By Chris Hagan
Review Staff Writer
‘I hope people don’t forget us.?
That has been Jim Hubbard’s message since he took over the North Oakland VFW Post 334 four years ago. He has no agenda or motives of grandeur, he just wants his post to do the best they can in making sure the community always remembers the sacrifices paid by veterans.
That overall goal and the success of Post 334 has not only lead Hubbard to being named Michigan’s Veteran of the Year for 2015, but also appointed the position of National Deputy Chief of Staff for the state.
Hubbard, who served in the Army infantry during the Vietnam War, was appointed the honorary position for his efforts in the sale of poppies and his continued work as chairman for the National Home for Children.
Both endeavors are synonymous with the VFW but Hubbard reassures that him being named Deputy Chief of Staff is only because his post and the 172 members that make it up have gone above and beyond.
‘It’s quite an honor and there’s only one guy in the state who gets it so it’s a pretty nice thing to do,? Hubbard said. ‘I think though it has to do with how the post has done so well and we’re representing our community properly.?
According to Hubbard there are nearly 15,000 VFW members spread out across 297 posts throughout Michigan and he’s in charge of making sure that funds are being allocated properly and events are being handled efficiently. The North Oakland VFW Post 334, of which he is commander, has sold and distributed more poppies that any other post in the nation. He pays a disabled veteran to assemble the poppies and that veteran is able to use that money to buy everyday items that he may need.
Hubbard, who was born in Andersonville and the oldest of 12 children, said the story of the poppies and their connection to the VFW is one not many people in the current generation know.
He noted it began during World War I because of a battlefield near Flanders, France.
A Canadian doctor and major named John McCrae wrote the legendary poem, ‘In Flanders Fields,? after noticing that red poppies often grew adjacent to the graves of fallen soldiers, which included some of his friends.
‘From there the VFW took that as a symbol to distribute poppies for donations and it’s a way for them to support any veteran in need,? Hubbard said. ‘We don’t keep any of the money. All the money we collect is given to needy veterans and their families.?
Another aspect that Hubbard is active in is maintaining the memberships of his post but also attempting to recruit more members.
He says the number of Michigan VFW members could be twice as much but connecting that generational gap is a tough mission. He says nowadays when a soldier returns from Iraq and Afghanistan, they’re busy with work, children, families, and all the other things associated with life.
He says that after 50 years of age veterans begin to show more interest in the VFW given they have more free time at that age.
Hubbard wants to work on having those younger veterans join the VFW because they’ll be able to spread the message about the VFW but could also receive much needed support offered by the post.
‘We are quite the generation gap between the Vietnam War and the Irag/Afghanistan War,? he said. ‘I mean the weapons have changed and when we were fighting the average veteran was 20 years-old and now so many of them are in their 30’s but we’re all fighting the same fight and we want the same thing: Not to be forgotten.?
It’s been almost 50 years since Hubbard left Vietnam and he’s enjoyed a nice life living on Schorn Road ever since. He left the war in 1968 following an injury that resulted in him losing his right arm and receiving several wounds to his back.
He’ll return to his normal post commander duties along with some added administrative responsibilities given his new position but he’ll be ready if the VFW National Commander needs any assistance.
Hubbard ended on this note:
‘Every post commander seems to have something they look forward to but in my case I’m hoping that the public doesn’t forget us and the sacrifices we’ve made. It just seems if you open history books and when they talk about WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam they’re nothing more than a paragraph. Millions of lives have been lost securing our freedom in our country and I hope people don’t forget the sacrifices made on their behalf.?