Veterans of Foreign Wars

"VFW" redirects here. For other uses, see VFW (disambiguation).

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), formally the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, is an organization of U.S. war veterans, who, as military service members fought in wars, campaigns, and expeditions on foreign land, waters, or airspace. The organization was established by James C. Putnam on 29 September 1899, in Columbus, Ohio and is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri.

Veterans of Foreign Wars
of the United States

The VFW's logo since 2018
Washington Memorial Building Washington, D.C., United States
Abbreviation	VFW
Established	September 29, 1899 (1899-09-29)
Founder	James C. Putnam
Founded at	Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Merger of	American Veterans of Foreign Service (organized on September 29, 1899, at Columbus, Ohio, U.S.) and the Army of the Philippines (organized on December 12, 1899, at Denver, Colorado, U.S., as the Colorado Society, Army of the Philippines)
Type	501(c)(19), war veterans' organization
Tax ID no.	44-0474290
Purpose	Fraternal, patriotic, historical, charitable, and educational
Headquarters	406 West 34th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
Coordinates	39°04′01″N 94°35′27″W
Area served	Worldwide
Membership (2018)	1,159,428
Official language	English
Commander in Chief	Hal J. Roesch II (VA) Since July 24, 2020
Senior Vice Commander in Chief	Matthew M. Mihelcic (IL) Since July 24, 2020
Junior Vice Commander in Chief	Timothy Borland (AZ) Since August 20, 2020
National Council of Administration	63 voting members 8 elected officers 3 appointed officers 52 elected members
Main organ	VFW National Convention
Subsidiaries	Military Order of the Cootie VFW Auxiliary VFW Foundation VFW National Home
Affiliations	Student Veterans of America
Revenue (2015)	US$98,724,340
Expenses (2015)	US$89,099,521
Employees (2014)	224
Volunteers (2014)	3,000
Website	www.vfw.org
Formerly called	Army of the Philippines, Cuba and Puerto Rico

History

75th Anniversary 10c postage stamp (1974)

The VFW resulted from the amalgamation of several societies formed immediately following the Spanish–American War. In 1899, little groups of veterans returning from campaigning in Cuba and the Philippine Islands, founded local societies upon a spirit of comradeship known only to those who faced the dangers of that war side by side. Similar experiences and a common language drew them together. The American Veterans of Foreign Service (predecessor to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States) was established in Columbus, Ohio, September 29, 1899, by Spanish‑American War veteran James C. Putnam. The Colorado Society, Army of the Philippines, was organized in Denver, Colorado, on December 12, 1899. Shortly thereafter, a society known as the Foreign Service Veterans was born in Pennsylvania. These three veterans' organizations grew up side by side, increasing in scope and membership until August 1913, when at an encampment held at Denver, they merged their interests and identities in a national organization now known as the VFW.

Purpose

The purpose of the VFW is to speed rehabilitation of the nation's disabled and needy veterans, assist veterans' widows and orphans and the dependents of needy or disabled veterans, and promote Americanism by means of education in patriotism and by constructive service to local communities. The organization maintains both its legislative service and central office of its national rehabilitation service in Washington. The latter nationwide program serves disabled veterans of all wars, members and nonmembers alike, in matters of government compensation and pension claims, hospitalization, civil-service employment preference, etc."

Logo

Redesigned in November 2018, the official logo of the VFW includes an artistic representation of service stripes, easily recognizable insignia indicative of military service. Worn on most service uniforms, they denote length of service. As such, the first and leaner of the two service stripes represents the VFW's entry into its second century of service to America’s veterans, service members and their families. The second, broader stripe represents its first century of service, spanning back to 1899.

Great Seal

The Cross of Malta is the VFW's official emblem. The cross, radiating rays, and Great Seal of the United States together symbolize the character, vows and purposes distinguishing VFW as an order of warriors who have traveled far from home to defend sacred principles. Its eight points represent the beatitudes prescribed in the Sermon on the Mount: Blessed are the poor in spirit, the meek, the pure, the merciful, the peacemakers; blessed are they who mourn, seek righteousness and are persecuted for righteousness' sake. The eight-pointed Cross of Malta harks back to the Crusades, launched during the 12th century.

Eligibility

Membership in the VFW is restricted to any active or honorably discharged officer or enlisted person who is a citizen of the United States and who has served in its armed forces "in any foreign war, insurrection or expedition, which service shall be recognized by the authorization or the issuance of a United States military campaign medal."

The following is a list of U.S. campaign medals, ribbons, and badges used by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States to determine membership eligibility.

Eligibility guide

Campaign medal Start date End date Navy Expeditionary February 12, 1874 Open Marine Corps Expeditionary February 12, 1874 Open Spanish Campaign April 20, 1898 December 10, 1898 Army of Cuban Occupation July 18, 1898 May 20, 1902 Army of Puerto Rican Occupation August 14, 1898 December 10, 1898 Philippine Campaign February 4, 1899 December 31, 1913 China Relief Expedition April 5, 1900 May 27, 1901 Cuban Pacification September 12, 1906 April 1, 1909 Mexican Service April 12, 1911 June 16, 1919 First Nicaraguan Campaign July 29, 1912 November 14, 1912 Haitian Campaign April 9, 1915 June 15, 1920 Dominican Campaign May 4, 1916 December 5, 1916 World War I Victory (with battle or service clasp – including Siberia and European Russia) April 6, 1917 April 1, 1920 Army of Occupation of Germany November 12, 1918 July 11, 1923 Second Nicaraguan Campaign August 27, 1926 January 2, 1933 Yangtze Service September 3, 1926 December 31, 1932 China Service July 7, 1937 April 1, 1957 American Defense Service (with foreign service clasp) September 8, 1939 December 7, 1941 Combat Infantryman Badge December 6, 1941 Open Combat Medical Badge December 6, 1941 Open Navy Combat Action December 6, 1941 Open European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign December 7, 1941 November 8, 1945 American Campaign (30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days of duty outside continental limits of the U.S.) December 7, 1941 March 2, 1946 Asiatic–Pacific Campaign December 7, 1941 March 2, 1946 Navy Occupation Service May 8, 1945 October 25, 1955 Army of Occupation (30 consecutive days of duty) May 9, 1945 October 2, 1990 Korean Service June 27, 1950 July 27, 1954 Korea Defense Service July 28, 1954 Open Vietnam Service July 1, 1958 April 30, 1975 Armed Forces Expeditionary July 1, 1958 Open SSBN Deterrent Patrol Insignia January 21, 1961 Open Coast Guard Combat Action May 1, 1975 Open Southwest Asia Service August 2, 1990 November 30, 1995 Air Force Expeditionary Service (with gold border) October 1, 1999 Open Kosovo Campaign March 24, 1999 December 31, 2013 Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary September 11, 2001 Open Afghanistan Campaign September 11, 2001 Open Air Force Combat Action September 11, 2001 Open Combat Action Badge September 18, 2001 Open Iraq Campaign March 19, 2003 December 31, 2011 Inherent Resolve Campaign June 15, 2014 Open

Membership and structure

As of 2020 the VFW has 1.6 million members and Auxiliary members, forming 6,000 local chapters known as Posts, grouped into 52 Departments covering the 50 states, the Asia-Pacific area, and Europe.

Support and Assistance Programs

The VFW 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.

VA Claims and separation assistance

The VFW's National Veterans Service program consists of a nationwide network of VA accredited service officers and pre-discharge representatives who are experts in dealing with the VA and are the key to your success. Our cadre of highly-trained and professional advocates help veterans cut through bureaucratic red tape. VA reports veterans represented by the VFW have recoup $8.3 billion in earned benefits, including $1.4 billion in new claims in 2018 alone.

Pre-Discharge

With offices located on or near major military installations across the country, VFW Pre-Discharge representatives guide military personnel through the veterans claims process and conduct physical examinations prior to their separation from active duty. They are also ready to answer questions about education and medical benefits, as well as VA home loans.

Student Veteran Support

M60 Main Battle Tank on display in front of C. Robert Arvin Post No. 2408, Veterans of Foreign Wars, at Ypsilanti, Michigan (2010)

Help A Hero Scholarship

Established in 2014, the VFW's Help A Hero Scholarship provides service members and veterans with financial assistance they need to complete their educational goals without incurring excessive U.S. student loan debt.  

1 Student Veteran

To help ensure student veterans receive their benefits in a timely manner and have a place to turn to if they need help, the VFW, in conjunction with the Student Veterans of America (SVA), have developed the 1 Student Veteran program. 1 Student Veteran offers direct assistance to student veterans who have questions or are experiencing problems accessing their VA benefits.

VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship

The VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship grants 10 exemplary student veterans (fellows) the chance to join the VFW legislative team on Capitol Hill during the VFW Legislative Conference in extremely late spring each year. The fellows will walk the halls of Congress, educating their legislators on the issues facing today’s student veterans and have the opportunity to meet with policy-makers from federal agencies responsible for implementing veterans' policy.

Veterans and Military Support Programs

The VFW's Veterans & Military Support Programs is the umbrella for three successful, long-standing programs; Operation Uplink, Unmet Needs, and the Military Assistance Program (MAP). These initiatives focus on troop support.

Military Assistance Program

MAP is the link between the VFW and the community. MAP is designed to promote VFW interaction within the local military community through the Adopt-A-Unit Program. MAP Grants are available to posts, districts, and departments who participate in a variety of morale boosting functions such as farewell and welcome home events.

Operation Uplink

Operation Uplink keeps military members in contact with their loved ones by allowing deployed troops to call home at no charge from MWR internet cafés in Afghanistan, Kuwait and other locations all around the world. Operation Uplink also distributes "virtual pins" which enable wounded warriors and veterans in Veterans Affairs facilities to call from home at no cost.

Unmet Needs

Unmet Needs assists military service members and their families who run into unexpected financial difficulties as a result of deployment or other hardships directly related to military service. Assistance is in the form of a grant of up to US$1,500. Unmet Needs assists with basic life needs such as: mortgage and rent, home and auto repairs, insurance, utilities, food and clothing.

Programs

The VFW promotes civic responsibility, patriotism, and supports youth and local programs in communities across America.

Voice of Democracy

Main article: Voice of Democracy

Voice of Democracy logo

Each year, nearly 40,000 high school students from across the country enter to win a share of the US$2.1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the VFW's Voice of Democracy audio-essay competition. The national first-place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship.

Patriot's Pen

Patriot's Pen challenges students from grades 6-8, to enter to win one of 46 national awards totaling US$55,000, as well as $5,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for the national first-place winner. Students draft a 300-400 word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic, annual theme chosen by the VFW Commander in Chief.

Scout of the Year

Scout of the Year selects three young people – of the Boy or Girl Scouts, Sea Scouts or Venturing Crew – who have demonstrated practical citizenship in school, scouting and the community. The first-place winner receives a US$5,000 award, the second-place winner receives a US$3,000 award and the third-place winner receives US$1,000.

Teacher of the Year

Teacher of the Year recognizes three exceptional teachers for their outstanding commitment to teach Americanism and patriotism to their students. The VFW recognizes the nation's top classroom elementary, junior high and high school teachers who teach citizenship education topics – at least half of the school day in a classroom environment – and promote America's history, traditions and institutions effectively.

Community Service

The VFW host events across America, as well as giving grants and helping at large-scale volunteer events.

Publications

The VFW also publishes the monthly VFW Magazine. It was known as Foreign Service before 1951.

Notable members

Notable members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States have included:

• 

  Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States

• 

  Harry Truman, 33rd President of the United States

• 

  Dwight Eisenhower, 34th President of the United States

• 

  John Kennedy, 35th President of the United States

• 

  Lyndon Johnson, 36th President of the United States

• 

  Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States

• 

  Gerald Ford, 38th President of the United States

• 

  George Bush, 41st President of the United States

• 

  Albert Gore Jr., 45th Vice President of the United States

• 

  Robert Kennedy, United States Senator from New York

• 

  Chuck Hagel, 24th United States Secretary of Defense

• 

  General John Pershing, 10th Chief of Staff of the United States Army

• 

  General Martin Dempsey, 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

• 

  Major General Smedley Butler, two-time Medal-of-Honor recipient

• 

  Sergeant Alvin York, Medal-of-Honor recipient

• 

  First Lieutenant Audie Murphy, Medal-of-Honor recipient

• 

  Carl Sandburg, three-time Pulitzer-Prize winner

• 

  Roger Staubach, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee

See also

• List of veterans organizations

Further reading

• Bottoms, Bill (1991). The VFW: An Illustrated History of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Foreword by Senator Bob Dole. Rockville, Md.: Woodbine House. ISBN 0933149344. LCCN 89040627. OCLC 22593204. OL 8387800M.
• Proceedings of the 99th National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States [Summary of Minutes] (Report). Washington: GPO. 2000 – via Internet Archive.
• Proceedings of the 100th Annual Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States [Summary of Minutes] (Report). Washington: GPO. 2000 – via Internet Archive.
• White, Dean A., ed. (1999). Watch on the Rhein: A History. Wiesbaden, Germany: Watch on the Rhein Post 27, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

External links

Official

• Official website
• "2019 Annual Report" (PDF).

General information

• Proceedings of the Annual Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States at The Online Books Page
• United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration at the Department of Defense Vietnam War Commemoration Program Office
• Veterans of Foreign Wars at the Encyclopædia Britannica
• VFW National Home for Children in Eaton Rapids, Michigan
• Veterans of Foreign Wars politician members at The Political Graveyard
• Works by or about Veterans of Foreign Wars at Internet Archive
• Works by or about Veterans of Foreign Wars in libraries (WorldCat catalog)