St. Louis Jewish War Veterans (JWV) Post 644 was founded in St. Louis nearly 75 years ago. The national JWV organization dates back to 1896. That’s when a group of 63 Jewish veterans from the Civil War sought to counter a series of antisemitic comments about the lack of Jewish participants in military service.
The reality is American Jews have served in the U.S. military in greater proportion than members of the general population. As Memorial Day approaches, the Jewish Light visited with Monroe Ginsburg, president of the St. Louis Jewish Veterans Memorial Center. The center is operated by members of JWV Post 644. It recognizes and documents the history of Jewish men and women locally and nationally who served in the U.S. military.
Why is it important to honor and remember Jewish War Veterans?
History tends to repeat itself. Without constant reminders of the military service of Jewish veterans, the same accusations of Jews not providing military support to the U.S. will recur. Military service is a source of pride for the Jewish community, and 27 American Jews have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor from the Civil War up to the Vietnam War.
In the 20th century, what was the motivation for first-and- second-generation Jews to serve in the military?
Many felt military service was a way of paying back the U.S. for accepting them as immigrants as well as being an act of patriotism.
What aspects of JWV Post 644 and the St. Louis Jewish Veterans Memorial Center are important for St. Louisans to know about?
We are largely a service organization. The St. Louis Jewish Veterans Memorial Center maintains a database of the graves of more than 7,500 Jewish veterans in the seven local Jewish cemeteries. We update the database every year. It’s a significant effort and we always welcome volunteers to help out. We also purchase American flags every year, which St. Louis area Boy Scouts place at Jewish veterans’ graves. JWV Post 644 presents two scholarships annually to Jewish graduating high school seniors or students currently enrolled in a trade school or college.
Are there specific requirements for veterans to join the post?
Many people assume membership in JWV requires military service in a combat zone or service overseas. Actually, most of our members have never served overseas. We welcome all Jewish military veterans from all branches of military service. We have several levels of membership for Jewish veterans, but we also offer a non-veteran option called a “patron.” Patrons are often family members of veterans. The post is inclusive and welcoming to all who want to support our veterans.
One of the projects you’re engaged in developing the St. Louis Jewish Veterans Memorial Center exhibit at the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum. What is the status of that initiative?
We are currently working with the Holocaust museum staff on a formal agreement regarding the use of space and how we can best use and display our artifacts. The Holocaust museum is also providing archival assistance, which will be very useful in adapting the material we have to optimize its impact. We are hoping to finalize the exhibit and open it to the public by early 2025.
