SCV Poll

[7th Texas Mounted Rifles]

My town used to have a VFW post, but it closed over a decade ago. The American Legion post, founded immediately after WW2, is hanging on but nowhere near as active in the community as they once were.

I'd be willing to bet that is due to membership requirements?

 

[7th Texas Mounted Rifles]

There are some older men in the SCV who don't want to modernize. To a certain extent, I can understand, but sometimes little things like being willing to use email would be very helpful! Sometimes "we've always done it this way" is fine, if there's a good reason it's done that way. But sometimes change can be an improvement and can help keep the organization strong.

I can understand this, 100%.

I'm a member of SRT (Sons of the Republic of Texas) and I'm pretty confident that the average age is about 70-75.

I'm under 40, and just trying to email/e-sign/scan/return the application and supporting documents back and forth among the appointed leadership was an absolute nightmare.

Never has it been so hard to give lifetime membership dues to an organization that NEEDS members!

 

[SJU]

Our local VFW closed this year. It was a double shame because they had good events for school kids.

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

Our local VFW closed this year. It was a double shame because they had good events for school kids.

Do you know why they closed?

 

[JackADriscoll]

If i may ask… How do you mean?

As in Vietnam being unpopular vs. the 'troop idolatry' of OIF/OEF?

This would require an answer that would be in violation of the board rules.

 

[DixieRifles]

A: I was a member and a Lt-Commander of my chapter and wrote the monthly newsletter for 3 or 4 years.
B: The SCV was not meeting my interest in historical research. Time was taken up with fund raisers and state or national meetings.
C: I am not a member because of the pledge of allegiance to a flag of another country. Today we see crowds filling the street carrying a foreign country's flag or terrorist symbol. (I am fine with celebrating one's cultural heritage as this makes up America.)

 

[SJU]

Do you know why they closed?

Think a lack of new members.

 

[major bill]

There is a huge number of veteran organizations. There are recognized veteran groups of every stripe. Many have issues getting new members. AMVETS has 250,000 members. American Veterans For Equal Rights (Lesbian, Gays, Bisexuals, and Transgender veterans) have considerable less members. The
American Legion has 2 million members while the VFW has 1.4 million.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

I am not a member because of the pledge of allegiance to a flag of another country.

...the SCV not just figuratively but literally pledges allegiance to the CSA?!

 

[JonnyReb_In_MI]

I am not a member because of the pledge of allegiance to a flag of another country.

...the SCV not just figuratively but literally pledges allegiance to the CSA?!

Absolutely not! At the national level, as well as most subordinate levels, each gathering begins with opening ceremonies that include The Pledge of Allegiance to the US Flag.

The SCV renders a SALUTE to the Confederate Flag, and it does not include any language regarding ALLEGIANCE to the Confederate States of America.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

...the SCV not just figuratively but literally pledges allegiance to the CSA?!

It's not really a pledge of allegiance…

It's more of a pledge to remember and honor the CSA in the form of a salute. Not even a pledge really.
The words:

"I salute the Confederate flag with affection, reverence, and undying devotion, to the cause for which it stands."

And it's always said after saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the US flag, and at least here in Texas the pledge to the State flag.

And I would like to point out SCV member on being sworn in, is also expected to swear allegiance to the US Constitution and so forth.

 

[Scott1967]

Younger people wont be interested in joining simple as they live far to busy lives looking at their phones to see if people like them or not that's the reality.

I truly believe once our generation is gone all war will be consigned to the history books barley read about or discussed while the younger generations get on with planning their next night out to post of whatever social media platforms they aspire too.

Imho.

 

[donna]

We do use e-mail for our notices and other events, my UDC. But we do have members who don't use it. We contact them by regular mail or phone. It is good to do both. We want the information to get out and include all. Change comes hard for some but they can't be excluded as they been good members for years. We all have to understand people . It doesn't hurt to contact in variety of ways.

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

undying devotion, to the cause for which it stands

So what's that part about? I'm not sure Lee would even approve of bringing that back up, because what is the point? To me, and it's only my opinion, it just seems to keep rubbing salt in a wound or picking a scab off or hoping a cause will start back up…..

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

"I salute the Confederate flag with affection, reverence, and undying devotion, to the cause for which it stands."

And it's always said after saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the US flag, and at least here in Texas the pledge to the State flag.

That pledge is incredibly problematic.

Pledging allegiance to a state also makes no sense to me. How could I betray Florida to Iowa? As in what possible action could I take that would constitute treason against my state?

Why should I pledge allegiance to my state but not also my county? My city? My HOA?

 

[archieclement]

When things are changing and someone doesn't want to you are basically calling them irrelevant or that is how they see it. One of the most important things we can do is stay relevant. I am not sure how the Confederate organizations can right the ship due to its optics problem.

The VFW has a great mission and I'm a life member but I've never set foot in one. They can be great therapy for folks that need it to be around like minded individuals but my life didn't stop 'over there ' and I have no desire to sit at a bar drinking well vodka listening to embellished stories.

I'm going to agree with Rusk pretty hard here.

Agree I don't see how right it's ship due to an optics problem, when from my experience it's an imaginary problem.

Certainly PR attacks are real from other groups, but how do you respond to baseless attacks.......there's nothing to address.

 

[John Winn]

It's not really a pledge of allegiance…

It's more of a pledge to remember and honor the CSA in the form of a salute. Not even a pledge really.
The words:

"I salute the Confederate flag with affection, reverence, and undying devotion, to the cause for which it stands."

And it's always said after saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the US flag, and at least here in Texas the pledge to the State flag.

And I would like to point out SCV member on being sworn in, is also expected to swear allegiance to the US Constitution and so forth.

That's exactly the sort of thing I was talking about in my earlier post (which a few implied wasn't a thing, at least in their chapter). I would never join a group that reveres secession and the Confederacy (even if they do now also pledge allegiance to the US flag). I can see honoring one's ancestors but not the Confederacy.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

So what's that part about? I'm not sure Lee would even approve of bringing that back up, because what is the point? To me, and it's only my opinion, it just seems to keep rubbing salt in a wound or picking a scab off or hoping a cause will start back up…..

I honestly don't know the backstory, what little I do know I'd guess it's a supposed a holdover from the UCV, which the SCV is supposed to be a successor to.

I supposed because the SCV claims to have been in existence since 1896, but if one looks into it, the original SCV kinda died with the UCV around WW2, (same with SUV) and got resurrected during the Centennial.

Which I take issue with many stubborn numbskulls in the SCV over beliefs like it's been around unchanged since 1896, and that the logo comes from the UCV or dates to 1896, when that alone dates to I think the early 1970's?

SCV history can be incredibly messed up to track….

 

[G Low]

If i may ask… How do you mean?

As in Vietnam being unpopular vs. the 'troop idolatry' of OIF/OEF?

I honestly don't know the backstory, what little I do know I'd guess it's a supposed a holdover from the UCV, which the SCV is supposed to be a successor to.

I supposed because the SCV claims to have been in existence since 1896, but if one looks into it, the original SCV kinda died with the UCV around WW2, (same with SUV) and got resurrected during the Centennial.

Which I take issue with many stubborn numbskulls in the SCV over beliefs like it's been around unchanged since 1896, and that the logo comes from the UCV or dates to 1896, when that alone dates to I think the early 1970's?

SCV history can be incredibly messed up to track….

I have lots of ancestors plus my cousins the Forrest brothers (as in NBF) but who can afford more expenses in this economy?

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

That pledge is incredibly problematic.

Pledging allegiance to a state also makes no sense to me. How could I betray Florida to Iowa? As in what possible action could I take that would constitute treason against my state?

Why should I pledge allegiance to my state but not also my county? My city? My HOA?

Are you attacking the SCV's little, really harmless, salute to the Confederacy? Because everyone on this site is well aware of your really alarming hatred of the Confederacy and always refighting the war. Or pledges of allegiance to States?

Cause I'll take issue on the States one. I don't know about where you live, but here in Texas the Pledge of Allegiance to the State of Texas is ALWAYS recited alongside the US one. Even in schools.

I'd say it's healthy and in line with the founder's vision of this nation on separation of powers. And speaking on a personal level, I care a heck of a lot more about the State I live in and is "closer to home" on effecting my life than the distant "cares more about the rest of the world and money than Americans" USA.

And as for City's and County's, last time I checked if your an elected official to either you gotta pledge to uphold their laws when elected…