Legion wants to attract younger veterans to the organization

January 2, 2016 at 5:45p.m.

BOARDMAN

One of the hardest things to do is convince younger military veterans of the value of membership in the American Legion and other veterans service organizations.

The American Legion, founded in 1919, is the largest veterans service organization in the United States, and with 2.4 million members is the strongest voice for veterans in the nation, said James W. Campbell of Howland, commander of the American Legion’s Department of Ohio.

Campbell, an Air Force veteran who deployed to Vietnam for a year in 1969-1970 as a machine gunner on an armored personnel carrier at Danang Air Base, is a four-time commander of American Legion Post 700 in Howland. He is also a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars 1090 in Warren, AMVETS Post 44 in Struthers and the Vietnam Veterans Association.

“As we look to the future, we are trying to coordinate with and bring in to the American Legion these young veterans,” said Campbell, speaking Saturday at Boardman American Legion Post 565’s annual Christmas party held at Abruzzi’s Cafe 422 in Boardman.