By Carol Britton Meyer

The Hull and Hingham Veterans of Foreign Wars posts recently consolidated under the name Hingham/Hull VFW Post 6053, since the meetings will be held at the Grand Army of the Republic Hall in Hingham, due to declining membership amid hopes that joining will infuse new energy into the group and attract new members.

“An interesting fact is that when the Hull VFW was established in the 1940s, it was a combined Hull/Hingham post named James W. Richardson Post 1787,” said current Hull VFW Commander Kevin Beck. “It wasn’t until the early 1980s that Hingham split off on its own and formed Post 6053.” The current Hingham Commander is David Tuttle.

Last October, both posts decided to consider reconsolidating, with each voting separately in a general meeting. The Hull VFW voted in favor of joining with the Hingham VFW on Nov. 17, and the Hingham VFW supported the consolidation on Jan. 14.

Beck attributed Hull’s declining VFW membership numbers to retirements and veterans moving out of the area or no longer being involved with the Hull post for one reason or another.

The next step is to notify the District 12 VFW, the headquarters for a number of South Shore VFWs, followed by gathering jointly on the second Saturday of the month. The next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 11 at 9:30 a.m.

“At that time, we’ll form a joint committee to establish the way forward under the consolidation, with the election of new post officers – commander, senior vice commander, junior vice commander, adjutant, and quartermaster, around March or April,” Beck said.

Hull veteran Jim Richman recently worked with the district American Legion to reactivate the Oscar Smith Mitchell American Legion Post #140 that was once headquartered in what is now the senior center when it was known as the Veterans Building.

The American Legion is open to all veterans, whereas the VFW is only open to veterans of foreign wars. In some cases, qualifying veterans could choose to be members of both.

Beck is hoping that the combined Hull-Hingham membership, each with six or seven active members, will spur more overall active participation in achieving the VFW’s goal of giving back to the community. For instance, the Hull post has regularly sold “poppies” every year around Memorial Day to raise money for the Hull High School Voice of Democracy and the Middle School Patriot’s Pen scholarship programs.

Belonging to a VFW provides benefits to its members, including auto and health insurance plans, and there also is a VFW home for disabled and elderly veterans, which looks out for their health and welfare.

“We need to have an active post to ensure those benefits for our veterans,” Beck explained. “VFW members have something in common with one another. It’s about being part of something bigger than yourself and provides a connection with other veterans.”

New members are welcome. Veterans interested in joining the Hingham/Hull VFW Post 6053 should contact Hull’s Director of Veterans Services, Paul Sordillo, at 781-925-0305.