<body><div><div style="position:relative;width:100%; height:0; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jcYtv67d07w?feature=oembed" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" style="width:100%; height:100%;top:0; left:0; position:absolute"></iframe></div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0Be98Q_1GzUb35y00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0Be98Q_1GzUb35y00" width="2000" height="1332" ></figure>Photos by Jeremy Hogan/The BloomingtonianStaff reportBLOOMINGTON, Ind. — November 11, 2026When American Legion Post 18 Commander Curtis Wampler asked Wednesday morning whether any World War II veterans were in the room, no hands went up. No veterans of that war attended the Veterans Day ceremony at Bloomington’s Burton Woolery American Legion Post 18. Wampler told the gathering he believed roughly 30,000 to 33,000 were still living across the United States but it’s unclear how many are still in Monroe County. In the past WWII veterans ran veterans organizations, but the Greatest Generation has been fading with time. One man raised his hand when Wampler asked about the Korean War. Several Vietnam veterans were in the crowd. Veterans from what became known as the “Forgotten War,” used to fill Legions, and Veterans of Foreign War posts across America, but many of them are not much younger than WWII veterans. The Korean war 1950 to 1953, at a time when the world was still recovering from WWII. When Wampler called for recognition of those who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan, one man acknowledged his service. Few younger veterans appeared to be in attendance. The American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars have faced challenges recruiting veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But, the decline in membership extends beyond veterans organizations. Between 1974 and 2004, the share of American adults who belonged to a fraternal organization fell by about half, according to a congressional Joint Economic Committee analysis of the General Social Survey. Over the same period, the share who belonged to church-related groups fell by a quarter, and participation in school service groups also declined. For Vietnam veterans, the health consequences of the war have also extended decades beyond their service. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes illnesses including ischemic heart disease, Parkinson’s disease and several cancers as presumptively linked to exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides used during the war. About 2.7 million Americans served in Vietnam itself, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The current number of survivors is uncertain. Disabled American Veterans has cited fewer than 850,000, but that estimate appeared as early as 2010. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Labor Statistics counted about 5.6 million living post-9/11 veterans in 2025, a broader group that includes everyone who served during that era, regardless of where they were stationed.The Bloomington Brass Quintet played as people arrived for the Nov. 11 ceremony. Wampler thanked those who had served in peacetime as well as in war. Vickie Swafford, president of the American Legion Auxiliary, led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Post 18 Chaplain Richard Wilson gave the invocation.Among those who spoke was Senior Airman Eniola “Enny” Oke, in her early 20s, an Air Force reservist, Indiana University senior and Miss Indiana USA 2026. Oke said she had served for four years and that talking with Legion members who served in different wars helped her understand the importance of advocating for veterans’ mental health. At IU Bloomington, where she studies community health, Oke founded the Military Outreach Society to help students with military ties find one another on campus.Later in the ceremony, Post Adjutant Mike Farris read the names of 11 members who had died over the past year. Before he began, he told families that the post sometimes learned of a death only through a relative or a newspaper notice.“If you have a loved one that has passed this last year, come up and tell me and I’ll add them to the roll,” Farris said. First Vice Commander Diane Richardson was assigned to ring the bell during the reading.After the final name, organizers announced a firing salute and taps by the Monroe County Veterans Honor Guard, made up of members of American Legion Post 18, AMVETS Post 2000 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 604. The program also called for the U.S. flag to be returned to full staff and listed 22 memorial wreath presentations, including tributes to veterans of both world wars, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf War, as well as to Gold Star Mothers and Americans who were prisoners of war or remain missing in action.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1saM2n_1GzUb35y00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1saM2n_1GzUb35y00" width="2000" height="1332" ></figure></div></body>

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — November 11, 2026. When American Legion Post 18 Commander Curtis Wampler asked Wednesday morning whether any World War II veterans were in the room, no hands went up. No veterans of that war attended the Veterans Day ceremony at Bloomington’s Burton Woolery American Legion Post 18.

Bloomington Legion post marks Veterans Day

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — November 11, 2026. When American Legion Post 18 Commander Curtis Wampler asked Wednesday morning whether any World War II veterans were

Bloomington Legion post marks Veterans Day

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