Veterans of Foreign Wars - Post 10302 - The Northenders

Tell Me About the VFW

Originally founded in 1899 as the American Veterans of Foreign Service, the VFW continues to be a voice for veterans, currently deployed members of our Armed Forces, and their families. The 2.4 million members of the VFW and its Auxiliaries are located in 8,500 VFW Posts around the world. We are at heart an organization dedicated to providing a place for all of those who have sacrificed in our nation’s conflicts abroad. While we are a national organization, we express this dedication through our local posts and programs to support veterans, service members, and their families.

Our Mission
The VFW’s mission is to support those who sacrifice so much for this country—veterans, those currently serving in our US Armed Forces, and their families.

Current Leadership
The VFW is headed by a National Commander-in-Chief elected to serve a one-year term.
• National Commander-in-Chief: Glen Gardner (August 2008 through July 2009)
• Senior Vice Commander: Thomas Tradewell
• Junior Vice Commander: Richard Eubank

• VFW Adjutant General: Allen “Gunner” Kent
• VFW Quartermaster General: Larry Maher
• VFW Washington, D.C., Office Executive Director: Bob Wallace

Veteran Advocacy: Full-Time Support for Veterans
National Veteran Service: The VFW provides full-time support to veterans and their families. Our Veteran Service Officers are professional, full-time advocates who are expert at helping veterans (members and non-members alike) with their Veterans Administration claims. They can be found at every VA medical center and can also be reached at 1-800-VFW-1899. Our Veteran Service Officers help veterans claim over a billion dollars annually in VA benefits. Every veteran (including those in the process of leaving the military) should speak to a Veteran Service Officer to ensure he or she is receiving the benefits they deserve.

National Legislative Services: The VFW works for veterans on Capitol Hill. The VFW Washington, D.C., office has a full-time staff to monitor, lobby, and report on legislation that directly impacts our veteran community.

Support to Troops and Families: Answering the Call to Assist Our Nation’s Defenders
National Military Services: The VFW offers support and assistance to the military community through a variety of programs.

The VFW launched Operation Uplink in 1996 to connect active-duty troops and hospitalized veterans with their loved ones. Contributions from supporters purchase phone cards that are sent to those serving this great nation. In total, VFW Operation Uplink has distributed more than 8.5 million phone cards. In 2006, the VFW also began hosting “Free Call Days.” On holidays throughout the year, troops can call home—at no charge—from Internet cafes throughout Iraq and Afghanistan. Free talk time has already totaled more than 5 million minutes!

VFW Unmet Needs helps service members and their families who face unexpected financial difficulties, often as a result of unexpected or extended deployments. Military families can apply for grants of up to $2,500 to cope with emergencies and get through tough times.

VFW Military Assistance Program works to give troops and military families the help they need during long deployments and when they return. The program sponsors numerous morale-boosting sendoffs and homecomings for troops and their families. The events—which often include free entertainment, food and other festivities—are held at military bases across the nation, as well as at local VFW Posts.

Programs in Our Communities: Giving Back to Our Towns and Neighborhoods
The VFW promotes programs that help build our communities. Though we maintain a national presence, we are a grass-roots organization. A VFW Post is not a building—it is the people inside. Our programs are geared toward developing tomorrow’s leaders and recognizing those who are building that future today.

VFW gives out over $3.6 million annually through our Voice of Democracy scholarships to high-school students and Patriots Pen savings bonds to junior high and middle-school students. Candidates for these awards are nominated at the Post level and compete at the state and national levels. Finalists are invited to VFW ceremonies in Washington, D.C. The VFW recently added the VFW Military Family Scholarship for veterans and their families. Applicants apply to VFW National Headquarters for this award.

Community service takes many forms, from volunteering at local VA hospitals to volunteering in community clean-ups. VFW members volunteer over 13 million hours annually in their communities.
The VFW also offers recognition to leaders in our community. These awards go to teachers, police officers, firefighters, and emergency response personnel who have distinguished themselves through their dedication and service.

Want to Know More?
Links to these and other great VFW programs can be found on our external links page, at http://northendersvfw.org/, or by contacting your local VFW post.

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