VFW NEWS

VFW Calls VA Budget Proposal a Good Start

The national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is appreciative of the fiscal year 2013 budget President Obama proposed Monday for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“The VFW appreciates the proposed increase because it recognizes that the proper care and treatment of wounded, ill and injured veterans are ongoing costs of war," said Richard L. DeNoyer, who leads the 2 million-member VFW and its Auxiliaries. “We remain concerned, however, that the amount is not enough for the VA to maintain much less improve all the programs and services on their watch, especially knowing the Defense Department plans to shrink the size of the military, which will directly increase the number of veterans seeking VA care and services.”

VFW, Sport Clips Haircuts to Sponsor NASCAR Nationwide Series Event at Darlington Raceway

DARLINGTON, S.C. (February 15, 2012) – Longtime partners, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) and Sport Clips Haircuts, proudly announce the VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Darlington Raceway on Friday, May 11, 2012.

The VFW and Sport Clips will use their NASCAR partnership to raise awareness about the struggles many military families are facing and the VFW’s mission to support active-duty military, veterans and their families

DEFENSE BUDGET BREAKS FAITH WITH TROOPS

America’s military is the strongest and most powerful on Earth because it takes care of the people who take care of the mission, but the nation’s largest combat veterans organization believes that two principal proposals in yesterday’s fiscal year 2013 budget request for the Department of Defense are going to be “deal breakers” with the troops

VFW Statement on Veterans Job Corps Initiative

“There is no initiative too bold when it comes to helping veterans get jobs, especially with the new generation of post-9/11 warriors now reentering society in numbers not seen since the Vietnam War. Our nation and her public and private employer partners must do everything possible to not only ensure their smooth transition, but to enlist their extraordinary talents to help serve and protect our nation and communities, and to help restore our economy to greatness. We thank President Obama for continuing to move the issue of veterans’ employment forward, and for his strong commitment to those who have worn the uniform and to their families.”

VFW Demands Offender to ‘Cease and Desist’

Yesterday, The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) was made aware that a Milwakee-based group calling itself Veterans for Weed, is illegally using the acronym “VFW” which the Veterans of Foreign Wars has held copyright to for more than six decades.

Sport Clips Haircuts Exceeds $1 Million in Donations to VFW’s Operation Uplink™ Free Call Day Program

Sport Clips Haircuts Exceeds $1 Million in Donations to VFW’s Operation Uplink™ Free Call Day Program Sport Clips is the top sponsor to the program 2012-01-31 /uploadedImages/VFW.org/News_and_Events/Press/SportClips-check-2012.gif /uploadedImages/VFW.org/News_and_Events/Press/SportClips-Check-2012-thumb.g

10 FOR 10: VFW WON’T STAND FOR BROKEN PROMISES

America’s all-volunteer military has shouldered a multi-theater war all by themselves for almost 10 years. They did so without question, and often with tremendous sacrifice to themselves and their families.

The nation is now in another crisis — a debt crisis — one that could have serious repercussions on a military at war and a veterans' population that has already sacrificed much for the nation. This is because some in Congress now want America’s military and her veterans to shoulder more of the national debt instead of debating and enacting meaningful fiscal reforms.

VFW ANNOUNCES ANNUAL PUBLICATIONS CONTEST

The VFW Publications Department announced today that it is accepting submissions for VFW’s 2012 National Publications Contest. All publications will be categorized by the membership size of the Department, District or Post they represent. For the contest,

VFW WELCOMES HOME IRAQ VETS

With the war in Iraq officially over, the national commander of America's oldest and largest major combat veterans' organization is now urging his membership to redouble their efforts to welcome home this new generation of warrior, and to offer to serve as mentors through their transition to civilian status.

Vets groups urge court to uphold Stolen Valor

Twenty-five organizations representing millions of veterans have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold a federal law making it a crime to falsely claim receiving a military award for valor.

The case pits First Amendment rights of free speech against allowing impersonators to erode the meaning and prestige of military medals. Oral arguments are planned for sometime in 2012.

VFW, USO Team Up to Support Troops and Their Families

The VFW is excited to announce a new partnership with the USO, providing VFW and Ladies Auxiliary members with additional volunteer and service opportunities in their local communities. This partnership brings together two organizations that share common missions and rich histories supporting our troops and military families.

Remembering Pearl Harbor

December 7, 2011, marks the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the day that does in fact live “in infamy.” For on that fateful day in history, America suffered great loss: 3,500 dead or wounded, more than 350 aircraft destroyed and 18 ships sunk or severely damaged.

Many dark days followed the unthinkable ambush that occurred on U.S. soil. But, throughout its history America has never accepted defeat or lasting despair, nor has it succumbed to intimidation. The attack instead served as impetus for a renewed sense of national pride and spirit, and produced America’s “greatest generation.” America was strengthened by the very values upon which this great country was founded. Freedom, tolerance and service carried our great country to victory in WWII.

What Does Super Committee Failure Mean to VFW?

The congressional Super Committee has thrown in the towel and admitted they cannot reach a bipartisan agreement to cut a minimum of $1.2 trillion from the federal budget over the next decade. Under the law passed this summer, mandatory cuts will now take place across all federal departments and agencies beginning January 2013.

CONGRESS UNITES TO HELP UNEMPLOYED VETERANS

The national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is saluting Congress for its overwhelming passage of the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, which merges the best of two separate House and Senate bills with the employer tax breaks proposed by the White House. President Obama is expected to sign the legislation early next week.

Stars & Stripes OpEd: VFW blasts proposed changes to retirement, Tricare

The following is part of an occasional series of guest columns highlighting the work and concerns of veterans groups. Richard L. DeNoyer, a retired Marine and Vietnam combat veteran from Middleton, Mass., is the national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. and its auxiliaries.

Having just returned from a Defense Department-sponsored trip into Afghanistan, I can report that troop morale is as good as anyone can expect from veteran warriors who have spent more time in Afghanistan or Iraq over the past decade than they have at home. But their Number 1 concern is about proposals emanating from the White House and Congress that threaten to eliminate, reduce or tax whatever slim financial benefits there are to joining -- much less staying in -- the military.

Businesses Offering Big Savings to Veterans this Veterans Day

This Veterans Day, a ‘thank you for your service’ is being paid in the form of free meals and huge discounts from patriotic businesses across the country. VFW has compiled a list of some of the opportunities service members and veterans can take advantage of in honor of the upcoming holiday.

Happy Veterans Day from VFW

Veterans Day grants us the opportunity to express our sincerest gratitude to the generations of men and women who’ve made great sacrifices to protect the American way of life through military service.

Over the years, it has been those who believe in something bigger than themselves, those who proudly wear the uniform of the U.S. military, who’ve so tenaciously defended our freedom and liberated people all over the world from the dark grip of tyranny and fear.

BOB EVANS RESTAURANTS TO 'RETURN THE FAVOR' TO NATION’S MILITARY THIS VETERANS DAY

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation is proud to announce a partnership with Bob Evans Restaurants in which customers can support active-duty military, veterans and their families on Veterans Day, this Friday, Nov. 11. In their more than 600 restaurants across the United States, Bob Evans Restaurants will donate ten cents per hotcake sold, up to $25,000. Proceeds from the promotion will benefit the VFW Foundation’s Return the Favor campaign, which honors, celebrates and supports active-duty military, veterans, and their families.

VFW REPORT FROM AFGHANISTAN

The national commander of America's oldest and largest major combat veterans' organization is returning from Afghanistan today extremely concerned that White House and congressional proposals to eliminate or reduce military pay and benefits is impacting the morale of 190,000 deployed American troops.