Cantigny Post 367 VFW in Joliet to celebrate 100th anniversary on D-Day

Cantigny Post 367 Veterans of Foreign Wars, along with its auxiliary, will clelebrate its 100th anniversary on Sunday, even though both the post and its auxiliary are 101 years old and the post was founded on March 28, 1920.

Post commander Lou Smith, a 40-year member, said two factors influenced the timing. The first, of course, was the COVID-19 pandemic, which made it unsafe to hold the celebration last year.

The second was the intentional scheduling of the event on D-Day and not on the post’s founding date.

“I wanted to get as many veterans out as I could,” Smith said. “I thought seeing that day would ring a bell to them, and they’d feel some obligation to support their post.”

Smith, a Vietnam Navy veteran, would like to see all veterans come out, not just the ones who belong to Cantigny Post.

He said Cantigny Post has “handful” of World War II veterans, maybe “four or five.” Most of the members today are from Vietnam, like Smith, a Navy veteran.

“We’re getting a few from Desert Storm, Iraq, Afghanistan,” Smith said. “But the younger ones – we still can ‘t get them involved.”

Smith said membership has continued to decline over the past 30 years.

“When I joined, they had 2,500 members.,” Smith said. “We’re down to about 390 right now.”

Founders of Cantigny Post 367 Veterans of Foreign Wars were “veterans of the 1st Division who saw action at the Cantigny, France” and wanted to name the post after the Battle of Cantigny, with the approval of Cantigny’s mayor, according to the post’s website atvfw367.org.

Although Cantigny Post is still known for its fish fries and Bingo nights, Smith said some things have changed.

“Smoking number one,” Smith said with a laugh. “And gambling. Members used to come in on Fridays and play cards. Ever since the state machines came in, you can’t do that anymore.”

Keeping in touch with other veterans and receiving benefits information is easier today for the younger veterans. Back in the day, veterans didn’t have the internet or social media, Smith said.

“In our day, you either wrote a letter or lost touch,” Smith said.

But the benefits of joining a VFW go beyond information and fellowship. Smith said he’s learned more about U.S. history from listening to the other veterans at the VFW than all his years in school.

“They were actually there, their boots were there,” Smith said. “They had the stories. Now a lot of them are gone; their stories are gone. I’m glad I got to hear them.”

Smith also encourages the community to come out and celebrate with the veterans and their families because Cantigny Post is a “pillar of the community,” he said.

“A lot of people in Joliet either had a party here or were married here or their children were married here,” Smith said. “It’s just a great history of the use of the facility.”

Doors open at noon. The program begins at 1 p.m. The community is invited.

The first part of the event includes dinner, membership recognition, dancing and entertainment by Sweet Reminders, which will play yesterday’s hits.

“They’re going to do the timeline from the 40s through the 70s with songs that were popular back then,” Smith said, “and then try to bring us back up to date.”

The cost is $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Buy your tickets at the post, which is located at 826 Horseshoe Drive in Joliet.

From 4 to 8 p.m., Shindig will perform the rock hits of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s outside. The cost is free, and you must bring your own chair.

For more information, call 815-722-5398 or visit vfw367.org.