Monica Morris has been with the downtown-area post since 2015. Now she steps into the lead.
SAN ANTONIO — VFW Post 76, the oldest and largest veterans post in Texas, has appointed its first female commander.
Monica Morris, a retired U.S. Army First Sergeant, stepped into the a role more than a week ago.
“Making history, yes,” Morris said. “I have been the first female in a lot of things throughout my Army career and as a VFW member. It feels great.”
VFW Post 76’s history goes back to 1917, when it was first chartered by veterans who fought in the Spanish-American War. When asked why it took so long for a woman to hold the post’s top leadership position, Morris said it takes change.
“It takes a lot to change people’s thinking,” she said. “Women weren’t looked at as an integral part of the military for a long, long time.”
Morris comes from a family with a long history of military service, dating back to the revolutionary and civil wars.
She herself served in the Army for 26 years. She was also in the Pentagon during the Sept. 11 attacks and later deployed to Afghanistan.
“Explosions going off around you, getting a little bit of hearing issues,” she said about her overseas service. “I was not injured.”
After leaving the military, Morris wanted to continue to serve. She joined Post 76 in 2015.
“I think it is very important that once you finish your career, you continue giving back,” she said.
Now, as commander, Morris has a new and multipronged mission: grow membership, host more events and strengthen community involvement. The post currently has nearly 1,500 members, including veterans who served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq.
“The main thing for me is unity, to have us come together and work together as one, giving back to our community and veterans,” she said.
Morris will hold her first membership meeting as commander on Tuesday.
This Saturday, the post, which is located near San Antonio’s River Walk, will host a celebration for both the U.S. Army’s birthday and Flag Day.