Many of us think of Memorial Day, which is Monday, May 30, as the official beginning of the summer season and a day off from work. But it is actually a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. Those who never forget the real meaning of the holiday are member of the Jewish War Veterans Mo-Kan Post 605.

On Sunday, the group will conduct a service at Mount Carmel Cemetery in cooperation with Congregation Beth Shalom. At that time the names of approximately 46 Jewish vets who passed away this year will be read. Then on Monday, a Color Guard will participate in the Liberty Memorial Parade.

Former JWV Commander Mike Katzman will serve as the parade’s grand marshal for the third consecutive year. He will present the wreath to the Gold Star mother, a mother who has lost a son or daughter in the service of our country.

Katzman, who became the post commander in 2003, said the local post was established by Louis Pelofsky in 1948. The soon to be 91-year-old vet who believes he is now the oldest JWV member living in town, explained that the JWV is the oldest continuous organization for veterans in the United States. The organization is important to the community, in Marvin Denton’s opinion, “because it reminds everybody that Jews fought in the wars.”

“In 1896 the Jewish War Veterans were the first chartered veteran’s organizations in the United States. It was formed because in the Civil War Jews were accused of not fighting,” said Denton, who served in the Army infantry during the Korean War from 1951 to 1952.

In fact JWV is the oldest chartered U.S. veterans’ service organization and pre-dates the Veterans of Foreign Wars by 18 years and the American Legion by 23 years.

Post Commander Larry Gordon said JWV has proudly represented the patriotism of Jewish military personnel in all military conflicts since its inception, including the current conflicts, where 40 Jewish men and two women have lost their lives serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The organization represents the interests of Jewish veterans and active duty members to members of Congress and the president.
Gordon said the local post currently has about 64 members. About three years ago, at what Katzman believes is the height of the post’s membership in recent years, it had 78 members.

“Every year we lose some because some pass away and others don’t want to pay dues anymore,” said Katzman, who was stationed in Texas in World War II at an Army Air Corp gunnery school.

Gordon said he’s not sure exactly what the average age is of JWV members. He believes they are all “at least 50 and most are in their late 70s or older.” Most of the members are veterans of World War II and the Korean conflict. So far there are only two members from the most recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Gordon is active in JWV because he wanted to keep up with Jewish military affairs.

“I also enjoy the camaraderie of fellow Jewish vets; and enjoy, at the age of 66, being called a ‘youngster’ by other members,” Gordon said.

Denton enjoys all the JWV activities and said he and the others are proud of the organization and what it stands for.

“When I came back from Korea, the fellows I was with got down on their hands and knees and kissed the ground we walked on. People really don’t understand that this is the greatest country in the world,” Denton said.
Gordon said the post is currently facing the same challenges as other JWV posts and other military veteran organizations.

“That is declining membership and interest. The number of Jewish military personnel has declined since the end of the military draft in 1973,” Gordon said. “We plan to continue to be a presence in the Kansas City Jewish community and will work to maintain or increase membership.”

But that may be difficult. Katzman said they have trouble finding vets of the recent conflicts to invite them to join the group because of privacy policies. Denton added that it is also hard to get vets from the Vietnam era to join.

“They are not interested in joining. I have several friends who are Vietnam vets and good buddies and they won’t join,” said Denton, who doesn’t care to speculate why these vets are not interested in the organization.
The post stays active, Katzman said, planning many events during the year. For instance the post provides American flag presentations at funerals of deceased post members, color guards for various events including the annual Yom HaShoah Holocaust Memorial Service.

One of its biggest undertakings during the year is the Holiday Gifts for Vets (GFV) program. The post delivers more than 400 gift bags of personal items to veterans at the VA Medical Center and Domiciliary at Fort Leavenworth and the VA Medical Center in Kansas City. It’s such a big project that it will soon begin its fundraising efforts for the 2011 project.

The local post also recently made it a top priority to support Jewish servicemen and their families. Thus, any local Jewish person who has recently completed or is now on active military duty is asked to contact Commander Gordon in order to be added to Mo-Kan Post 605’s mailing list.

JWV elects officers

Jewish War Veterans Mo-Kan Post 605 re-elected its current slate of officers for the 2011-2012 year. The following officers will serve for the coming year beginning in July:

Commander: Larry Gordon
Sr. vice commander: Marvin Korn
Jr. vice commander: Sheldon Turetsky
Judge advocate: Lloyd Hellman
Adjutant: Steven Schorr
Quartermaster: Herbert Gruenebaum
Chaplain: Norman Kaplan
Service officer: Robert Friedman
Americanism officer: Larry Jabenis
Membership: Marvin Denton

All Jewish veterans of the U.S. military are invited to join the Post. Non-veterans may also join as patrons. Contact Marvin Denton at (913) 649-7710 or Larry Gordon at (913) 492-3431 for further information.