Wyoming VFW Numbers On The Rise

The Wyoming Chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars no longer has to worry about merging with another state.

For a time, VFW member numbers were below the required minimum of five-thousand, which didn’t sit too well with the National Office.

Rumors were going around that Wyoming’s chapter would soon merge with Montana.

James Rish of Cheyenne is the new state VFW Commander.

He says thanks to the Wyoming Legislature, that problem has been dealt with. 

“The problem was, is that we had our VFW service officer was funded by the VFW and all the rest of the service officers in the state of Wyoming was funded by the state. So we finally got the state to fund our VFW service officer down in Cheyenne and that kind of made us solvent.”

Ansje Lansing of Cody is the new VFW Auxiliary President.

She says that legislative help aside, Wyoming’s VFW numbers are starting to increase.

“Our Vietnam vets are getting older so they’re just kind of set in their ways, but now that we have new young blood coming in, it’s making it fabulous. It’s got some great ideas to move forward.”

Mr. Rish and Ms. Lansing both say the plan now is to raise more public awareness in various communities.