"REAL" COMBAT VETS OUT TO REFORM VFW POST 2035

(Ed.'s Note: Since the posts on the troubles facing the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2035, we have received a number of comments. The majority agree that things cannot continue to go on as they have. Others question the loyalty of the reform-minded veterans to commander Luis Lucio and the veterans organization as a whole. In response, we have received this missive from one of the group of veterans seeking changes at the post. We post their letter as a way to provide a forum for debate.)

Special to El Rrun-rrun
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing," Edmund Burke, Irish orator and philosopher politician, 1729
Those words, spoken nearly 300 years ago, seem appropriate when considering the plight of VFW Post 2035 i n Brownsville.
Since the posting of possible stolen valor on the part of Post Commander Luis Lucio, there has been a flood of information regarding the post and present practices of a small clique who many members say have "hijacked" their post.
Some who have left in disgust may never return while others say that if it ever becomes a VFW again they may return. Some pointed out if the post members demand that reforms be put in place and the problems be, it might be necessary to remove power-hungry officers who are directly responsible for the post's rapid decline. Perhaps, then, those who left may come back.The information regarding the recruitment of ineligible members is clear and irrefutable. Some upon joining received life memberships. It should be pointed out that each time those applications were processed and approved it was in direct violation of national VFW bylaws.
These actions endanger the post's charter.
Any officers who participate in the deceit are in clear violation of the oath they took upon assuming their positions and will be held accountable. One of of the ways used to make the deception more palatable was to tell the ineligible applicant : "Well, you can join, but you can't vote." On veteran who suspected this was not "on the up and up" contacted the National VFW HQ and was emphatically told that no such provisions are permitted.
Eligibility is determined by your being in the airspace, waters and ground of the areas specified by the VFW and the U.S. Dept. of Defense.
Qualifications of membership is like the old adage about being pregnant – either you is or you ain't."
More than a few people have come forward and told how they were offered membership. When they told the officer that they weren't qualified, they were told: "Oh, that's OK. We can fix that."
These veterans deserve credit for refusing to drink the Kool-Aid.
The citizens of Brownsville and the veteran community should know that this toxic condition was brought on by a few bad apples. For whatever reason, they have forgotten why the VFW exists and what it stands for. There are still honorable people who belong to Post 2035. Their voices have been stilled in recent years but no one should count them out. Many have faced worse conditions both on and off the battlefield. They should remember that insisting that a post adheres to the national bylaws is not being disloyal. In fact, it's quite the opposite.
Take heart that there is help on the way from many sources. This place needs to be cleaned up, if not for their sake, then for our younger generations of veterans and especially those who did not come home.
The same old problems we had before the protest for reform begin remain.
There is the continuing consumption of liquor in the post despite a sign on the door entering the club prohibiting the customers from bring it in the premises. Members say that the customers are instructed to conceal their bottles better. It's a lot like "you can join but you can't vote – you can bring in your liquor but be discreet about it. (Is there a pattern and practice developing here?)
This is not nodding and winking to the violators. It is a reckless exposure to a potential lawsuit should anything happen. Should this happen, given the precarious financial situation then post is in, it would be more than likely be the end of the post. This is not fair to its members.
Also, any potential litigant, upon learning the post has not purchased the proper coverage, would likely file claims against not only the post, but the State Dept. and VFW HQ as well.
And let's not forget that Post 2035 has a lease with the City of Brownsville where it promises to follow all the applicable city, state, federal and organizational laws and requirements. Could the city be held liable as well?
In the case of the stolen valor charges against commander Lucio, we understand that he is no longer wearing the Purple Heart he wore before it was revealed that no such decoration was noted on his DD-214 discharge papers. In fact, there were another three or four citations he never received. But inside the post, a picture exhibited there still has his portrait wearing the unearned decorations.
 The Military Order of the Purple Heart indicates that it will aggressively pursue this and share the findings with the VFW National HQ. We are also calling on the national VFW for a complete membership audit of all VFW Post 2035 members and an independent audit of the post's finances.
As stated in the opening, it's time for good men (and women) to do something.