Helping veterans

Americans love to say they support veterans — at least with words of encouragement or posts on social media. Who hasn’t heard, “Thank you for your service,” at one time or another? Words aren’t all that’s needed, though. This weekend, in Santa Fe, there’s an opportunity to turn words into action and assist local veterans with the upkeep of one of the places they go to relax and recharge. Counseling is available, too, and veterans — especially men and women just back from combat — have an opportunity to talk honestly about their experiences. That place is a little building on Montezuma Avenue, home to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2951. It’s in bad shape.

The building needs a new roof, ceiling repairs and a stucco job, at a combined cost of more than $40,000. On Saturday, starting at noon, members of the VFW post will hold a fundraising reception and open house. It’s a chance to raise money and invite the community in to see the good that happens there. (If you can’t make it in person, Post Commander Gilbert Romero says people can call 505-699-6472 to discuss contributing.)

Veterans who drop by the post have the opportunity to talk to one another and share stories that civilians might not understand. Most friends and family have not been in combat, but fellow veterans, at least, have an understanding of what conditions under fire are like. While younger veterans have not seemed to gravitate toward veterans groups in the same way their fathers and grandfathers did after World War II and the Korean War, local VFW officials want the retreat to be there when veterans do choose to come.

That can only happen if the roof doesn’t leak and the walls are sturdy.