The Tioga VFW Post in Wood Dale was closing, until an Air Force vet stepped up to lead it

Rich Williams had by no means stepped inside Tioga Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2149 in his life until he was sworn in as commander in February 2021.

The 87-year-old Wood Dale VFW Post was on the verge of closing over a scarcity of management, when the 10-year U.S. Air Force veteran noticed a point out on an on-line Wood Dale group bulletin board. It learn the put up commander was retiring and if one other could not be discovered Tioga would shut.

Having a incapacity himself — Williams was invalided out of the service after his third knee surgical procedure — he had been desirous about attempting to do one thing for different veterans with disabilities. When he noticed the discover, Williams realized he was unwilling to give up an area that offers veterans an opportunity to join and assist each other.

His then-wife was blunt. “Just do it,” she mentioned, implying that if he considered it an excessive amount of, he won’t comply with by.

Williams known as the retiring commander, who informed him he was too late; the vote to shut the put up already had been taken. He then pursued the district commander.

“It’s never too late,” the commander informed him, “but it’s going to be a lot of work.”

Tioga VFW Post 2149 was chartered on Oct. 12, 1935. Today, it is at 510 Georgetown Square in Wood Dale.

“I was more than eager to help,” Williams mentioned. “I always think it’s important that veterans reach out to each other in our times of need.”

Currently, Tioga has about 12 collaborating members who attend the month-to-month conferences, however it nonetheless has lots of different energetic members who’re loyal dues-payers. One of them is U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who holds a life membership in the put up.

The put up raises cash from dues, from video poker machines and from bar gross sales. The banquet corridor is booked each Saturday for the subsequent two months, and reside leisure is scheduled as soon as a month.

The Queen of Hearts event was placed on maintain by the COVID-19 pandemic, and Williams says they intend to restart it as soon as they’re satisfied sufficient older residents are snug leaving their properties once more. The put up gives bingo however would not make a lot cash at it — as a substitute it brings individuals into the put up for a companionable time.

The cash they convey in helps hold the put up dwelling in working order and pays for renovations, gives seed cash for occasions just like the Wood Dale Memorial Day parade the VFW organizes, and helps the Honor Guard, which does solemn ceremonies at veteran funerals and gravesides.

Also, it offers away cash: In October 2021, Post 2149 donated almost $30,000 to native veterans teams and group charities.

“$11,700 went directly to veterans organizations,” Williams mentioned. The the rest went to native charities, the Red Cross, meals pantries, native colleges and different teams.

“We are part of the community,” he mentioned, explaining why not each penny is donated straight to veterans. “All VFWs operate under that structure.”

“Being able to give back, that’s what it’s about,” Williams mentioned.

As commander, his precedence is to develop the put up from the 12 participatory members to one thing extra and to attain out to lonely vets.

“You don’t have to do it alone,” Williams mentioned of veterans who don’t have any social outlet.

“You can feel isolated at times, but when you can talk about what you’ve been through with someone who understands, it’s liberating.”

He’d additionally like to encourage youthful veterans to come.

“My goal is to get away from the image of the VFW as a bunch of old people sitting around telling war stories,” Williams mentioned. “We’re trying to upgrade the post, doing little remodeling things, so some of the younger vets who stop in might say, ‘Hey, I might want to join.'”

Williams joined the Air Force in 1985. He was a munitions programs specialist, a part of what generally is named the “AMMO troops,” who construct bombs and missiles on website. In his case, that meant residing and dealing in Saudi Arabia for operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He additionally was stationed at Myrtle Beach Base in South Carolina, close to Las Vegas, and in Japan and Korea.

He was in the Middle East for about six months, generally on the entrance strains. Scud missiles used to fly overhead, he mentioned, as a result of the enemy did not understand how shut his unit was actually.

Today, Williams works on the Roto Rooter Plumbing. At 55, he says that there’s nonetheless a lot to study in regards to the VFW.

One factor he has discovered is how to respect the regular stream of regulars — most of them not veterans in any respect — who’ve made the VFW their hangout.

Last Monday night a non-veteran household got here in, mourning the lack of their father. Monday nights often are gradual and the put up closes early, however the household is well-known. Williams known as in a bartender, maintaining the put up open so the household wasn’t rushed out.

“They are true regulars — they volunteer to help out with the parade and decorate the post for events,” William mentioned. “They give back so much to us.”

• Tioga VFW Post 2149 is open seven days every week: Sundays-Mondays, midday to 7 p.m.; Tuesdays-Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., though it typically stays open afterward Saturday nights.