WELCOME TO PENNSYLVANIA STATE HQ

Dept. of PA VFW
As yesterday's defenders of freedom, we want to welcome today's military service members into our ranks to become part of our elite group. Our common bond is the battlefield, whether it is service in the Persian Gulf, Korea, Kosovo, Vietnam the war on terrorism or peace-keeping expeditionary campaigns. Your courage and sacrifice have made a difference in preserving and defending world peace.
 
 

Commander's Corner

Commander Barbara Loncar

 Please join us in celebrating the VFW/Auxiliary 100th Birthday

Nov. 15th-17th Registration: Click Here

 I would  like  to thank  everyone,  Comrades and  Auxiliary  members for  your  support during  my  years as  Jr. and  Sr. Vice  Commander. I  am looking  forward  to doing  my  best to  support  you during  my  current year  as  your Department  of  PA VFW  Commander. I  know that  we  can have  an  awesome year  working  together as  a  Team!

 

 My theme  this  year is  "Together  Everyone Achieves  More  (TEAM).” Why  did  I pick  this  as my  theme,  because we  need  to work  together  to succeed. In  order  for our  organization  to grow  we  need to  become  one cohesive  unit.

 

 Comrades or  Veterans  depending on  what  you like  to  be referred  to  as need  to  work together  at  the Post,  District  and Department  levels. We  need to  learn  from each  other  and share  our ideas with each other. Do  not discount  others’  ideas just  because  of having  a  certain way  of  doing things  or  "we’ve always  done  it that  way.”  You need  to  try new  ideas  as they  may  be very  successful  for your  post. You  need to  make  your Post  a  family friendly  and  cohesive unit.

 

 Auxiliaries need  to  be looked  at  as an  asset  to  help  your post  grow. The  Auxiliary is  part  of  the  VFW Family  and  part of  the  team. We are  both  here to  support  veterans and  their  families just  like  the auxiliary  is  part of  the  VFW family. We  both  need to  work  together and  in  doing so  we  can grow  our  organization. The  Auxiliary can  recruit  for the  VFW  and the  VFW  can recruit  for  the Auxiliary. Neither  part  of this  organization  should try  to  take over  the  other but  instead  join forces  to  become a  strong  organization.

 Each Post  should  have a  copy  of the  most  recent Bylaws/Ritual  book  plus the  most  recent Auxiliaries  Bylaws/Ritual  book if  they  have an  auxiliary. The  Auxiliaries should  also  have  a  copy of  the  most recent  VFW  Bylaws/Ritual book  along  with their  own  Bylaws/Ritual book. Having  this  information on  hand  will help  both  sides of  the  organization know  how  to work  with  the other  side.

 

Once  you have  a  strong Post  that  is active  in  the community  other  veterans will  want  to join  your  post. If you  have  an  Auxiliary,  they can  help  you within  the  community and  add  to  the  strength of  your  post. If you  have  a strong  post,  you can  keep  the Home  Association  Members from  over  taking your  home  post! We currently  have  too many  posts  that have  been  taken over  by  the Home  Association

 

and  kicked out  the  Veterans. We as  veterans  have let  this  happen by  not  recruiting new  members  to replace  us  when we  get  older and  unable  to help  as  we have  had  in the  past. We  have allowed  our  home association  to  become the  stronger  element within  our  post. Home Associations  do  not have  the  same priorities  as  the VFW  as  they’re just  out  for themselves  not  the veterans. Don’t  let  your home  association  take over  your  posts!

 Once you  grow  your Post  and  Auxiliary into  a  strong post,  share  your success  with  others. Work on  growing  a strong  District  and infuse  your  success throughout  the  state! Every Veteran  and  their family  are  important to  the  VFW. We need  to  make sure  that  they feel  welcome  and important. We  need  to become  one  big Happy  Family,  Veterans and  Auxiliaries!

Announcements

 

When was the last time you or your Post/District Quartermasters searched for unclaimed property? State Treasurer’s office administers this function. Search Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW, VFW Post XXXX, VFW District X, etc. 

PA-Unclaimed Property Click Here

 Please join us in celebrating the VFW/Auxiliary 100th Birthday

VFW/AUX-100th Birthday Agenda Click Here

Nov. 15th-17th RegistrationClick Here

Please join the Dept. as we dedicate PSC David "Spike" Gyger's special project for details:

State Commander and Auxiliary President's Special Project: Click Here

Fall 2024 VFW PA Newspaper Click Here 

2024-2025 Leadership Book: Click Here

Our National Motto: IN GOD WE TRUST: Click Here
 
Mid-Winter or Convention-Vendor Request Form: Click Here




 

 



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Membership

Membership Details

As yesterday's defenders of freedom...

 ...we want to welcome today's military service members into our ranks to become part of our elite group.

WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, Kosovo, War in Afghanistan, War in Iraq, War on Global Terror and other Peace-Keeping Expeditionary Campaigns throughout the globe.

Assistance & Benefits

Assistance & Benefits

The Veterans of Foreign Wars is dedicated

 to supporting those who sacrifice so much for this country, veterans, service members in the US Armed Forces, and their families and continues to be a voice for returning and currently deployed service members and their families.

Statewide News

News & Info from your department

VFW Newspaper Editions

National News

Important info from National VFW

VFW Joins TikTok's 'Veteran Voices' Initiative

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is proud to announce the launch of

VFW Action Alert: Pass the Dole Act Now

H.R. 8371, the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, would provide enhancements to critical health ...

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OUR MISSION

The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a nonprofit veterans service organization comprised of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, guard and reserve forces.

We trace our 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 and formed organizations that would eventually band together and 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. Today, membership stands at more than 1.4 million members of the VFW and its Auxiliary.

Our voice was instrumental in establishing the Veterans Administration, development of the national cemetery system, in the fight for compensation for Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange and for veterans diagnosed with Gulf War Syndrome. In 2008, we 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. We were the driving force behind the Veterans Access and Accountability Act of 2014, and continually fight for improved VA medical centers services for women veterans. The VFW's legislative advocacy efforts were also the driving force behind the passage of the 2019 Blue Water Navy Veteran Act, and the passage of the 2022 Honoring Our PACT Act, which the VFW considers one of the most significant pieces of veterans legislation in history.

Besides helping fund the creation of the Vietnam, Korean War, World War II and Women in Military Service memorials, in 2005 the VFW became the first veterans' organization to contribute to building the new Disabled Veterans for Life Memorial, which opened in November 2010. And in 2015, we became the first supporter of the Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial which broke ground in July of 2022. 

We have many programs and services that work to support veterans, service members and their families, as well as communities worldwide. Please check out our latest fact sheet or spend some time browsing our site to learn why No One Does More For Veterans.

 

Our Core Values:

  • Always put the interests of our members first
  • Treat donors as partners in our cause
  • Promote patriotism
  • Honor military service
  • Ensure the care of veterans and their families
  • Serve our communities
  • Promote a positive image of the VFW
  • Respect the diversity of veteran opinions
 
 
 
"That the purpose of this Corporation shall be fraternal, patriotic, historical, charitable, and educational: to preserve and strengthen comradeship among its members; to assist worthy comrades; to perpetuate the memory and history of our dead; and to assist their surviving spouses and orphans; to maintain true allegiance to the Government of the United States of America, and fidelity to its Constitution and laws; to foster true patriotism; to maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom, and to preserve and defend the United States from all her enemies."