Veterans of Foreign Wars

Encyclopedia : V : VE : VET : Veterans of Foreign Wars

The Veterans of Foreign Wars, or VFW, is an American organization whose members are current or former members of the U.S. armed forces. To be eligible for membership, an individual must have earned an United States Government issued overseas expeditionary or campaign medal, or have one of the following:

Combat Infantryman Badge
Combat Medical Badge, Combat Action Badge
Combat Action Ribbon
Korea Defense Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon WITH gold border
U.S. Navy SSBN Deterrent Patrol Insignia.
Service in Korea from 30 June, 1949 for 30 consecutive, or 60 non consecutive days to present
hostile fire-imminent danger pay records

In addition they must either currently be on active duty or in the reserve components, or have been honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces. A DD214 or World War II era discharge paper with campaign medals, and or badges printed on back is used to verify membership eligibility. A member must also be a United States Citizen.

VFW once forbade atheists from joining, but in January of 2004 they rescinded this policy. By specifying overseas service, the organization excluded veterans from the American Civil War.

The VFW was formed in 1899 by veterans of the Spanish-American War.

VFW works on behalf of American veterans by lobbying Congress for better veterans' health care and benefits. The VFW also maintains a nationwide organization of employees and volunteers to assist veterans with their VA disability claims. VFW also donates hundreds of thousands of dollars and millions of hours for community service. One of their most popular programs, Operation Uplink, provides free phone cards to overseas service members.

External links

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