LONG EDDY, NY — For a lot of veterans, service to their beloved country reaches further than their time in the United States military, as they enlist to lend a hand to their local communities across the nation once they take off their active-duty uniforms.

In 2022, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) created the VFW Day of Service, a month-long opportunity for veterans to host community projects. The day of service is an outgrowth of the organization’s #StillServing initiative that since 2020 “has brought recognition to how much U.S. military veterans continue to serve in the communities,” according the VFW.

On Saturday, May 6, members of the Allan Milk Memorial Post 7276 and other volunteers joined the nationwide effort by beautifying Fremont Park (formally known as the Fremont Ball Field). They constructed a flower bed at the entrance sign and rebuilt the fire pit next to the backstop before returning to their home base, where they cleaned up St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Long Eddy.

“It’s all about giving back to our people, and our community,” said Amber Sullivan, president of the VFW Post 7276 Auxiliary. The post is named in honor of her uncle, Allan Arlyn Milk, who was born December 14, 1945 and was killed in action in Vietnam on November 1, 1966 while serving with Company B of the famed 7th Cavalry. 

In 2007, Ray Dowdy, a comrade-in-arms of Milk, visited the local VFW post to present a plaque created in honor of his fallen friend. He said at the time, “He was a great person, a great individual to be with in combat... I was lucky. I served a year and then rotated home. He didn’t.”

And now, U.S Army vet Steve Luty watched from the sidelines as fellow vets and community members labored to rebuild the firepit.

During the Vietnam War, he served as a petroleum, oil and lubrication specialist at remote supply points near the Cambodian and Laotian borders, refueling choppers and jets.

“I’m a veteran, and I’m in the VFW,” he said. About Milk, he said, “I’m very patriotic about a man who gave his life for us all.”

Lauren Roman, a veteran of the Iraq War and a dedicated veterans’ advocate, joined VFW Post 7276 just a couple of months ago, and was instrumental in organizing the post’s first participation in the nationwide Day of Service.

She served in Iraq in 2009 to 2010 as a battalion surgeon assigned to U.S. Army’s 2-29 FA Battalion (4th Brigade, 1st AD), posting seven years on active duty, plus another year of ready reserve.

“I joined the service because I have a strong serving heart,” she said, noting that her brother and husband are also vets.

Commenting upon the VFW’s Day of Service initiative, Roman said, “It’s a day of still serving our country, still giving back to our communities.”

What is now known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States traces its proud heritage back to 1899, when veterans of the Spanish-American War of 1899 and the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service. It has a roster of 1.5 million members between the VFW and its auxiliary.

Last year, more than 400 VFW posts around the world engaged in activities benefitting communities, and according to VFW communications director Randi Law, almost 100 percent of last year’s participating posts have reenlisted to host events in May 2023.

“Our members show up when there’s a need,” said Law in a recent press release. “Day of Service offers us a great way for them to demonstrate what they stand for, and that’s service to others.

“Bringing veterans and the community together to make a meaningful difference is what the VFW does,” she said.

For more information about the VFW Day of Service, visit VFWDayofService.org, and for information about Allan Milk Memorial Post 7276, visit the group’s Facebook page.

Lauren Roman, left, and Amber Sullivan..