is no exception. The post is going through significant renovation and recognizing its members with a Wall of Honor.

“With the advent of Osama Bin Laden being eliminated, the timing of our Wall of Honor is so meaningful this Memorial Day weekend,” wrote Tom Fuller, VFW canteen manager, in an e-mail to The Press.

Post Commander Andy Martin said, “We are just trying to recognize our members and see what they looked like when they served. It’s nice to acknowledge and it’s proof to show who these people served with and where. We all did different jobs, but this kind of shows what it takes to make something happen.

VFW Lakeshore Memorial Post 9816 Commander Andy Martin shows off the Wall of Honor recognizing its members. (Press photo by Ken Grosjean)

“We’re trying to let more people know about it. We’re also trying to get past members to come in and bring their posters. We can’t forget our past. No matter how far we go forward, we still have to recognize and honor the men and women who served in the past.”

On the Wall of Honor, 18 served in World War II, one in WWI, eight in Korea, five in the Gulf War, and 18 were stationed. Only five of the WWII veterans remain alive and the WWI vet is also deceased. Twenty-two served in the Army, 17 Navy, five in the Marines, two each in the Air Force and National Guard, and one each in the Navy Seabees and Merchant Marines.

Near the Wall of Honor are posters created by Eisenhower Middle School students to show appreciation to veterans.

“We all thought that was touching that the students acknowledged us,” Martin said.

Martin, who served in Vietnam from 1970-71, is a multiple Purple Heart recipient. A 1967 Clay High graduate, he was a schoolmate of seven Clay graduates killed in Vietnam, including a classmate of Joseph G. Gill, John M. Thayer, and Arthur J. Heringhausen, who was the most decorated. Other Clay grads killed in Vietnam include Esiquio (Arnie) Cantu, Gerald E. Corlett, Scott D. Corello, and Ervin E. Harris.

Martin has a special affinity for the post, which was founded in 1948. The land was donated by the Zettner family, which once owned The Woods Inn in Bayshore, which is where Martin’s mother worked. His relationship with the VFW post dates back to before his service in Vietnam.

“My father was a member here, so I started coming here around ’56 when we moved out here. So now 40 plus years later, here I am trying to give back to the Hall,” Martin said.

“A couple years ago, we were a little hard up for members and they asked if I would take on being a commander. I really didn’t feel I was qualified, but I’m retired and thought I should at least try,” Martin continued. “We’re going through a lull, in that aspect. We’ve got a few new members and we’ve got a few more that have contacted us about joining.

“We’re trying to give it as much time as we can and it looks like we’re getting there again. The community has been backing us for all of our functions and we feel pretty good about that.”

The Hall now has about 50 members but during its hey-day had 150 to 200, Fuller and Martin said. Current members include two who are serving in the Middle East. Petty Officer 1st Class Shawn Duncan, an Oregon native, is a Navy Seabee in Afghanistan and Staff Sgt. Ralph Berry of Ida, Michigan, is in Iraq.

Three others who served in the Middle East are home — Ken Adams (Army, Iraq, 2003), Ron Hartzell (Air National Guard, Iraq, 2007-09), and Jeff Dearsman (Navy, Gulf War, 2009-10).

“The membership had gotten old, and we are trying to get younger,” Martin explained. “Sometimes it’s difficult getting people to join, but if a lot of people see we are doing well and what we are doing, people will start coming back again.

“We’re getting some younger guys. I just got a couple younger guys who just put in applications last week. So, we figure we get a couple of those guys and they’ll tell their friends, and then we’ll slowly bring in more of the younger folks.”

Renovations include painting a flag post that dates back to 1955, new carpet installed just a couple weeks ago, new ceiling tile, cooler, ice machine, and upgrading the kitchen. Except for the kitchen, almost all the work was done by volunteers.

“Everyone volunteers. That’s what makes you feel so good,” Martin said. “We’re just trying to let our community know that we are still alive and we are trying to give back to our community as much as we can to keep us going, also.”

For anyone interested in joining, there is shuffleboard and bowling leagues on antique set-ups inside the Hall and pool leagues. On evening weeknights, a lively group comes together to watch the Jeopardy game show and on the weekends sports events are shown on television.

“We can first unite together as veterans here, but our purpose is to support the community and veterans who are serving overseas if we can help their families and stuff like that,” Martin said. “It’s been rewarding to see how the turnout has been. There for a while, we were down to five days a week being open because business was really poor. Now we are back to seven days a week, and the community support has been really good.

“But then, this community has always been like that,” Martin continued. “That was what was always so nice about growing up here. Like anywhere, we are all Peyton Place, but it’s still very supportive when there are things going on, and that’s the bottom line.”

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