The Commander of Hamburg VFW Post 216 was recently honored for achieving ‘All American Status’ as a Post Commander. Only 197 Post Commanders worldwide qualified for the honor.
‘It was nice, but I didn’t do it myself,’ said Dennis Carter, Post Commander of Hamburg VFW Post 216.
To be considered for the status, the VFW needed to meet certain requirements at the district and then state level. Once those were met, then the post needed to meet the All American requirements. According to a release from PA VFW State HQ, the requirements for the honor are based on outstanding achievements in membership growth and participation in other VFW programs that benefit veterans and their communities. The necessary requirements included administrative such as membership and financial obligations such as supporting VFW causes.
‘It’s just good that our post was in a position financially that we could support [Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy],’ said Carter. ‘And that was due mainly to the fact that our staff has turned things around.’
Carter became the Post Commander in 2011 and has made it his goal to get the post back on its feet.
‘I couldn’t have done it without the staff around me. I tell them this all the time,’ he said. ‘One of the cardinal rules to being good in leadership is to surround yourself with the best and the brightest. I tried to do that when I came on here. I think I’ve succeed because I’d put my officers and staff up against anybody. They are absolutely responsible for me being able to get this award.’
When Carter came on as Post Commander the membership was dwindling and there were a handful of officers trying to keep the place going. In his short time at the post, Carter has seen membership increase in both post and social memberships. He credits that as allowing the VFW to do some much needed repairs to its building.
Carter named ‘resurrecting this post back to life’ as one of the accomplishments he is most proud of in regards to the post. Working to preserve the building as well as the Memorial Day Parade are two other accomplishments that he is proud of.
‘I’m really proud of the officers and staff that we have here. That goes for everybody from people who sit on the board all the way down to the bartenders. Chris, the bar manager here, she puts her heart into this place. She works a lot of hours, but she really puts her heart into it,’ said Carter.
He continued, ‘Every single person that’s here, down to the last one, is sympathetic to veterans’ causes. That’s one thing I insist on. As a matter of fact that’s on the membership application card.’
National Commander William Thein said in a release from the PA VFW State HQ that the status was a prestigious honor.
Carter and all of those at Hamburg VFW Post 216 can certainly be proud of this honor.
