Jewish War Veterans Austin Post 757 has been holding monthly meetings online. Newly elected Commander Charlie Rosenblum is top center. Credit: Allen Lieberman

By Allen Lieberman

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Jewish War Veterans Austin Post 757 continues to be an active group, involved with the local community. Post 757 continues to have monthly meetings, now conducted online via Zoom. Recently, the organization donated $1,000 to the Central Texas Food Bank to help sponsor food drives to feed hungry veterans.

This spring, JWV Post 757 conducted its first virtual election and officer installation. Mike London proudly led the installation and the group welcomed a stellar group of new officers. Charlie Rosenblum is the new post commander, replacing outgoing commander Allen Lieberman, who served in the role for two years. Rosenblum served in the United States Army for 32 years, first as an enlisted man and worked his way up the ranks until he retired in 1999 as a colonel. He served a combat tour in Vietnam in 1967-1968.

Alana Pompa is Post 757’s new senior vice commander and Ben Luckens is the new junior vice commander. Already in such a short time span, the post is seeing exciting changes with an improved Facebook presence and membership drive headed by Pompa and Luckens. 

Rosenblum has also brought along many new ideas with a monthly newsletter for the post. In a short time, he has been able to make a difference in the community as he recently was able to arrange for the donation and delivery of 12 wheelchairs to the Austin Veterans Affairs clinic. Post members welcome the new leadership members and the direction Post 757 is headed under their command.

JWV Post 757 is always looking for new members. Any Jewish veteran who served on active duty or in the reserves is welcome; a tour of duty in a war zone is not required. The group holds monthly meetings, typically the third Sunday of each month, and all meetings for the foreseeable future will be virtual. Each meeting usually begins with discussion of a brief agenda and outreach efforts and concludes with a speaker presentation.

Join the next meeting Sunday, Nov. 15. Contact Membership Chair Ben Luckens at ben.luckens@icloud.com or JWVAustin@gmail.com for more information. ■