Bedford's VFW Post 1628 Closes its Doors

Compiled by The Bedford Citizen

The VFW building on Loomis Street has closed and will be sold in early 2019; the club’s charter, however, will remain in effect – Courtesy image (c) all rights reserved

Rumors about the Bedford VFW’s Post 1628 closing surfaced on Facebook in mid-November, then there was no request to renew the organization’s liquor license at the December 3 Selectmen’s meeting.

In a conversation with The Bedford Citizen, Commander David Spence reported that he has been working with the Massachusetts office of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Boston to assure an orderly process as the Bedford club closes. The VFW building on Loomis Street will be sold, and the club’s assets liquidated in early 2019.

The post’s 1969 charter will remain in effect, and a core group of members will move forward into the future.

Observers note that Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) across the country are feeling the pinch of declining membership and the rising cost of doing business.

American Legion Post 221 Commander OC O’Connor noted in his speech to the town on Veterans Day, that in 2016 only 7% of the population had military experience; in 1980, 18% had experience in the armed services. Commander O’Connor went on to say that VFW members will always be welcome at the American Legion, with a place to meet and continue their mission in Bedford, “The VFW and the American Legion have always worked together within our community, nothing changes there – we are here for the Veterans – the Veterans stood up for all of us!”