Politics & Government

VFW Post Commander Reflects on the Fourth of July

Patch profiles the first female commander of the VFW Bruce Post #1146 on Independence Day.

Tara Perez is serving her second term as commander of , one of the largest posts in the nation.

She took a few moments to share with Patch her background and thoughts on this Independence Day.

What is your age and military background?

Find out what's happening in St. Clair Shoreswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

I am 42 years old and served in the Army National Guard as a combat medical specialist from 1988-1996.

How long have you been part of the VFW?

Find out what's happening in St. Clair Shoreswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

I joined the VFW in 2005 and became active on the executive board and the ritual team. I walked the chairs and became commander (for the) 2010-11 term and re-elected for a second term 2011-12.

What does it mean to be part of the VFW?

Being a part of the VFW is kind of an extension of being in the military and sharing the same kind of comaraderie with fellow veterans that we once had. The programs we are involved in really help our veterans and their families and the community. Our focus is trying to have the modern warfare vets join our organization and educate them on what services are available and also bringing family back to the forefront.

How are the needs of today's veterans different than in past years? 

Today's veterans' needs are great and with post-traumatic stress disorder and other service-connected illnesses and injuries, including the homeless vets, we have a lot of work to do! Our Bruce Post is very active and will continue to follow our motto: "honor the dead while serving the living."

What does the Fourth of July meant to you?

Independence Day is a day to be thankful for our freedom and to remember and thank our armed forces for keeping us a free nation!


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here