*** Welcome to piglix ***

Veterans of Foreign Wars

Veterans of Foreign Wars
Veterans Of Foreign Wars Logo.jpg
Abbreviation VFW
Established September 29, 1899; 117 years ago (1899-09-29)
Founder James C. Putnam
Merger of
  • American Veterans of Foreign Service
  • National Society of the Army of the Philippines
Type 501(c)(19)American veterans' organization
44-0474290
Legal status 36 U.S.C. 2301U.S. chartered corporation
Purpose Fraternal, patriotic, historical, charitable, and educational
Headquarters Kansas City, Missouri
Coordinates 39°04′01″N 94°35′28″W / 39.0668144°N 94.591009°W / 39.0668144; -94.591009
Region served
Worldwide
Membership (2016)
1,234,985
Brian Duffy
  • Keith Harman
  • B.J. Lawrence
Robert Wallace
Debra Anderson
National Council of Administration
Publication VFW Magazine
Subsidiaries
Affiliations Student Veterans of America
Revenue (2015)
$98,724,340
Expenses (2015) $89,099,521
Employees (2014)
224
Volunteers (2014)
3,000
Slogan "No One Does More for Veterans"
Website vfw.org
Formerly called
Army of the Philippines, Cuba and Puerto Rico

The Veterans of Foreign Wars, also known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Inc., is an American veterans' organization established on September 29, 1899, who as soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen served the U.S. in wars, campaigns, and expeditions on foreign soil or hostile waters.

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 U.S. government compensation and pension claims, hospitalization, civil-service employment preference, and etc.”

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 military campaign medal".

Partial list of United States campaign medals, ribbons, and badges the VFW uses to determine membership eligibility:


...
Wikipedia

...