TRUMBULL COUNTY Declining membership forces vets to sell VFW post

VFW Post 8860 may be moving but isn't disbanding, its commander says.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
MASURY -- It will be a dark day when the remaining members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8860 pack up and move out of the headquarters they built themselves.
"It will be sad," post commander Joseph Petrykowski said Tuesday.
Declining membership coupled with added costs for utilities and for keeping the bar open have forced members to sell their post at 1248 Standard Avenue.
The post is looking for smaller quarters in Masury to continue its activities.
"We're not disbanding. We'll continue to hold our charter," the commander said, noting it was issued Dec. 26, 1946 -- more than a year after World War II.
After receiving its charter, the members first met at the former Elm Street School and then moved to Budd Street in 1949. Members constructed the current Standard headquarters.
"It was a lot of hard work," Petrykowski said of building the post from the ground up.
What group has done
Over the years, the members have sponsored the Voice of Democracy essay contest at Hubbard High School, decorated veterans' graves, marched in parades, attended veteran functions, served as the honor guard at veterans' funerals and visited hospitalized veterans.
Because the post hasn't been able to muster enough members for the honor guard, VFW Post 6233 in West Middlesex, Pa., and American Legion Post 432 in Wheatland, Pa., have helped fill the ranks.
"They've helped us a lot," Petrykowski said.
Post membership was at 175 after World War II, but has dwindled to 80 to 85.
Those who served in World War II and the Korean War are dying more rapidly as they get older, and younger veterans whose who have served overseas in a combat area aren't joining.
"They seem to be a different group of people. They just aren't interested," Petrykowski asserted. "We're always looking for members."
For those who want to join, Post 8860 holds its monthly meetings at 8 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month.
yovich@vindy.com