VFW 10859 Post & Auxiliary

The VFW traces its roots back to 1899 when veterans of the Spanish-American War (1898) and the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service: Many arrived home wounded or sick. There was no medical care or veterans' pension for them,and they were left to care for themselves. In their misery, some of these veterans banded together an

d formed organizations with what would become known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. After chapters were formed in Ohio, Colorado and Pennsylvania, the movement quickly gained momentum. By 1915, membership grew to 5,000; by 1936, membership was almost 200,000. Since then, the VFW's voice had been instrumental in establishing the Veterans Administration, creating a GI bill for the 20th century, the development of the national cemetery system and the fight for compensation for Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange and for veterans diagnosed with Gulf War Syndrome. In 2008, VFW won a long-fought victory with the passing of a GI Bill for the 21st Century, giving expanded educational benefits to America's active-duty service members, and members of the Guard and Reserves, fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is a congressionally chartered veterans organization whose mission is to “honor the dead by helping the living” through veterans’ service, community service, national security and a strong national defense. The VFW has 2.2 million members all over the world with “direct community involvement” as a high priority. The VFW lobbies for public policy in the interest of veterans and service members, funds projects to recognize veterans, provide free phone cards to abroad active service members, contribute to the community through volunteerism, and provide college scholarships to our nation’s youth. The VFW’s programs include: Community Service, Citizenship Education, Youth Scholarship, Safety Program, and the National Home for Children.