PA Adjutant Optimistic Post Will Reopen Soon; Member Meeting on Dec. 29

The Lititz Springs VFW Post 1463 has been temporarily closed due to a State Suspension for a period of three months, according to a letter dated December 8 and posted on all entrances to the VFW located on N. Spruce St. According to the Pennsylvania VFW, the post was closed last week.

Lititz Springs VFW members received a letter dated December 15 that indicates the post was placed under suspension due to infraction of the national by-laws.

According to the VFW Post Facebook page, “the post officers are no longer in their respected positions and are at no way able to answer questions. The state controls the Post until further notice.” Members are directed to visit the Pennsylvania VFW website for appropriate contact information and other resources.

Someone commenting to the site from an external Facebook account under the name of Karl D. Spidel posted to the VFW Post Facebook page on December 13: “The club will reopen after they complete the Audit and an election held for replacement of Officers. This is just a temporary step to assist persons involved to cool down their tempers.” The post was liked on Facebook by the Lititz VFW page administrator, who is listed as Justin Bailey, who was the operating Senior Vice-Commander prior to the suspension. All presiding officers at the time of the closure have reportedly been removed from their positions, pending a new election by voting members.

“We need everybody to step up and be a VFW, not a bar,” said John Getz, Jr., Pennsylvania State Adjutant and Quartermaster in an interview today, after declining to comment on the specifics of the State Suspension. Some VFW Posts have restaurant and bars, while others have only bars. “We need to get away from the bars,” said Getz.

The December 15 letter states that a meeting will be held on December 29 to inform all members of the post why it has been suspended. “Your attendance at this meeting is greatly needed for the survival of your Post,” it reads.

The Post was in the news last month due to controversy concerning smoking policies, followed by the resignation of then-Quatermaster Bill Thomas, who surrendered his position after voting members reversed a ban on smoking the facility.

“Everyone needs to understand there’s only one purpose of the VFW, to serve the veterans and their families,” said Getz. “We serve the greatest combat veterans in the world.”

While the post is closed, a sign on the door directs veterans to contact the Pennsylvania VFW for assistance at (717) 234-7927 or by fax at (717) 909-7817.

As for the future of the Lititz Springs VFW Post 1463, Getz is optimistic.

“They’ll be back up and running here soon,” said Getz. “We want them to be back up and running.”

A children’s Christmas party scheduled for the Post this Saturday will be held instead at the Lititz Fire Company, according to a post on the Lititz VFW Facebook page.