Broadus VFW Elects New Commander

By Devin Boman (pictured above)

Broadus VFW post 1595 has elected a new Commander, Devin Boman. Previous Commander Russ Kinzer has stepped down from the position after many years of dedication, and is now serving as Sr. Vice Commander. Devin Boman, US Army, Military Intelligence, Korea 2011 and Afghanistan 2013, has worked for John Mangen for more than 4 years. His wife Rebecca Boman is the Jr. High and High School Social Studies Teacher in Broadus. They have two daughters and are expecting a boy some time in December.

Broadus VFW has been a pillar in this community for many years. We want to see it continue for many more years to come. We have an uphill battle, however. Member participation has been down for several years now. Community involvement in the VFW has been hit and miss. More times than not we have broken even or taken a loss on our dances, suppers or other income generating activities. The hall itself needs constant repair, but we lack the funds to keep up with the most basic necessities. Often, members are paying for bills or supplies out of their own pockets to make it through the next month. COVID-19 has not helped with our dilemma. We recognize that many people in our community do not wish to come out to functions for safety reasons. Unfortunately, this limits what we can do to make more money for the Hall.

Through all the laughter and tears the VFW in Broadus has seen generations of wedding receptions, banquets, benefit auctions, seminars, baby showers, school functions, family reunions, dances, funerals and much more. As service men and women, we have dedicated our lives to causes bigger than ourselves and we are not afraid of a challenge or hard times. Most of our active members have full time jobs and young families but are still making sacrifices in order to keep Broadus Post 1595 alive. We will see this fight through to the end.

We ask that you stand with us. We have seen this community rally for many noble causes, and we know that we can weather the hard times, but we desperately need the help of the generous people in this community. During the fair we will have a booth set up with information on how folks can help. You can also reach out to one of our outstanding members or get in touch with us at the VFW Facebook page, Broadusvfw1595@gmail. com or call my home phone at 436-2273. Thank you all for being a part of our team.

Lastly, I would like to thank two outstanding members and their families who, through grit and dedication to this community, have kept our hall standing for the last many years despite overwhelming odds. Russ Kinzer and Marty Drane. You have embodied the Warrior Ethos. We are very grateful to have had your leadership and we will cherish your guidance for years to come. Thank you.