Joshua Tree VFW is a place for those who returned to remember the ones that did not

I wanted to talk to Veterans about memorial day, so when I contacted the Commander of the Joshua Tree VFW Post 7264 about coming down and talking to them, I pictured the same guys I would see in parades where I grew up… old timers, frankly. I was a little surprised to meet two guys around my age, possibly younger now that I think about it. John Pellior is the Commander of the VFW Post 7264 - VFW stands for Veterans of Foreign Wars. It’s located right off Hwy. 62 down a small street called Veteran Way. The small building can be easy to miss on the west side of the street - a hand-painted sign above a small brown building and a pair of mirrored doors, one with a piece of paper taped on it that says “Now Open on Tuesday 11 - ?” It was just past noon on Monday, so I knocked on that one. John met me at the door alongside Ben Lawless, the Jr. Vice Commander of the post. The building holds a classic bar with plenty of stools, and we sit down in an adjacent room that reminds me of a cafe at a racetrack or fairgrounds - plenty of tables with an attached kitchen for fish fries and other food that tastes best out of a basket. It’s small, and spacious and if I were a veteran, I could see myself losing hours down here. Commander John Pellior: “A lot of people, when they come in here, maybe in the past they might have thought it was just a bunch of old guys sitting around a bar drunk… it’s not like that anymore. That perception has faded with the generational changes. A lot of people, when they come in, they feel at home. Some people miss that… they miss the camaraderie that they had when they were in the service, they come in here and get in a conversation and they just feel like it’s a home. We call our post home, every member of this, it’s their home. A place where they can come, relax, and just enjoy themselves.” John Pellior and Ben Lawless at VFW Post 7264 in Joshua Tree, California - Photo: Robert Haydon Those members are veterans of all ages - ranging from those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan to a even few World War 2 vets. I remember growing up and seeing veterans from the VFW handing out small red flowers at parades or outside farmer’s markets. Ben Lawless: "The poppy you are familiar with is a paper flower with a green wire stem. They're made by disabled veterans and if you choose to donate - you don't have to donate, you're not buying these poppies - they're handed out free… all of the money goes to disabled veterans supporting widows and orphans and taking care of Veteran homes. The Buddy Poppy has been a symbol for the VFW for just over 100 years, the original copyright dating back to 1924 No donation is needed - I want to stress that no donation at all is needed we're not selling these, but come by knock on the door (of the VFW) someone will be there during business hours and we have poppies for people to wear.” The buddy poppy is said to have sprung from the churned up fields filled with mortar shells, fallen soldiers and poppy seeds - filling Flanders Field with a now familiar flower and a small and simple reminder of those who went to war but didn’t return. Hear "In Flanders Field" read by Ben Lawless here. Now today is memorial day - and those who did return have a place at the VFW if you need it. Ben: "I'd say come on down to our VFW in Joshua Tree and meet the folks. If you are an active duty service member or a dependent of an active duty service member or you have a VA card or something that shows that you are a veteran... we welcome you and we want you to become part of our family.” The Joshua Tree VFW currently has over 300 members with about the the same amount in the VFW Auxiliary, made of up family members of Veterans. John Pellior says because of their active recruitment, Joshua Tree VFW 7264 and its Auxiliary has had some of the biggest growth in the state and even the country. But for today - Memorial Day - they will have a small gathering in front around 1PM where "Taps" will be played as the American flag is lowered and raised in remembrance of those who have fallen. John and Ben call it a simple ceremony - remembering those who couldn’t return home by friends, family members, and the brothers and sisters in arms that did make it back. They gather to visit, eat, drink and laugh, and to be around others who have shared an experience that most in America have not. You can find the VFW in Joshua Tree, just knock on the door with the hand-written note and someone will greet you with a smile and a handshake - and if you want - a buddy poppy to wear. Links:Joshua Tree VFW on FacebookThe Veterans Crisis Hotline - Dial 988 then press 1 https://z1077fm.com/in-flanders-field-by-john-mcrae-read-by-ben-lawless-of-the-joshua-tree-vfw/