VFW Post honor guards conducting three-volley salutes at funerals for veterans and service members has been a time-honored tradition practiced since the organization’s founding in 1899. While many know that VFW Post honor guards use firearms to salute their dearly departed fellow veterans, most may not know where those firearms and ammunition blanks come from.…

In December 2020, one of Alabama’s best-kept secrets was brought to light when signs honoring Escambia County’s two Congressional Medal of Honor recipients were unveiled. Held at the Atmore City Hall Auditorium in Atmore, Alabama, the unveiling and dedication revealed the signs, to be placed along U.S. Highway 31, as part of joint resolutions by…

Last year, the idea struck Karl Erickson, who carried it to his VFW Post 246 in Minneapolis for financial help in lifting the idea off the ground. An ambitious project impacting thousands of kids in and around the Twin Cities, Post 246 quickly voted on funding Erickson’s magnum opus: bringing free woodworking and birdwatching workshops…

For the past 12 years, family after family has asked, “Why are they so kind?” The question refers to the community welcome and support experienced by combat-wounded veterans and their families during a week spent at a cabin in Custer, South Dakota. The cabin experience, offered by the 501(c)3 non-profit called Operation Black Hills Cabin,…

A battle-worn Marine of 30 years, Sgt. Maj. Lance Nutt cannot tell the story without tearing up. He and members of his Sheep Dog Impact Assistance team, a group of war veterans and retired police, fire and emergency response officers, were helping clean up the devastation of a tornado that ripped through Wynne, Arkansas, in…

Since 2019, VFW Post 2667 and its Auxiliary members have donated canned food and peanut butter and jelly to the One Roof Ecumenical Alliance Outreach in their hometown of Newnan, Ga., as well as Bridging the Gap, the Salvation Army and The I-58 Mission. According to Janet Alford, secretary/historian of Post 2667 Auxiliary, members are…