BROCKTON — Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1046 celebrates its 100th anniversary on Saturday. It’s a milestone many VFWs never reach amid long-term declines in membership.
So why does Brockton’s VFW buck the trend? Is it the $3 domestic beers? The cornhole league? Renting out the hall for wrestling matches and weddings? John Kuplast, a member for 32 years, has an explanation that goes beyond popular events like the post’s monthly meat raffle. “It all comes down to the membership,” said the Marine veteran of Operation Desert Storm. “I just feel that it’s a great post.”
One of the post’s newest members, Paul Marshall, researched and visited veterans groups in the area when he moved to the Brockton area from Virginia. One place the Navy veteran of the Iraq War visited had only four members. Others had lost their buildings, with remaining members meeting in elementary schools. Post 1046 wasn’t like that. “There was involvement here,” said the command master chief. “It’s about the camaraderie. Everyone knows my name. It’s just so welcoming.”
The most recent census report, the American Community Survey of 2022, says Brockton is home to 3,546 veterans. That’s about 4.3% of the city’s population, and in line with the state average.
A place where camaraderie counts
On paper, Post 1046 has 180 members. But as in any social organization, a dedicated core of members wind up doing most of the work. One of them is Post Commander Robert Graham, who served in Vietnam in 1969 and 1970. The Army veteran has been a member since 2014. Why did he wait so long to join the VFW? It goes back to the reception Graham got as he returned to the states after his deployment. He recalled walking through the airport in Seattle with his uniform on being called names and even spit at. “I went into the restroom, changed into my civilian clothes, took all of my identification, name tags and stuff off my uniform, and threw the whole duffel bag in the trash,” Graham said. “When I got out, I didn’t want anything to do with anything military.”
That changed decades later when a friend of his son invited him to Post 1046. He found fellow Vietnam vets and started dropping by more often. He was hooked.
Of course, camaraderie doesn’t pay the bills. Post 1046 stays booked with a wide variety of events, from the packed house when there’s a wrestling card to smaller events. They’ll even host a baby shower, though Graham said no one had taken them up on that yet. “We’ll take a call from anyone who wants to rent the hall,” he said. “That’s how we stay afloat.”
The post also provides space for free for charities like the ARC of Greater Brockton, which held a Halloween dance there in October.
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‘They treated me as an equal’
The post is fortunate to own its own building and land, pointed out Dan Lonergan, who served in the Air Force for 33 years and 2 years in the Army. He fought in both Iraq and Kuwait. The post sits on nearly 20 acres of land tucked away near the Abington line.
The post is spacious and well-maintained. Among the challenges the post’s leadership has overcome over the years was Massachusetts’ new fire sprinkler law. The rule change required older event venues to install sprinkler systems by Nov. 15, 2007. The post took out a $70,000 loan to pay for the upgrades, Lonergan said, enabling it to stay open.
VFW membership is open only to people who have earned a campaign medal serving in one of the armed forces. Kuplast said that in his case, his conflict lasted only 72 hours. That didn’t matter to then-Post Commander Jim Malone. “They treated me as an equal when I first joined,” Kuplast said, recounting how he burst into tears when Malone handed him a lifetime membership card in recognition of his service to the post. “It meant a lot to me,” Kuplast said.
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Celebrate 100 years of the Brockton VFW
Brockton’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1046 will mark its 100th anniversary on Saturday, Feb. 17, from 4-8 p.m. at 283 N. Quincy St. Food will be catered by Italian Kitchen, and there will be raffles, a DJ and entertainment.
Send your news tips to reporter Chris Helms by email at CHelms@enterprisenews.com or connect on X at @HelmsNews.
