Archives

Sep 05 2018

H.R. 4312, H.R. 6409, and H.R. 6420

Statement of Carlos Fuentes, Director, National Legislative Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Before the United States House of Representatives, Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, With Respect To H.R. 4312, H.R. 6409, and H.R. 6420

Sep 05 2018

Are Burn Pits the Agent Orange for the Nation’s Youngest Veterans?

Since 1990, the U.S. military has burned thousands of tons of waste at bases used in the Persian Gulf War, the Afghanistan War, the Iraq War and other overseas sites. Veterans who were possibly exposed to toxic fumes from these open-air pits want to know if they were adversely affected. In response, VA created a Burn Pit Registry in 2014 for vetera...

Aug 31 2018

The VFW Remembers V-J Day

This weekend, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States pays honor to America’s Greatest Generation of veterans as we mark the 73rd anniversary of V-J Day, Victory over Japan Day, when Japan formally surrendered and officially ended World War II. On Sept. 2, 1945, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, along with the Japanese foreign minister, Mamor...

Aug 28 2018

VFW-SVA Fellows Reflect on Legislative Conference

For the past five years, the VFW has partnered with Student Veterans of America (SVA), giving student veterans an opportunity to research and promote causes that are important to veterans. In March, nine students spent one week in Washington, D.C., during the VFW’s annual Legislative Conference, fulfilling an aspect of the fellowship opportun...

Aug 25 2018

VFW Remembers Sen. John McCain

WASHINGTON — The 1.7 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and its Auxiliary are saluting the life of one of their own, U.S. Sen. John S. McCain III, who died this evening after battling brain cancer. “The senator is being remembered as a maverick at the U.S. Naval Academy, as a naval aviator, as a five and a half...

Aug 24 2018

VA May Have Denied Half of Military Sexual Trauma Claims in Error

WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General released a 33-page report this week that indicates nearly half of all denied military sexual assault-related claims may have been denied in error. According to the report, entitled “Denied Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Claims Related to Military Sexual Trauma,&r...

Aug 24 2018

More US Troops in Africa to Receive Imminent Danger Pay

The Pentagon announced in March that troops serving in the Sahel region of Africa will now receive monthly bonus pay for being in danger of hostile fire. The monthly $225 Imminent Danger Pay (IDP) will be paid to U.S. troops in Niger, Mali and parts of northern Cameroon. The pay will be retroactive to June 7, 2017. This decision means there now are...

Aug 15 2018

Training The Best Service Officers To Be Even Better

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – More than 130 service officers from across the nation and world are attending a weeklong training conference here to continue developing the skills they need to successfully help U.S. military veterans obtain their earned benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sponsored and conducted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars...

Aug 14 2018

Earning American Citizenship the Hard Way

From the Revolutionary War to today’s military conflicts overseas, immigrants and noncitizens have been serving honorably in America’s military. Many foreigners who come to the U.S. work for years to receive citizenship. But, this country has always placed noncitizens who serve in the U.S. military in a special category — oftentim...

Aug 09 2018

Continuing the Call to Serve

“This is the best and hardest job I have ever had. The rewards are in seeing the change in our veterans after they receive their awards.” Wendy Griffin of Salt Lake City, Utah spends her days passionately advocating for veteran’s rights. In her role as a VFW Department Service Officer, she assists veterans and their families in fi...