THE COLORFUL V.F.W. STORY
This is the story of how the
Veterans of Foreign Wars began, how it has grown and how it is shaping the
future. Here we describe activities by men who refused to be forgotten. They
were spurred into action by necessity and they developed the VETERANS OF FOREIGN
WARS OF THE UNITED STATES, a national organization whose more than Two Million
members employ two powerful principles - comradeship and service.
Our story begins in 1899. That
was the year of gas lights, five cent beer and the first horseless carriage. We
find the main action in two cities... Columbus, Ohio and Denver, Colorado. The
characters in our drama were Spanish American War Veterans who had just
returned home from the Cuban and Philippine battlefronts.
Those were young fellows, but
they were prematurely aged by the ravages of tropical fever, bad food and
medical neglect. They were fighting men who had been victorious against foreign
enemies. They received their discharge pay, $15.60 per man. Then they were
turned loose as civilians...free to do as they pleased. They should have been
happy, but they couldn’t be. Some of the men were desperately ill, too sick to
work steadily. Most of them quickly became penniless. There were no
governmental hospitals to which the disabled could go for medical aid. There
were no helping hands, no such thing as financial assistance. The plain fact
was that no one seemed to care what happened to them. They were truly Forgotten
Men. It was a picture of deplorable neglect.
VETERANS ORGANIZE THEMSELVES
James Romanis, a young Veteran
of the Cuban campaign, lived in Columbus, Ohio. He was disturbed when he saw
his suffering comrades going to the poorhouse and dying in squalor. He decided
to make the first move. So, on the night of September 29, 1899, Romanis called
together about 12 of his Veteran friends. They met in the back room of a
tailoring shop in Columbus. There they discussed the plight of the returned
men. They organized a club and called it the American Veterans of Foreign
Service. Membership in that club was limited to overseas Veterans. All members
were pledged "to help one another and to work together for the benefit of
our country and for the men who fight for this nation."
That was the first of several
units, which later merged into what is today the VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF
THE UNITED STATES.
On December 1 of the same year
- 1899 - another group of Spanish-American War Veterans held a similar meeting
in Denver, Colorado. They rallied around General Irving Hale who had served
with them in the Philippines. Those men organized the Colorado Society of the Army
of the Philippines. They adopted as their principles...comradeship,
perpetuation of the memory of departed comrades and assistance to their widows.
They pledged "loyalty to the United States, fostering of true patriotism
and to extend the institutions of American freedom". The Colorado group
joined with others to later become the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Today that
original western unit is the John S. Stewart Post of Denver...Post Number One
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. It is the oldest V.F.W. Post in the point of
continuous service.
Those were the first foundation
stones of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Others were units organized in Altoona
and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1901 and Philadelphia in 1902. Other Posts
followed....M.M. Carleton Post #5 of St. Paul and A.R. Patterson Post #7 of
Minneapolis. All of the groups comprising the Veterans of Foreign Wars agreed
from the very beginning that their job was to represent the men who had fought
in the defense of American democracy. The V.F.W. overseas Veterans have
stressed patriotism, comradeship and service ever since. That describes the
character of our organization today... as set forth in the charter granted the
Veterans of Foreign Wars by the 74th Congress of the United States.
The Charter says:
"The purpose of this
corporation shall be fraternal, patriotic, historical and educational; to
preserve and strengthen comradeship among it’s members; to assist worthy
comrades; to perpetuate the memory and history of our dead and to assist their
widows and orphans; to maintain true allegiance to the Government of the United
States of America and extend the institutions of American freedom and to
preserve and defend the United States from all her enemies, whomsoever."
CROSS OF MALTA
What the Veterans of Foreign
Wars is and what it’s members believe is symbolized by the official V.F.W.
emblem, the Cross of Malta. The colorful insignia displayed and worn by
overseas Veterans is more than just a badge of membership. It expresses men’s
highest ideals, courage and constancy and service.
The Cross of Malta is 1,000
years old. It was the emblem of the Knights of St. john, the world’s first
great brotherhood of men who fought to free the oppressed and administer to the
sick and needy. Men of the V.F.W. selected the Cross of Malta as their emblem
because, like the original Crusaders, they have pledged themselves to defend
human rights in time of peace and war.
When a Veteran joins the
Veterans of Foreign Wars there is a vow to maintain loyalty to the government,
to the V.F.W. and to the other comrades. The Cross of Malta emblem pledges that
Veteran to always crusade for the freedom of mankind and to administer to the
sick and needy. Like the original Knights of St. John, the V.F.W. member
fulfills vows by giving aid to worthy comrades, a helping hand to their widows
and orphans and eternal defense to everyone’s right to life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness. Those Veterans qualified to wear the V.F.W. Cross of
Malta, do so with a sense of pride. They earned the Cross of Malta the hard way
and they wear it proudly.
ALL COMBAT VETERANS
The Veterans of Foreign Wars
Congressional Charter limits V.F.W. membership to Officers and Enlisted
personnel honorably discharged, who have served in the United States Army,
Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard, in any foreign war, insurrection
or expedition for which our government has issued a campaign badge or
occupation medal. V.F.W. members include Veterans of the Spanish-American War,
First and Second World Wars, Korea, Vietnam and Persian Gulf. Also campaign
medal service in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Philippine Islands, China, Mexico,
Nicaragua, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Japan, Grenada, Lebanon and other
theatres of military operations recognized by our government as being foreign
combat or occupation service.
Who are the V.F.W. members?
They are both military and civilians representing all walks of life. They
include Presidents and former Presidents, members of Congress, Generals,
Admirals, non-coms and all enlisted in the ranks. They include National, State
and Civic leaders, people in all professions, arts and business. No matter who
they were, or are, all are on equal footing in the V.F.W. and they are all
Comrades.
HOW V.F.W. IS ORGANIZED
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of
the United States is a national, non-partisan, no-secretarian organization
composed exclusively of citizens who have seen "foreign service" in
the United States Armed Forces. They are members of nearly 10,000 "Posts",
located in all States, the District of Columbia, the Canal Zone, France,
Germany, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Okinawa, Puerto Rico, Samoa, Taiwan and
Thailand.
The V.F.W. is organized on four
principal levels...the Post, District, Department (State) and National. The
local unit is the Post. Communities have from one to several Posts. All Posts
in one or more counties are in a District, these are under the direct
supervision of Departments (State). Programs and activities of the National
organization are coordinated in the V.F.W. National Headquarters, 406 W 34th
St., Kansas City, Mo.
The supreme power of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars is vested in the annual National Convention. Policy
recommendations, most of them originating within the Posts and the Districts,
are channeled through the State V.F.W. Conventions and on to the National
V.F.W. Convention for consideration. A National Council of Administration
(board of directors) directs the affairs of the organization, these are elected
by States and approved by the National Convention.
The V.F.W. uses military titles
for it’s Officers who are elected or appointed annually. On the National level
are the Commander-in-Chief, Senior and Junior Commander-in-Chief, Adjutant
General and Quartermaster General. The Quartermaster General is responsible for
the fiscal or money matters and supplies. Similar titles apply to Department
(State), District and Post Officers.
HOW V.F.W. OPERATES
Work of the V.F.W. is directed
by the Commander-in-Chief through the organization’s National Headquarters
staff in Kansas City, Missouri. Also at National Headquarters are the divisions
of Americanism and Loyalty Day, Community Activities, Publicity, the Historical
Archives, the Buddy Poppy section, supplies and offices of the monthly
"V.F.W. Magazine". In the same building, owned by the Veterans of
Foreign Wars, is the National Headquarters of the Ladies Auxiliary to the
V.F.W. In Washington, D.C. the V.F.W. owned Memorial Building is staffed by members
who handle Legislative, Rehabilitation and other Veterans’ interests in support
of the Armed Forces and a strong National Defense.
LEGISLATIVE SERVICE
The Veterans of Foreign Wars
Legislative Bureau works for the benefit of all war veterans and to put into
action certain V.F.W. National policies. Our Legislative Director represents
the organization at Congressional hearings and keeps V.F.W. members advised on
current issues most important to all ex-service personnel. For many years the
V.F.W. Legislative Service has helped Congress enact laws aiding Veterans’ employment,
education, medical care, pensions and certain benefits for widows and orphans.
Outstanding among V.F.W. Legislative accomplishments were the major roles we
played in behalf of the World War I bonus and the G.I. Bill of Rights for
Veterans coming out of the Second World War and the Korean Conflict and the War
in Vietnam. The V.F.W. Legislative Service also works constantly for the
enactment of laws affecting Foreign Relations, National Security, Immigration,
Taxation, Social Security, Military and Naval Justice, Armed Forces
unification, Atomic Energy policies and many other issues of Veteran interest.
REHABILITATION SERVICE
The V.F.W. Rehabilitation
provides medical, legal and claims experts in Washington, also trained field
representatives. V.F.W. spokesmen maintain active liaison with Veterans
Administration offices. Post and their Ladies Auxiliaries provide many benefits
for the hospitalized Veterans and for ex-service personnel and their dependents
on a community level. The V.F.W. Rehabilitation section helps ex-service
personnel gain government insurance pensions and other compensation, also
hospitalization, educational and employment advantages provided by law.
Government records show that far more Veterans’ claims have been referred to
the V.F.W. for adjustment than to all other similar organizations combined. In
Minnesota, the V.F.W. maintains Claims Service Offices at the Federal Building
at Fort Snelling and at the VA Center in Fargo, North Dakota to serve Minnesota
Veterans.
The record of the V.F.W. Posts
in aiding the needy Veterans and their families on a community level is
outstanding. No worthy man, woman or child suffers from want if the Veterans of
Foreign Wars can be of help. When a Veteran or his family are in need the
V.F.W. extends a helping hand that is warm and practicable. These things we do
every day of the year, quietly, without ballyhoo or self praise.
The V.F.W. Service Officers
work with and through the County Veterans Service Officers in all 87 Counties
in Minnesota. Post Service Officers can assist in contacting either the County
Veterans Service Officers or the V.F.W. Claims Service Offices.
NATIONAL HOME
The V.F.W. has one humanitarian
project of which it is particularly proud. That is the Veterans of Foreign Wars
National Home at Eaton Rapids, Michigan. The National Home, founded in 1925, is
a refuge for surviving spouses and children of deceased V.F.W. and Auxiliary
members.
The National Home occupies a
640-acre farm complete with orchard, gardens, poultry, pigs, a dairy herd and
grazing lands for sheep, cattle and horses. There is a modern nursery, hospital
and dental clinic, laundry, well-equipped community center, library, gymnasium
and playgrounds. Families of boys and girls live in modern, two story
residences, each in the charge of their natural parent or well-qualified house
parents.
The prime purpose at the
Veterans of Foreign Wars National Home is to provide each child a normal,
healthy, refined family environment in which to develop into a mature, useful
citizen. The main consideration is the youngster’s own individuality. Hundreds
of young folks have "graduated" from this V.F.W. care into college,
the business world, the military and other careers. They are products of a
"real home" provided by the V.F.W.
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Community Activities is the
term applied to the many things V.F.W. Posts and Auxiliaries do to: 1) improve
living in a city, town or neighborhood; 2) assist needy families; 3) establish
better recreational, education and patriotic opportunities for everyone; 4)
cooperate with schools, churches and other organizations; 5) provide special
benefits for youth; and 6) direct aid to needy individuals who are not members
of our organization.
The V.F.W. had developed many
types of projects. The V.F.W. has stimulated it’s Community Activities work
through annual National contests since 1947. Each year the Posts and
Auxiliaries performing the best community work during the preceding 12 months
are given recognition awards at both the State and National Conventions.
AMERICANISM ACTIVITIES
The Veterans of Foreign Wars
patriotic activities are identified as....AMERICANISM. Under the heading of
Americanism, V.F.W. Posts, Auxiliaries, Districts and Departments sponsor many
projects designed to broaden public appreciation of Democracy and to combat
Communism and other subversive influences. The many types of activities include
public observances of special holidays, promotion of patriotic programs for
adults and children, cooperation with civic organizations, schools, colleges,
universities and churches to raise the standards of American citizenship and
Loyalty.
YOUTH ACTIVITIES
Veterans of Foreign Wars Youth
Activities program provides a wide variety of special interests for young
Americans of all ages. These projects sponsored by the V.F.W. in Posts, Districts, State and National organizations
along with the units of the Ladies Auxiliary have been one of the major
Community Activities programs.
V.F.W. Posts sponsor hundreds
of Boy Scout Troops and Packs, Teen and Junior Baseball teams, Hockey, Soccer,
Rifle Clubs and Junior Bowling teams. In addition, there are Sons of the V.F.W.
units and a "Lite-a-bike" Safety program reflectorizing millions of
bicycles each year. This is in cooperation with the 3M Company of Minnesota.
The largest Youth Activity is the annual Voice of Democracy program in which
more than 300,000 High School students prepare and read their own radio scripts
dealing with patriotic subjects and with scholarships totaling over $32,500 to
National winners, plus other gifts and prizes. Truly, the V.F.W. serves the
youth across the Nation.
BUDDY POPPIES
Each year, just before Memorial
Day, we see many people offering V.F.W. Buddy Poppies on the streets. There is
a very interesting story and purpose behind the Buddy Poppy. On Memorial Day,
1923, the V.F.W. took donations for it’s first replicas of the Flanders Field
poppies. The Memorial flower proved popular. In 1924, disabled Veterans in
Pittsburgh made V.F.W. flowers for that year’s program. Those men coined the
name "Buddy Poppy" and our National Organization copyrighted it.
Since the first "Buddy Poppy" offering, the V.F.W. slogan has been
"Honor the Dead by Helping the Living". Funds from the annual
offering of "Buddy Poppies" are devoted exclusively to extending
V.F.W. rehabilitation and service work and to help maintain the V.F.W. National
Home.
THE COOTIES
Every man likes to play and
every V.F.W. Post offers it’s members many congenial social attractions. In the
V.F.W. it is offered through the Military Order of the Cootie, the special
fun-making branch of the V.F.W. However, that is not the whole story. The
Cooties sponsor an extensive humanitarian program of their own. They contribute
much in welfare work for Veterans and orphans. They maintain an active Hospital
entertainment program. The V.F.W. National Home at Eaton Rapids has many
recreation facilities provided by the Military Order of the Cootie.
AUXILIARY
There is a place for every
Veteran’s mother, wife, sister, daughter or granddaughter in V.F.W. work. Women
who have had Foreign service with the U.S. Armed Forces may join both the
Ladies Auxiliary and the V.F.W. The National Auxiliary was formed officially at
the 1914 National V.F.W. Convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, "to help
Posts and members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars". The V.F.W. Ladies
Auxiliary does that through it’s nearly million members. These women of the
V.F.W. contribute immeasurably with their Community Service, Hospital work and
many other valuable programs.
WHY JOIN THE V.F.W.
WHY DO VETERANS WANT TO JOIN
THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS? Why has the V.F.W. membership increased annually
over the years since 1951? Here are some reasons:
1.
Because since 1899 our members have worked consistently and effectively for the
welfare of ex-service personnel, for communities and for the nation.
2.
Because the Veterans of Foreign Wars gives direct aid where needed.
3.
Because the Veterans of Foreign Wars - a strongly democratic organization in
which the rank and file members, or "the troops", determine V.F.W.
policies and leadership. There are no "kingmakers" in the Veterans of
Foreign Wars. Every member has a voice and a vote. Every member can gain an
office through his own desires and abilities.
4.
Because Veterans of Foreign Wars objectives are live action goals, not just
smooth sounding platitudes.
5. The
fifth...very personal...reason is that only Veterans who served in Combat
Theatres of war can belong to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. That means
sociability, cooperation and Comradeship among Veterans of similar
experiences...between Veterans who "speak the same language".
V.F.W. AND THE FUTURE
The Veterans of Foreign Wars
never stands still. Every member is given an active part toward helping our
organization to keep pace with constantly changing problems. Every Veteran who
joins the V.F.W. has an opportunity to advance.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars
always plans and works for the future!
(For a comprehensive background
history of the Veterans of Foreign Wars - click here)
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