06/08/2026
After five years serving as Commander of VFW Post 6393 in Yardley, I’m stepping down and passing the torch to the next leadership team.
When I took over, I believed our Post could become something more than an underused place to gather— it could become a place where veterans and families genuinely wanted to spend time, seek help, build friendships, and reconnect with purpose.
Over the past five years, together we transformed our Post.
We updated and remodeled the entire interior, creating a more welcoming and inviting space. We decluttered decades of accumulated "stuff," redesigned with purpose, expanded technology, added digital signage, built a gaming center, created an outdoor fire pit, and relocated the GWOT Memorial to become its centerpiece. We replaced the original 1970s bar with a custom-built design featuring more than 350 military unit patches from WWI through today beneath a deep-pour acrylic top. We painted a large-scale American flag mural across the rear of the building celebrating our All-American status and converted an aging kitchen into a modern multi-purpose room that now better serves veterans and our community.
But the biggest change wasn't the building.
We intentionally shifted our focus from simply operating a bar to strengthening programs that directly serve veterans and families.
Together we expanded our car show into a community event drawing more than 1,000 attendees. We hosted movie nights during COVID for families who needed community connection. We created Wrangler Fest, now entering its fifth year. We added free weekly yoga for veterans and families, launched a 5K team, created member movie nights, expanded youth and scouting partnerships, and significantly grew participation in our VFW essay programs.
A couple programs especially stand out: The Improved VSO program has helped over 500 veterans navigate the VA programs and the Honor Home Program, helping veterans and surviving spouses maintain their homes at no cost when age or physical ability make it difficult. To date, that effort has delivered nearly $40,000 in materials and labor assistance.
The results speak for themselves.
Participation has doubled. The membership increased into a more inclusive camaraderie reflecting the last 75 years of military service.
Post 6393 has earned All-American recognition for three consecutive years and is expected to earn it again this year. We were also recognized as Pennsylvania's National Community Service Post and earned Eastern Conference National Community Service honors.
Over these years I've been called — by both people who love me and people who don't — an "Idea Guy."
The truth is ideas are easy.
Ideas without trusted counsel, sounding boards, smart minds, and strong backs are just conversations. Every accomplishment listed here belongs to a team of dedicated members who took ideas and turned them into something real.
To every member who painted walls, carried lumber, cooked food, worked events, built programs, made calls, challenged ideas, and gave their time — thank you.
This wasn't my story.
This was ours.
I'm proud of what we've built together, and I'm even more excited to see where Post 6393 goes next.
Forward together.
