VFW Action Corps Weekly
VFW Fall Legislative Conference: The VFW National Legislative Committee members met with senators, representatives and staffers in Washington, D.C., to discuss VFW legislative priorities. Specific focus was on community care reform, exploring alternative post-traumatic stress disorder treatments, concurrent receipt and transition from service. The VFW will stand firm to ensure that Congress honors the contract with our service members by safeguarding the benefits earned by those who served our nation.
VFW Presents Life Saving Award: VFW National Commander Carol Whitmore, Senior Vice Commander Cory Geisler, Junior Vice Commander Glenn Umberger and Washington Office Executive Director Ryan Gallucci presented the VFW Life Saving Award to Rep. Derrick Van Orden (WI-3). Last month, he saved the life of a child after witnessing a high-speed car crash near Des Moines, Iowa. Van Orden is a former Navy SEAL who used his combat medic training to apply tourniquets to control the child’s bleeding until emergency responders arrived. He is a VFW Life member and was the recipient of the VFW 2025 Congressional Award this past March.
Day of Remembrance Ceremony: VFW Washington Office staff held a Day of Remembrance ceremony marking the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Hosted by Washington Office Executive Director Ryan Gallucci, the ceremony included a timeline of the attacks, a moment of silence, the raising and lowering of the American flag to half-staff, and the playing of “Taps.” VFW National Commander Carol Whitmore, Senior Vice Commander Corey Geisler, and Junior Vice Commander Glenn Umberger laid flowers in memory of those lost in New York City, at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pa., with Whitmore delivering keynote remarks for the event. Watch the ceremony.
VFW National Officers Visit the Pentagon: Kelly McKeague, director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), hosted VFW National Commander Carol Whitmore, Senior Vice Commander Cory Geisler, Junior Vice Commander Glenn Umberger and Washington Office Executive Director Ryan Gallucci at the Pentagon to discuss strengthening the VFW’s support for DPAA’s fullest accounting mission. McKeague shared updates on recovery operations and highlighted how partners like the VFW contribute through artifact repatriation, research, DNA donations, awareness and even recoveries. VFW leaders regularly visit DPAA detachments worldwide to witness these efforts, which provide closure for families and foster international cooperation. The day’s visit concluded at the Pentagon’s 9/11 Memorial, where the VFW delegation signed the memorial book and honored those lost in the attacks 24 years ago.
VFW and Auxiliary Leaders on VFW Podcast: Join co-hosts Rob Couture and Brittany Dymond Murray as they chat with experts, lawmakers and leaders from the veteran community about everything from military and VA issues to the work of the VFW. Catch #StillServing: The VFW Podcast on your favorite platform—and watch the latest episode, Rockstars!, featuring VFW National Commander Carol Whitmore and VFW Auxiliary National President Lois Callahan, now on YouTube.
VA Sign-In Option Change Deadline: Veterans who use a DS Logon username and password to access VA websites and mobile apps must switch to a login.gov or ID.me account by Sept. 30, 2025. These new sign-in options provide stronger protection against identity theft and fraud, allow access to VA and other government services with a single account, and meet the latest federal security standards. VA offers help with the transition as well as information on alternate ways to manage health care and benefits. Read more.
MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced 15 burial updates for service members who have been missing and unaccounted for from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
Updates:
-- World War II Army Pfc. Lawrence R. Beard, Maryland
-- Korean War Army Sgt. Ray Johnson, Texas
-- Korean War Army Capt. Charles G. Gibson Jr., Michigan
-- World War II Army 2nd Lt. Charles Arnao, New Jersey
-- World War II Army Staff Sgt. Junior J. Shelton, Kentucky
-- Korean War Army Pfc. Vincent A. Vega, Illinois
-- World War II Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Gerard J. Melofchik, Pennsylvania
-- World War II Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Clifford E. Keeney, Pennsylvania
-- World War II Army Pvt. Alfred T. Langevin, Massachusetts
-- World War II Army Cpl. Malcolm S. Webb, Virginia
-- World War II Navy Storekeeper 3rd Class Robert S. Garcia, Texas
-- World War II Navy Carpenter’s Mate 2nd Class William R. Burns, North Carolina
-- Korean War Army Sgt. DeLoren D. Dage, Virginia
-- World War II Army Sgt. Simon Garelick, Missouri
-- Vietnam War Army Master Sgt. Donald P. Gervais, Location to be determined