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11/4/2025 - Every year, thousands of VFW and Auxiliary delegates gather to represent the organization’s more than 1.4 million combined membership at the weeklong VFW National Convention. While there, our mission is to approve new national priorities to guide our organization as we lobby Congress on issues important to the nation’s veterans, service members and their families. Convention delegates also elect new leadership, as well as recognize prominent individuals and or...

2/23/2017 - On the second floor of the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital in Columbia, Mo., music is being made weekly. With the sound of a metronome clicking in the background, three veterans slowly strum their guitars while their instructor patiently calls out instructions. Iraq vet Chris Longdon plays alongside Vietnam veteran Kelly Johnson at the Guitars for Vets Columbia, Mo., chapter. “Let’s move up to the fifth position,...

6/19/2017 - Over the centuries millions of Irish people left these shores. Many went on to become leading business, political and community leaders. One such emigrant is Louth native, Brian Duffy, National Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) – the United States oldest veterans organisation. Taking time out of his busy schedule, we spoke to Brian about his service and the work carried out by the VFW. The Veterans of Foreign Wars is the United States’ largest and oldest ...

5/1/2017 - Six VFW-member owned companies were recently included in a Forbes magazine article profiling its Top 25 Veteran-Founded Startups in America. Forbes recognized the firms as new companies (less than five years old) owned by young veterans (Post 9/11 service) and ranked each based on factors such as revenue growth, employee headcounts and external capital raised. Here’s information about each company, as well as some background on the VFW member listed as the principal owne...

11/30/2009 - Columnist Robert F. Dorr has once again missed the mark regarding the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. ["Some vets still more equal than others," Nov. 16]. His insinuation that we regard Cold War veterans as "second-class citizens" is disingenuous, and the facts reveal a different story altogether. The VFW is a membership organization that is open to all who currently serve or have served, provided they meet eligibility requirements as established by Congress throug...

7/15/2022 - KANSAS CITY, Mo. – It is with deep sadness that the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) announces the passing of past VFW Commander-in-Chief Clifford G. “Cliff” Olson Jr. Clifford G. Olson Jr., of Bryantville, Massachusetts was elected Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars during the 84th annual national convention in New Orleans, Louisiana, August 19, 1983. The organization surpassed the two-million-member mark for the first time during his term. Olson was bo...

2/18/2016 - This article originally appeared in the February 2016 issue of the VFW magazine. Camp Trotter for Children is perhaps the epitome of idyllic summer camp. Located on the shores of Bills Lake at Newaygo, a 30-minute drive away from Grand Rapids, Mich., the summer camp for children is bustling from dawn until dark six weeks out of the year. Donated in 1949 by WWI veteran and past VFW Department of Michigan Commander Ralph Trotter (1934-35), the camp was once known as VFW...

11/14/2024 - Statement of Nancy Springer Associate Director National Legislative Service Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States For the Record United States House of Representatives Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs With Respect To “Our Nation’s Hallowed Grounds: Review of America’s National Cemetery Funeral Operations for Veterans and Servicemembers” Washington, D.C. Chairman Luttrell, Ranking Member ...

11/19/2019 - Statement of Vincent “B.J.” Lawrence Executive Director, Washington Office Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Before the United States House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on National Security With Respect To The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency: Bringing Our Nation’s Heroes Home WASHINGTON, D.C. Chairman Lynch, Ranking Member Hice, and members of the subcommittee, on behalf of the men and women of the Veterans of Foreig...