T r a c k i n g V E T E R A N s e r v i c e
CONTINUED FROM 1
the Magnolia area as well. When Tomball and Magnolia were both lit- tle-bitty towns, it was ne. … One VFW could represent those commu- nities. But Tomball and Magnolia are not small little towns anymore,” said Stephen Biehl, deputy state inspector for the Texas VFW and member of the Tomball VFW Post 2427. Magnolia was previously home to VFW Post 9286, Fuller said. Harold Reed, a Magnolia resident and commander of the Grimes County VFW, said in January that a group of veterans is organizing member- ship drives with hopes of having the required 35 members by July to apply for a charter to reopen the post. Without a post in Magnolia, veter- ans must travel to Tomball or Conroe to get involved in a VFW—a trip that is becoming increasingly di cult as the Magnolia area grows, said Meredith Holley, whose husband is a member at the Tomball post. “Magnolia’s spread very large,” Hol- ley said. “Veterans who have certain needs, some of them don’t drive on the freeway, so they need a ride. So if it’s closer to them, they’re going to go get the help that they need.” Need for a post Reed said VFW membership is restricted to approximately 1% of vet- erans: those who have served hon- orably on foreign soil or in hostile waters. However, veterans at large, their families and the community can bene t froma local VFWpost, he said. “We want to be a xture of the com- munity to help out, but the other thing is that we want to be there to help vet- erans. [It] doesn’t matter what walk of life they’re from—whether they were in a foreign war or not, we’re there to help veterans,” Reed said. Reed said VFW services could include helping veterans and their families with bene t applications, nding resources, death bene ts and funeral arrangements; o ering ag retirement services; and educat- ing the community about history. In addition, each post hosts essay schol- arship contests for students and pro- vides other nancial contributions. There were 3,525 veterans living within Magnolia ISD’s boundaries in 2019, according to 5-year estimates from the Census Bureau, a 9.47% increase from 2014. During the same time period, data shows the popu- lation of veterans in Montgomery County and in Texas declined.
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows how the service period for veterans living within Magnolia ISD boundaries has changed since 2014. For example, the percentage of veterans serving following September 2001 has grown.
World War II (only)
1.7% 0.4%
1.1%
14.7%
Aug. 1990-Aug. 2001 and Sept. 2001 or later Aug. 1990-Aug. 2001 and Vietnam era Aug. 1990-Aug. 2001 Sept. 2001 or later Between Korean War and World War II only Vietnam era, Korean War and World War II Korean War (only) Vietnam era (only) Between Gulf War and Vietnam era only Between Vietnam era and Korean War only
36.5%
25.4%
23.1%
1.8%
Total veterans in Magnolia ISD in 2014: 3 , 2 2 0
Total veterans in Magnolia ISD in 2019:
11.7%
3 , 5 2 5
5.2%
8.5%
9.3%
17.6%
7.1%
18.5%
0.6%
9.1% 7.4%
0.1%
SOURCE: 2014 AND 2019 5 YEAR AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY ESTIMATES COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
R e o p e n i n g T H E P O S T Local veterans hope to reopen a VFW post in
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Only select veterans can become a member of a Veterans of Foreign Wars post. Eligibility requirements include:
honorable or under honorable discharge
and service in a war, campaign, or expedition on foreign soil or in hostile waters, as shown in a veteran’s DD-214 form.
Magnolia to serve the growing community. Stephen Biehl, a Magnolia resident and member of the Tomball VFW, said to charter a new post, 35 members are needed, including 15 members brand new to VFWmembership.
The next membership meeting is scheduled for 6:30-8 p.m. on March 7 at 14408 Alice Road, Tomball.
SOURCES: STEPHEN BIEHL, TEXAS VFW COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
“That’s a lot of people being rep- resented by a VFW that’s not even in that community,” Biehl said. Biehl said he estimates there are at least 500 eligible veterans in Magnolia who are not yet VFWmembers. Holley, who also serves as secretary for Texans United For Freedom—a Mag- nolia-based nonpro t working with veterans—said she has lived in Magno- lia for 38 years but got involvedwith the Tomball VFWwithin the last year. “The VFW is a family thing. It’s knowing that someone has your back at all times, and a lot [of veterans] will not go seek it in other places,” she said. “It took us a long time [to join]; I’m so thankful that we did what we did. But it was because it was in Tomball. We didn’t want to go to Tomball; we didn’t want to go to Conroe. It’s a drive.” Chartering a VFWpost Fuller said reopening the Magnolia post wouldmake it the 286thVFWpost
in Texas. The new post would come as the state expects its VFW-eligible pop- ulation to grow following 9/11. “The demographics of the VFW 30 years agowas twice as large as it is now nationally and in Texas, and that’s because of the World War II genera- tion,” Fuller said. “Then it takes about 15 to 20 years after a con ict ends to see real growth and real numbers in the VFW. …We anticipate more of this in this decade because we’re about 20 years removed from 9/11.” According to 2019 ve-year esti- mates from the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 18% of veterans within MISD boundaries served after Sep- tember 2001, an increase from 11.68% in 2014. To recharter the Magnolia post, there must be 15 members new to VFW membership and 35 total mem- bers, meaning some can transfer their membership from another VFW post, Biehl said. Members do not have to
live in Magnolia. Reed said the group hopes to apply with the state in July, which will then assign the Magnolia post to a district. Once national approval is given— determining the post number and approving the charter—the Magnolia VFW will then incorporate as a non- pro t, he said. The rst membership event was held Jan. 27 with more planned in March and April, Reed said. “It’s huge to have the VFW, even on my end [as a spouse],” Holley said. “If my husband needs to talk to somebody or I need to talk with someone, it’s the place to call; it’s the place to be. Even if you need somebody to be there to pat you on the back and say, ‘Keep going, you’re doing a great job.’ ... I think it’s very much needed in Magnolia.”
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
31
TOMBALL MAGNOLIA EDITION • FEBRUARY 2022
Powered by FlippingBook