VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS

VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS. The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a nonprofit veterans service organization comprised of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, guard and reserve forces.

In 1899 veterans of the SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR (1898) and the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service. Many arrived home wounded or sick. There was no medical care or veterans' pension for them, and they were left to care for themselves. Some of these veterans organizations eventually merged and became known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. After chapters were formed in Ohio, Colorado and Pennsylvania, the movement quickly gained momentum. In 2024 membership stands at more than 1.4 million members of the VFW and its Auxiliary. (1)

In 1934 the organization began the fundraising campaign for which it remained popular--the sale of "Buddy Poppies." In 1931 approximately 68 volunteers canvassed the city with thousands of little red flowers which memoralized the fields of Flanders ad America's participation in WORLD WAR I. The VFW was the first veterans organization to sponsor the nationwide distribution of the poppies. Making arrangements for the little flowers to flowers to be made by the disabled veterans in government hospitals, those directing the project learned that those making the flowers had given them the name "Buddy" Poppies. Realizing the appropriateness of the name, the VFW had the name copyrighted. Each flower carried a green label designating it as genuine with the sales going to the disabled veterans. In 1931 an estimated 3,000 VFW posts across the nation sponsored the sale. One cent of the sale went to the VFW National Home in Eaton Rapids, Michigan which cares for the orphans of soldiers killed in battle. The remainder of the funds were distributed to relief work among the sick, disabled, needed and their dependents. (2)

In 1944 when the organization, recognizing its role in aiding individual veterans, for the first time in its history made a general appeal for funds. (3) Unity also led to establishing the Veterans Administration, development of the national cemetery system, in the fight for compensation for Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange and for veterans diagnosed with Gulf War Syndrome. In 2008, the VFW won a long-fought victory with the passing of a GI Bill for the 21st Century, giving expanded educational benefits to America's active duty service members, and members of the guard and reserves, fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. The VFW was the driving force behind the Veterans Access and Accountability Act of 2014, and continually fought for improved VA medical centers services for women veterans. The VFW's legislative advocacy efforts were behind the passage of the 2019 Blue Water Navy Veteran Act, and the passage of the 2022 Honoring Our PACT Act, one of the most significant pieces of veterans legislation in history.

Besides helping fund the creation of the Vietnam, Korean War, World War II and Women in Military Service memorials, in 2005 the VFW became the first veterans' organization to contribute to building the new Disabled Veterans for Life Memorial, which opened in November 2010. In 2015, VFW was became the first supporter of the Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial which broke ground in July of 2022.

VFW has many programs and services that work to support veterans, service members and their families, as well as communities worldwide. (2)

The VFW launched the #StillServing campaign early in 2020 to honor veterans use the skills and leadership lessons they learned in the military to make our world a better place. This took on more significance during the PANDEMIC as veterans took up the the front lines of COVID-19 response and relief efforts.

On July 24, 2020, as part of the VFW #StillServing Celebration held online, U.S. Air Force veteran Hal Roesch, II, of Hampton, Virginia, was installed as the new VFW National Commander. His speech commended the important service efforts underway and expressed pride in veterans as pillars in their communities. (4)

In 2024 two Dubuque Veterans of Foreign Wars posts consolidated into a single charter. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9663 chose to consolidate into VFW Post 508, Iowa’s first and oldest VFW post. The post was renamed the Leo A. Schwind-Gerald F. Winter VFW Post 508, Dubuque, Iowa. Leo A. Schwind VFW Post 508, chartered in Dubuque since 1920, saw its membership fluctuate throughout the eras of different overseas conflicts. Post membership experienced a recent decline. Rather than seeing the post lose its status of being the first Iowa VFW Post, Dubuque-based Post 9663 voted to consolidate its membership into Post 508.

New VFW Post 508 Officers include Commander Wayne Brown, Senior Vice Commander Amy Bahl, Junior Vice Commander Richard Kelley, Quartermaster Daniel Loewen, Chaplain Jason Schomburg, Trustee 1-year Stephen Johnson, Trustee 2-years John Combs, Trustee 3-years Ronald Healey, Adjutant Bob Felderman, Service Officer Janet Grass, Judge Advocate Leroy Timmerman and Surgeon Julie Schulte. (5)

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Source:

1. "No One Does More for Vets," https://todaysvfw.org/todays-vfw/?gad_source=5&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInpGNkfL7hAMVW0dHAR1GPQ0uEAAYASABEgLq0vD_BwE

2. "Buddy Poppy Army Ready to Conduct Drive," Telegraph-Herald and Times Journal, May 18, 1934

3."Veterans of Foreign Wars and Auxiliary of State Welcomes National Heads," Nashua (NH) Telegraph, April 21, 1944, p. 3

4. "Today's VFW," Online: https://todaysvfw.org/todays-vfw/

5) "2 Dubuque VFW Posts Consolidate into Single Charter," Telegraph Herald, March 6, 2023, Online: https://www.telegraphherald.com/news/tri-state/article_666866a6-d8c4-11ee-9ff4-9f9c428d9e2b.html