New VFW commander from Robinson says organization is behind the times

Robinson's John A. Biedrzycki assumed command Wednesday of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, becoming the 16th Pennsylvanian to head the 116-year-old organization but the first in more than 40 years.

Biedrzycki, 69, told war veterans and auxiliary members at the VFW national convention's closing ceremony in Downtown that the organization needs to rededicate itself to service and become more relevant to younger veterans.

“The old-boys network and the days of the old barroom commanders have come and gone,” Biedrzycki said after being sworn in for his one-year term as commander-in-chief.

“We are losing our relevancy to the younger generation of veterans who prefer to get their hands dirty instead of discussing things to death in the monthly meetings,” said Biedrzycki, a Vietnam veteran who belongs to McKees Rocks' VFW Post 418 and is a retired social studies teacher and baseball coach at the West End's former Langley High School.

Biedrzycki referred to newer veterans groups that focus on activities such as building houses for homeless veterans, environmental cleanup and organizing family-oriented sporting events. They provide such opportunities without any membership requirements or further obligation to participate, and they communicate through social media, he said.

Biedrzycki said he isn't proposing to scrap the VFW's long-standing membership rules, but said VFW posts need to catch up with the times.

“In order to catch fish, you have to go where the fish are,” Biedrzycki said.

About 17 percent of eligible Afghanistan and Iraq veterans have joined the VFW's ranks and make up 12 percent of its 1.3 million members, according to VFW estimates.

The convention, which started Saturday, drew 16,500 registered VFW and auxiliary members, said spokesman Joe Davis.

Tom Loftus, spokesman for the nonprofit tourism agency VisitPittsburgh, estimated that the conference generated $9 million in direct spending for Pittsburgh's economy. It's expected to be the year's biggest event at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

“This was even more significant because of who came to it. It was such an honor for us to host the veterans in Pittsburgh, and they hit a home run to have the president there Tuesday,” Loftus said.

Tom Fontaine is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7847 or tfontaine@tribweb.com.