I did not write the following reading, but thought it to be very interesting for all to read. Many of you are not aware of the fact that not all veterans, men and women, who are eligible have joined or supported the veterans organizations. You are very much needed.

I am not sure if you are aware of all of the advantages of becoming a member. Stop up to our local American Legion and talk to a member of both the American Legion and the VFW and get some information to become a member. The VFW organization has their meetings at the Legion Club. Each of those organizations also has auxiliaries, which the spouses, mothers and daughters, sisters, grandaughters can join. Now for the reading.

A freeloader’s last request

Once upon a time there was a veteran who never joined any veterans organizations. All of his life, he took benefits and entitlements won for him by veterans service organizations.

He has a 10-point preference, a G.I. home loan, he had gone to school on the G.I. Bill, veterans employment even got him a job, among other things, but, still, he refused to join. On his death bed he told his wife, “Please do something for me. I want to be buried in a national cemetery, have a military marker, and I want a veterans organization to provide an honor guard and be my pallbearers.”

“But, you never belonged to any veterans organizations,” his wife exclaimed, “Why do you want them for pallbearers?”

“Dear,” he replied, “they’ve carried me this far, they might as well carry me the rest of the way!”

Think about it.

Eunice Hatleli

president

VFW Post 447 Auxiliary

Albert Lea