NEW ROCHELLE, NY — In the years following World War II and the Korean War, Veteran Service Organizations or VSOs flourished in New Rochelle. By the 1950s there were 13 VSOs including two VFWs and two American Legions.
By 1994, that number had shrunk to 8 active VSOs. Today, there are just two active VSOs with a charter in New Rochelle: American Legion Post #8 and VFW Post #439.
Veterans service organizations like the VFW and American Legion have experienced decades of decline in membership as veterans from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam pass away.
Veterans from more recent conflicts such as Iraq and Afghanistan have not joined VSOs at levels seen after previous wars.
The American Legion claims to have 1.8 million members nationally; the VFW claims to have 1.2 million members.
In 2014, the VFW changed its charter to replace the word “men” with “veterans” and “widow” with “surviving spouses” to attract more female members and over the last few years has seen a small increase in membership, reversing a decades long trend.
In New Rochelle, American Legion Post #8 and VFW Post #439 have between them less than 3 dozen members, according to state records, although not all of them are active in the organizations and of the active members a number are double-counted through membership in both organizations.
Meetings of the two groups, held at American Legion Post #8 at 112 North Avenue in New Rochelle, are sparsely attended. The number of members on the groups Executive Committees is larger than active members who are not on the Executive Committees.
While much of the decline can be attributed to the passage of time, squabbling and internal divisions have led to an exodus from New Rochelle VSOs to nearby VSOs such as Larchmont.
Active (as of 1994)
- Masonic War Veterans Post #31
- American Legion Post #8
- VFW Post #2882
- Disabled American Veterans Chapter #2882
- Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter #21
- VFW Post #439
- Combat Infantryman’s Association
- Jewish War Veterans Post #48
Emeritus (as of 1994)
- Flandreau Post #509 GAR
- Spanish War Veterans Camp #37
- Catholic War Veterans Post #212
- American Legion Queen City Post #1381
Under General City Law of New York State Section 12 (Money for celebration of legal holidays in cities) and Section 13 (Moneys for Memorial and Veterans days; how expended), cities in New York are authorized to provide funds to veterans groups to celebrate Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
On March 20, 1959, the Central Veterans Conference of the City of New Rochelle and the Memorial & Patriotic Association of the City of New Rochelle merged to form the United Veterans Memorial & Patriotic Association (“UVMPA”). The UVMPA at that time consisted of American Legion Post #8, American Legion Queen City Post #1381, VFW Post #439, VFW Post #2882, Catholic War Veterans Post #212, Jewish War Veterans Post #48, Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter #21, Spanish War Veterans Camp #37
On April 1, 1959, the New Rochelle City adopted Resolution No. 92 which: (1) acknowledged the merger of the Central Veterans Conference of the City of New Rochelle and the Memorial & Patriotic Association of the City of New Rochelle; (2) congratulated the new organization on its formation; (3) noted that the City Council had appropriated a sum of money for the observance of Memorial Day and Veterans Day; and (4) recognized the UVMPA as the representative of all VSOs in the City of New Rochelle for the City’s observances of Memorial Day and Veterans Day under General City Law of New York State Section 12 and Section 13; (5) that Resolution No. 92 be “spread upon the minutes of the Council”.
This history stands in contrast to statements promulgated over the years by the UVMPA.
The UVMPA website states:
The UVMPA is an umbrella organization chartered by the City of New Rochelle that handles Veteran responsibilities and civil duties involving the military.
The UVMPA was never chartered by the City of New Rochelle nor is it referenced in the City Charter nor was it deputized by the City of New Rochelle to represent all veterans in all things but merely to represent its member VSO’s solely for the purpose of organizing observances of Memorial Day and Veterans Day under General City Law of New York State Section 12 and Section 13.
Today, the UVMPA consists of two active VSOs, American Legion Post #8 and VFW Post #439 each with a handful of members.
The Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter #21 appears to be largely inactive but not entirely defunct. It appears to have one member and is not active within the UVMPA nor does it hold meetings.
The Executive Committees of the UVMPA, American Legion Post #8 and VFW Post #439 consist of the same handful of people who are the active members of the two remaining chartered VSOs in New Rochelle — less than 12 people in total of which two people effectively run everything.
The Executive Committee of the American Legion is Ron Tocci, Peter Parente, Peter Poulos, Dennis Starr, Jim Lasser, Neal Parchen, Lou Vaccarro, and Gary Flynn with Peter Poulos as American Legion Commander.
The Executive Committee of the VFW is Peter Parente, Frank McDonough, Jim Lasser, Charles Gugamello, and Joe Delacava with Parente as VFW Commander.
The UVMPA is an organization of one person, Peter Parente, who holds the title of President.
The American Legion Post #8 has one meaningful asset, the American Legion Hall located at 112 North Avenue, whose primary revenue comes from a bar in the basement and renting its space for small social events and Zumba classes.
By contrast, somewhere between 1,200 and 1,600 people have claimed a Veterans STAR Tax Exemption over the past few years. All would be homeowners. Many veterans are likely renters. We conservatively estimate there are more than 2,000 veterans currently residing in New Rochelle.
To address the decline in VSOs, in 2018 the City Council established the New Rochelle Veteran Advisory Committee (“VAC”) made up of veterans appointed by the Mayor, the City Council, and the City Manager to advocate for veteran issues facing New Rochelle’s veterans and their families.
The Veterans Advisory Committee consists of Raymond Casher, Steve Green, Tom McFarland, Guadalupe Mendoza, Clarence Stanley, Donielle O’Keefe, Ronald Tocci, and Brett Morash, the VAC Chairperson.
The VAC has since supplanted the UVMPA as the organizer of City observances of Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
At the center of all of this is Ron Tocci who not only has effective control of the UVMPA and VFW Post #439 through Parente as well as American Legion Post #8 but is also a member of the New Rochelle Veteran Advisory Committee and is the Director of the Westchester County Veterans Service Agency.
Given the decades long trends, inside and outside of New Rochelle, as well as the infighting within the few remaining vestiges of once proud local chapters of Veterans Service Organizations, it is difficult to imagine much of a future for any of them.
Time will tell.
Noted, and I would be more than happy to see what decisions can be made, I have a great Financial Officer at the Post and his as well as my Honesty and Integrity for the Good of The Legion and Veterans is unquestionable. Thank You.
I do appreciate that Commander Poulos is actively looking to make positive change and hopefully reenergize the Post. Over the past three Veterans Day and Memorial Day cycles the NR Veterans Advisory Committee has worked with both the former leadership and most recently with Commander Poulos to ensure that the forward facing community events are inclusive and well presented and I am certain that coordination has leveraged the best capabilities of both. These type of engagements will only serve to help bridge any gaps barring any outsized influences that could play a role. At the end of the day it is a community effort where it highlights all of the veterans and the community of support that makes up the greater family.
Personally I believe that the UVMPA has not been viable primary due to the decreasing need to coordinate amongst nearly a dozen groups for the honors and ceremonies that the traditional VSOs plug into. That coordination has by and large been done in the past few years with the VAC and Legion and I believe to good effect.
But of course honors and ceremonies are only the public facing part of what happens. It is the support provided to the veteran community for those former warriors that are truly in need. Homelessness, employment, suicide prevention, mental and physical health supports are top of my list. I believe that with the increase Commander Poulos mentioned in active membership their capabilities to focus on those needs will increase in effectiveness.
Also because of the volunteer nature of both the VSOs and the VAC people can only devote the time that they will devote. It is hard and by focusing efforts on what is best for the community we collectively will make a pragmatic difference. This is a team effort.
As far as Rotating Leads, That will probably be up to Board Members as far as they would like to Vote. Most Positions in any organizations are strictly Volunteer. As for the Financial Malfeasance mentioned, there were NO Taxpayer Funds Stolen, rather it was misspending on the part of the previous Administration at Post 8. Mostly Petty Cash Incidents. On membership, yes..with changing times and newer generations who are less inclined to socialize, it is an issue. Many Fraternal organizations through the Years, The Elks, Redman’s Club, Raccoon Lodge whatever it is are slowly fading away. I wasn’t offended, I just wanted to let everyone know that there has been a substantial change for the better. As far as Local Issues, again..I come from Sacramento California, you want to talk about a Toxic political Climate with the State Capitol and City Hall Against The Community?? American Legion Post 61 turned into a Nightclub 30 Years ago, Historical Buildings, some of the first built in the area were torn down for Office Buildings and a Freeway Interchange, the Late Mayor was in bed with one particular Developer and these days, the town is almost impossible to afford living in, Seniors or anyone with a fixed Income or any young veterans and their Families. What I see here is even worse. look at Rents, House Prices. How can anyone making $50,000 a year or less survive here? That should be a concern. What and how will that change?
I am no expert but I believe the way the UVMPA works is that each VSO gets one vote. I think there are 4 officer positions (like VP, Secretary and Treasurer) that do not rotate and one officer position (President) that does does rotate.
The problem is by my count there are two VSOs (American Legion, VFW). I believe VSOs can send multiple delegates to the UVMPA so perhaps they can fill the officer positions. But each VSO still only has 2 votes. Sounds like the Purple Heart VSO could be reactivated to get 3 voting VSOs
I believe that as Peter Parente has been President for many years in his capacity as Commander of VFW #439 (full disclosure, I set up the UVMPA web site and the Save Our Armory web site). It would appear you would be next to rotate in as President as Commander of American Legion #8 maybe in the coming weeks.
I believe UVMPA nominations are supposed to occur in January and installation of delegates and officers occurs in February and then various committees are formed to prepare observances for Memorial Day and Veterans Day. However, the City appears to have taken that role away from the UVMPA and given it to the NR Veterans Advisory Committee.
I would imagine there is some rule book or constitution or by-laws that would explain all of this.
Over the years, the City and other entities like Monroe College gave the UVMPA tens of thousands of dollars. As you have taken on the clean up of financial irregularities with the American Legion you seem like the right person to take on that job with the UVMPA. A great deal of the UVMPA money IS taxpayer money so a path towards restoring confidence in the UVMPA might be to sort the finances and provide a report to the City Council. Choose a likeminded Treasurer. With new leadership and a clean bill of health on the finances it might then build support for the UVMPA to regain its traditional role in running the Memorial Day and Veterans Day observances per State law.
Time will tell us right. This last month we have added12 new members to Post 8. I am the Commander Peter Poulos. This time we have more Hispanic Veterans than ever before. I am the first Commander of Greek/Hispanic and Native American background. The VFW 439 has not only a good minority demographic but of membership added of veterans under age 50. Some of our Newer Members are Transfers. I along with my Financial Officer —- who by the way is our younger Member of either organization is 100 Percent Disabled Afghanistan Combat Veteran. Raphael Gonzales is our newest member and a Purple Heart Combat Vet. If there is lack of new membership I believe it has to do more with two factors: Cost Of Living is ridiculous here. Two some of us have our emotional problems and it takes time to dial into your community and to be able to give your time. As far as infighting, since taking over as Commander 3 months ago there isn’t much of that due to the fact that financial malfeasance and personality issues have been mostly resolved with a changing of the guard. The only issues I have seen at times are certain members of the community who are prone to be more judgmental and less forgiving of some members who through making a lapse in judgement or making a mistake, are never forgiven or become the whipping persons or boogiemen because it is politically more expedient. If none of you have ever made a mistake in your life, great..it must be wonderful to have such perfection, but please do not judge all by the lens of which you see and believe things to be. We are more than just an empty hall and a bar downstairs, the Covid Pandemic has made it difficult all around, for everyone. We have plans for a better future, time will tell.. yes but through this time, to succeed we need the Community of which we live to help work with us.
Peter Poulos Commander American Legion Post 8 New Rochelle, NY.
It is good to hear there has been some progress.
The article is not a criticism of anyone and certainly not you as Commander of the American Legion, just observations about the decline in the number of VSOs in New Rochelle since the 1950s and 1990s. The decline in the number of active members in the two remaining VSOs mirrors a broader trend nationally but was exacerbated by local issues.
If as you says there was “financial malfeasance” and the American Legion, VFW and UVMPA take taxpayer money that raises a question of whether anyone was held accountable and whether local taxpayers ought to be informed if their money was misspent or stolen.
Under the by-laws of the UVMPA, the leadership is supposed to rotate yet one person (Peter Parente) has held that position for many years.
At what point will you rotate to lead the UVMPA?