MONROE - Francis Beers wants to start a veterans group in Monroe.
Beers began an AMVETS chapter in New Glarus in 2004 and said he was surprised to learn there wasn't a similar organization in Monroe. After all, Monroe has the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. It only makes sense to him that Monroe have its own chapter of AMVETS, he said.
The organization began August 1943, in the middle of World War II, and was known as American Veterans of World War II. Veterans at George Washington University and veterans employed by the federal government organized the group.
Anyone who served in the military can be a member, Beers said.
"They could have served in the Guard, the reserves, overseas, in the states," he said.
According to the organization, the group's aims are to promote world peace, preserve the American way of life and help veterans.
Over the years, AMVETS has grown to include veterans from World War II to the present.
The organization has been involved in volunteer service programs to assist hospitalized veterans, Special Olympics, scouting programs, blood drives, and drug and alcohol abuse education.
There are about 30 people in the New Glarus AMVETS chapter, Beers said. They've helped with local blood drives and with the Salvation Army.
A meeting in hopes of organizing a chapter recently was held in Monroe, but Beers hopes to get more people to the second meeting, scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, May 9, at the Monroe Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2312, 1428 17th St.
More information about the national organization is available at www.amvets.org.
Beers began an AMVETS chapter in New Glarus in 2004 and said he was surprised to learn there wasn't a similar organization in Monroe. After all, Monroe has the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. It only makes sense to him that Monroe have its own chapter of AMVETS, he said.
The organization began August 1943, in the middle of World War II, and was known as American Veterans of World War II. Veterans at George Washington University and veterans employed by the federal government organized the group.
Anyone who served in the military can be a member, Beers said.
"They could have served in the Guard, the reserves, overseas, in the states," he said.
According to the organization, the group's aims are to promote world peace, preserve the American way of life and help veterans.
Over the years, AMVETS has grown to include veterans from World War II to the present.
The organization has been involved in volunteer service programs to assist hospitalized veterans, Special Olympics, scouting programs, blood drives, and drug and alcohol abuse education.
There are about 30 people in the New Glarus AMVETS chapter, Beers said. They've helped with local blood drives and with the Salvation Army.
A meeting in hopes of organizing a chapter recently was held in Monroe, but Beers hopes to get more people to the second meeting, scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, May 9, at the Monroe Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2312, 1428 17th St.
More information about the national organization is available at www.amvets.org.