Birdie Thomas, the new Chavez-Curran VFW Post 2387 commander, has high hopes for Belen post, local veterans

BELEN—History is in the making in the Hub City as Roberta “Birdie” (Proctor) Thomas takes the helm as the newly-elected commander at Chavez-Curran VFW Post 2387.

Thomas, who is the first female commander of the post, takes over for Charles Cox, who was commander since 2013. He will continue to serve as the adjunct (record-keeping and communications) for the post.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars is a national organization that supports local veterans, helping with financial services, benefits and other resources.

Having grown up in Belen and a 1983 graduate of Belen High School, Thomas said she knew she wanted to join the military since she was in junior high school.

She actually joined the U.S. Navy in October 1982, during her senior year in high school, in the delayed entry program. During that time, Thomas was working at the Oñate Theater, played softball for the Eagles and soccer for the city, prepared for her military career during weekend training.

Thomas had one reason for joining the U.S. Navy.

“Because they were better than the Air Force,” Thomas joked. “My father was Air Force retired. I used to make him mad when I would buy models of ships and model air planes, put them together, take the ships, fired the guns and blow up the planes.”

Thomas went active duty on July 5, 1983, and was trained and educated to be a torpedo-man’s mate.

“My specialty was the heavy-weight torpedoes for the submarines,” she explained. “I got to my first command, the U.S.S. Emery S. Land in Norfolk, Va., and I loved it. The shipboard life I loved.”

For the next 22 years, Thomas was able to travel the world (on a total of five different ships), met a lot of different people while serving her country. She retired as a chief petty officer (E-7) and a surface warfare specialist in September 2004. During her time in the Navy, she met and married her husband, Gary.

After retirement, she and Gary established a burial vault business in Virginia, where they designed headstones for military members.

“We had military contracts at the Hampton National Cemetery,” said Gary, who also retired from the U.S. Navy, and is now the post’s vice commander.

“It was a different career, but it was an honor

“I’m still Navy through and through, even though I live in the desert,” Thomas quipped. “I grew up in the desert.”

The couple moved to Belen in September 2008, saying all they were interested in was fishing and hunting. It was when she went to a Belen City Council meeting four years ago that she met VFW Quartermaster Jarod Maples and VFW Senior Vice Commander Jake Garcia, who convinced her to join. She then later had her husband join as well.

“I guess I convinced them that I wanted to join,” she said. “I was the only woman in the VFW up until four months ago.”

Knowing he wanted to leave his position as commander, Cox said he’s been training Thomas for a year to take over the leadership of the VFW.

“It was very simple,” said Cox. “When she joined, there was something about her that showed me she was a leader. I took her under my wing until I thought she was ready.

“She will make a great commander. She has done a lot since she’s been with our post; has a lot of great ideas, and that’s what we need as a commander.”

After more than a decade as commander, Cox said it was time to hand over the reigns to someone else.

“I’m getting older, and we need to bring in newer, younger veterans,” he said. “It’s just a new face in the community, and I hope the community welcomes her.”

During her time at the post the past four years, Thomas said she showed an interest in what the post does for veterans and how she could help.

“I got thrown into being adjunct pretty quickly, about two years ago,” she remembers. “I take notes at the meeting and then produce the minutes.”

During the last two years, Thomas has helped the post in various capacities, including starting a Thanksgiving food giveaway. The first year, the post gave away 25 turkey dinners, and last year gave away 50. She said they’re hoping to continue the tradition this year.

“We’re here to help all our veterans who need help in their daily needs or struggles,” she said.

The VFW, according to its website, offers a wide range of assistance programs aimed at helping veterans of every generation. Whether that means providing free, professional help filing or appealing a VA claim, offering scholarships for post-secondary education or providing emergency financial relief when times get tough, the VFW is there for America’s veterans.

“I like it. I love it,” Thomas said of being a member of the local VFW. “I want us to be able to give more help to the veterans here in the community. A lot of them, bless their souls, don’t even know we exist.

“We have an active VFW, and it’s all volunteer,” she said. “We do a lot for what’s needed.”

In the future, Thomas hopes to have the post open at least one day a week, and let people know they are here to help veterans.

“We are here for them, and we hope more veterans will join us and help others,” she said. “That’s what we’re here for.”

The Chavez-Curran VFW Post 2387 in Belen has more than 50 members, but 20 who are active. Thomas hopes she will be able to recruit more veterans who will continue the post’s mission.