Montour Valley VFW Post 7714 Steps Up To Help Veterans, Families

Veterans of Foreign Wars posts are justifiably proud of the memorabilia displayed in their social halls and meeting places. But few can boast anything as conspicuous as a fighter jet.

Located directly across from a strip mall on busy Steubenville Pike, VFW Post 7714’s F-86 Sabre jet catches the eyes of hundreds if not thousands of shoppers and commuters each day. Seen by an equal number next to the aircraft is a marquee that often displays maxims relating to teamwork and community involvement.

And like that F-86 jet once did over the skies of Western Pennsylvania, VFW Post 7714 Post Commander Robert A. Haag is hoping some of those ideas displayed on the sign take off too – especially over the upcoming holiday season.

“We’re more than just a club – especially during the holidays,” said Haag, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam. “We’re here to help veterans, their families and our community. We’d especially like to extend a hand during Christmas, when many of our local servicemembers from reserve and active duty units may be deployed away from home.”

Planned by the post is a Dec. 8 children’s Christmas party that is open and free to the public from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Also scheduled on the post’s event calendar is a Christmas party for the unit’s members. According to Haag, these types of outreach events have been going on since the post was chartered in 1947.

“We’re hoping to reach out to all local veterans and let them know that the post is here to support them,” said Haag. “We’re proud to be part of an outfit that is committed to helping veterans – who in many cases are also our neighbors.”

To help fund these holiday activities for veterans and their families, the post holds various events throughout the year. An example of a recent successful fund-raiser was a purse bingo. Except for operational costs, said Haag, all of the money raised through this effort went toward the post’s benevolent fund. From there, it is used to directly help veterans - as well as fund a nation-wide network of VFW service officers.

“Perhaps the biggest benefit to joining the VFW is learning what programs are available to assist veterans,” said Martin Morris, a Vietnam veteran who is VFW Post 7714’s service officer. “Pension programs, jobs programs and medical help is available for veterans. Post service officers are trained how to guide veterans to the agencies that can best help them."

Service officers funded by the VFW have a long tradition of aiding veterans in accessing hard-earned benefits. According to statistics compiled by the Department of Pennsylvania VFW, state service officers helped 2,099 veterans with initial compensation claims to the Veterans Administration over the last fiscal year, with another 802 veterans assisted in reopening existing compensation claims.

In all, 6,708 claims were submitted through department service officers during the 2017-18 fiscal year. This resulted in more than $18 million paid in disability compensation, and over $7 million paid in retroactive benefits to veterans and their families.

Funds raised by VFW Post 7714 help VFW state service officers link veterans to the benefits merited through their time in the military. Each fund raiser done by the Montour Valley post contributes to this effort.

“Any veteran can get access to a VFW service officer to assist with benefits,” Morris said. “All of their talent and expertise is paid by the VFW. Veterans are not charged anything, and are never billed.”

Throughout last year, nearly 50,000 veterans and their family members received some level of support from Pennsylvania VFW service officers, with the staff handling more than 407,000 separate communications over the past six years.

On a national scale, the VFW’s efforts are even more impressive. Over the last dozen years, approximately 2 million service members and their families have received help from the VFW Military Assistance Program. Additionally, the VFW’s world-wide network of service officers over a three year period has helped nearly 300,000 disabled veterans recover approximately $6.9 billion in benefits.

Pittsburgh-area posts like VFW Post 7714 have supported local student scholarship programs, and taken part in fundraising activities for the Arthritis Foundation.

Locally, VFW Post 7714 participates in a myriad of activities, such as in ceremonies honoring veterans at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, and volunteering at the Veterans Administration Hospital on University Drive in Pittsburgh. The post is also active with local scout troops.

During the holiday season, the post steps up its service to those in need. It becomes a designated drop-off point for the Marine Toys For Tots program, and teams with American Legion Wesoloski-Hays Post 335 in Imperial to increase its hospital visitation program.

“Many of these veterans have no families, and many are homeless,” the post commander said. “The VA takes care of their medical needs, but our donations help provide these men and women with personal care items and other things to help make their lives more comfortable.”

“When we served, the motto was no man left behind,” Haag said. “I would like to say our motto now is no man forgotten.”

In recent years, filling the ranks with new members has become a greater challenge for VFW Post 7714. Requirements for joining the 119 year-old society founded in Pittsburgh are often more restrictive than other veterans service organizations. Each candidate for the VFW must present documented proof of receiving a campaign or occupational medal for overseas service, or have served 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days in Korea, or received hostile fire or imminent danger pay. Additionally, no applicant with a dishonorable discharge is accepted.

Although the group welcomes social members, veterans are needed to keep the unit moving forward, Haag said.

“We’ve got something good here that helps veterans,” the post commander said. “It has been going on for more than 100 years, and we’d like to help keep it going for hundreds more.”

For more information about the VFW Post 7714 and its activities, contact the unit at 724-695-8866.