At a time when fraternal organizations across the nation are struggling to retain membership, the local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7392 has added a new Men’s Auxiliary.

The group held its first meeting Jan. 28, where officers were elected. Tom Catoire is the Men’s Auxiliary president. He said they have been trying for a while to get the group going.

“Two years ago I started recruiting and we always fell just a hair short of what we needed to start a chapter,” he said.

To be eligible for membership, men must have a spouse or blood relative who has served in a foreign war. Catoire, who is a veteran but didn’t meet the “foreign war” qualification, joined based on his father’s service. He said he’s looking forward to being able to help the community.

“We get to do stuff to help the community. Even our own mayor is a member,” Catoire said, referring to newly-elected Oak Harbor Mayor Scott Dudley. “If we don’t help each other, who will? Especially nowadays, with people not having much.”

While the Men’s Auxiliary is still too new to have any concrete plans in place, Catoire said he’d like to see the group raise enough money to sponsor another scholarship. He said the members will also likely do fundraisers in order to help veterans in the community.

The group will meet at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the VFW post on Goldie Road. Officers will be formally installed Feb. 25. Those interested in joining the Men’s Auxiliary can contact the post at 675-4048.

“If they want to do something for their community, this is the best place to do it,” Catoire said. “All we can do is better the community.”

Members of the VFW, the VFW Riders and the Ladies Auxiliary have already set a fine example for the Men’s Auxiliary to follow — we wish them much success.

-Kathy Reed, editor