The summer solstice this year was highlighted by the 87th annual Navy Club USA Convention, which sailed into town on June 20 and anchored at Lockport’s Navy Marine Club (Ship 110) on Park Avenue.
Established in 1938 and formally recognized through Congressional Charter in 1940, Navy Club USA Veteran and Auxiliaries members provide outreach to local schools, VA Hospitals, and other veteran’s organizations. For the newest Navy sailors graduating from Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois, Navy Club USA sponsors the Military Excellence Award, which honors the recruit who best exemplifies the qualities of enthusiasm, devotion to duty, military appearance and behavior, self-discipline, and teamwork. The award includes an Admiral’s Letter of Commendation, which gives the recognized sailor advanced credit toward achieving their first promotion.
The convention was kicked off by the Ship 110 Auxiliaries, the non-veteran supporters of the Lockport Navy Marine Club dedicated to improving the lives of veterans, service members, their families, and our communities. During the opening ceremony, the Ship 110 Auxiliaries donated more than $1,200 to three local organizations: Girl Scouts of the USA; Western New York Heroes, whose support of local veterans and their families includes financial assistance and donation of service dogs; and Save the Michaels of the World, an action group dedicated to combating opioid addiction in Niagara and Erie counties.
The most significant outcome of the convention was the unanimous vote by Navy Club USA Board of Directors to accept members from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Additionally, the change to membership requirements will open most Navy Club USA Officer positions to active club members regardless of their service affiliation.
The decision comes in response to the ongoing decline of U.S. veteran’s organizations and memberships as veterans from the days of the Selective Service Draft and Vietnam pass on. Lockport’s Ship 110 Commander and Navy veteran Peter Rubens noted, “Most members now are grayer than the ships they served on.”
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about one-third of all U.S. veterans died in the past 20 years. Of the remaining 16 million veterans today, about half are over the age of 65.
In some ways, this reduction of veterans reflects the technological superiority of the U.S. military. Technology advancements mean fewer people are needed to support obsolete military doctrines that called for “D-Day” levels of personnel to accomplish a mission. In turn, the reduced number of service members leads to less visibility and less representation for veterans. For example, in 1973, about 80% of the members of Congress had served in the armed forces. Today, only about 18% of the members have previous military experience.
Bob Currier, commander of Brockport’s Navy Club Ship 1812, and Navy Club USA Commandant from 2023 to 2025, believes expanding membership eligibility will give former military members more options for veteran fellowship and community participation. “We [Navy Club Brockport] have constant inquiries from local veterans from other services who may not meet the requirements of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) or simply want to participate in a service organization closer to their residence. Today’s military often operates as a Joint Force with all services contributing to the mission. We don’t see why that should be any different with veteran’s organizations.”
In addition to the resolution to accept members from all branches of the U.S. military, the convention also saw the election and installment of new officers to the Board of Directors and Auxiliaries for the Navy Club USA’s next “deployment cycle,” 2025 to 2027.
On June 21, as Navy Club USA was weighing anchor from this year’s convention, the story broke of U.S. B-2 Bombers striking Iranian uranium enrichment facilities. It was a sober reminder to those who have served just how much we rely upon and trust in those still serving to sustain our protection and freedom.