Mid-Year Reflection: A Call to Action for VFW Leaders

Embracing Our Commitment

As we reach the halfway point of the VFW fiscal year, I want to speak directly to you as a fellow leader. This moment matters. Not because of a date on the calendar, but because it marks a decision point. Halfway through the year, it’s normal to feel the weight of what’s already been done. Meetings stack up. Events take time. Responsibilities don’t pause. Fatigue shows up. That’s real.

What matters now is how we respond.

The Journey Ahead

Think about walking through a wide wheat field. At the halfway point, you are just as far from where you started as you are from the finish. Turning back is no easier than moving forward. The difference is commitment.

Across our Posts, Districts, and Departments, a lot has already been accomplished. Leaders have stepped up. Programs have moved forward. Veterans have been served. Communities have been supported. That work matters, and it deserves recognition.

But the year is not finished. This midpoint is not a resting place. It’s a checkpoint. It’s where leadership starts to show in quieter ways. It’s where consistency matters more than enthusiasm. It’s where follow-through becomes the difference.

The Reality of Leadership

Early in the year, energy carries us. Plans feel fresh. Goals feel achievable. By now, reality has set in. That doesn’t mean the goals were wrong. It means the work is real.

The second half of the year asks us to shift our focus. Not away from what we’ve done, but toward what still needs to be finished. Not everything will go exactly as planned. That’s part of leadership. What matters is staying engaged and staying accountable.

Reflecting on Our Goals

Now is the right time to take an honest look at your goals.

• What still needs attention?

• What needs to be adjusted?

• What needs to be finished well?

  
  

Strong leadership in the second half does not mean doing more. It means doing what matters. It means staying connected to your members. It means supporting the officers beside you. It means keeping standards steady even when energy runs low.

The Essence of Steady Leadership

Leadership is not loud at this point in the year. It’s steady. It’s present. It’s dependable. Every leader sets a tone. When you stay focused, others follow. When you recommit, it gives permission for others to do the same. When you finish strong, it strengthens the organization beyond your own Post or District.

VFW leaders and members standing together before Congress, demonstrating commitment to veterans and the work that continues ahead.

Opportunities Await

The months ahead will bring more meetings, more decisions, and more chances to lead. They will also bring opportunities to make progress where it counts: membership engagement, veteran support, community presence, and leadership development.

Those things do not happen by accident. They happen because leaders choose to stay the course. We have come too far to ease up now. The work ahead still matters. The finish matters.

A Call to Action

Let’s move forward with purpose and resolve. As we reflect on our journey, let’s remember the values that bind us together. The sacrifices made by our veterans deserve our unwavering commitment.

Be Bold. Be Courageous. Be VFW.

Yours in Comradeship,

Paul M. Herrera