Archives

Oct 11 2023

Youth Essay Deadline Quickly Approaching

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Time is running out for students wishing to participate in the annual Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Penessay competitions. Open to eligible high school and middle school students, all entries must be received at a local participating VFW Post no later than Oct. 31. The Voice of Democr...

Oct 10 2023

‘I Love Knowing That I’m Helping’

Although Kaitlin Jaramillo, 34, is not a veteran, she grew up in a military family, with her father and others serving. Today, she lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with her husband, Joshua, and their children, Maxwell and Phoenix. Since 2012, she has supported her local veteran community as a VFW accredited claims consultant. “I help veteran...

Oct 09 2023

Ten Years of Supporting Veterans Continues When You 'Help A Hero' at Your Local Sport Clips Haircuts

GEORGETOWN, Texas – To mark the 10th year of supporting veterans through Help A Hero Scholarships, Sport Clips Haircuts today launches its annual promotion to raise $1.7 million by Nov. 11. The campaign supports the VFW’s “Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship” program, which provides funds for education for veterans and servi...

Oct 07 2023

VFW Magazine is Going Digital

VFW magazine is moving to a new schedule beginning in 2024. Starting with the January issue, VFW will begin a gradual process to transition the magazine to a digital-only publication by 2028. VFW currently publishes and mails 10 issues of VFW magazine each year to all VFW members and VFW magazine subscribers. In January, six of those issues will be...

Oct 06 2023

'I've Seen the Good the VFW Does'

On the evening of July 27, 2013, MarieAnn Raguso, 33, was traveling in a truck near Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan when a 200-pound improvised explosive device tore the vehicle apart. “I can’t remember much of it,” she said of the explosion. Among other injuries, Raguso suffered a concussion and traumatic brain injury. She was med...

Oct 05 2023

'This Scholarship Helped Me Achieve My Goals'

Before making his way to Tucson, Arizona, Ely Esparza served four years in the Air Force. “I joined because of my family’s long military history and because it was a great opportunity for me to serve my country,” he said. Following active duty, Esparza searched online for academic resources and found the VFW “Sport Clips Hel...

Oct 05 2023

‘You’ve Overcome Challenges Harder Than This’

When VFW member-at-large Sam Beinstein, 28, graduated from high school, he tried college but realized it was not right for him at the time. Instead, he chose to enlist. “Hearing my grandparents talk about their time in the service used to be my favorite thing as a little kid,” he said. “I joined the Guard so I could also serve my ...

Oct 05 2023

'I See the Difference Service Dogs Make'

After losing her son to suicide, Carol Salveson of Casper, Wyoming, set out on a mission. Her son, a decorated Green Beret, struggled with Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS). Salveson was determined to ensure his comrades do not suffer in the same way. Realizing the positive impact of companionship, Salveson began training service dogs for veterans with P...

Oct 04 2023

‘Don’t Let Anything Stop You’

Alyssa Parker, 34, enlisted because she wanted to serve her country. She spent nearly five years in the Army, including deployments to Kuwait and Jordan. After she left the military, Parker searched online for veteran tuition assistance and found the VFW’s "Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship." “Thank you for the support and for making ...

Oct 04 2023

'Echo Saved My Life'

Jeff Snyder’s father was a World War I fighter pilot. And his uncle helped head the Office of Strategic Services, the predecessor of the CIA. “They pretty much badgered me into becoming an officer in the armed forces,” he said. Snyder served in the Army Reserve for 18 years. He held different command positions and enjoyed the expe...