For those who knew him, Herb Kieforndorf was a “great man.” A member of VFW Post 3358 in Slinger, Wisconsin, Kieforndorf served his community well.

According to long-time friend and fellow VFW member Tom Haase, when Kieforndorf died in May 2020 from brain cancer, the community was hit hard by the loss.

“Herb had more integrity than any person I think I have ever met in my life,” said Haase, Post 3358 adjutant. “He personified the essence of what a veteran should be as well as a good citizen.

Not long after Kieforndorf’s death, the Post agreed to honor him with a scholarship to be awarded to a student at Slinger High School.

On May 25, Kacey Ott received the first-ever VFW Post 3358 Herb Kieforndorf Scholarship in the amount of $500. Ott, who wants to be a doctor, plans to attend college at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana.

The co-valedictorian of her graduating class said she chose Taylor because it has a stellar basketball program.

Haase said the scholarship is funded for the first two years.

“Herb was a great, great mentor,” Haase said. “Kids at the school interviewed him about his service. He was very popular with the students.”

Haase, who first met Kieforndorf in 1987 while serving with the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 128th Air Refueling Wing, said the pair deployed multiple times together including during Operation Desert Storm. Incidentally, Haase also served in Vietnam in 1967-1968 and more recently in Iraq.

“Everyone jumped on this scholarship right away,” Haase said. “We as a VFW wanted to do this to make sure the community doesn’t forget him. It was very fulfilling to me that one of my buddies was honored.”

A VFW Post in the Silver State for the second time organized a barbecue contest to help raise funds for scholarship programs funded by VFW.

VFW Post 3396 in Sparks, Nevada, a suburb east of Reno, Nevada, hosted the 2nd Annual Armed Forces BBQ Challenge which had 17 total groups of competitors. VFW Post 3396 Commander Candace Beck said that the Post raised $4,325 from hosting the competition.

Beck said that in the barbeque competition’s first year, it featured local amateur cooks. Beck, a Korea Defense Service Army veteran, said that for the second year, Post members “wanted to go bigger.” So, members of Post 3396 decided to host the annual event with professionals and “backyard” grillers.

“We hosted the event to raise money for the Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy scholarship programs,” Beck said. “We also did it to fund our Post’s VA nurses scholarships.”

VFW Post 3396 Quartermaster David Sousa told KOLO-TV, an ABC affiliate in Reno, that the barbecue competition is a way for the Post to “give back” to its community. Sousa added that the attraction was a good way to bring the community together and “raise a little money for the VFW Post.”

Members of the Kansas City Barbeque Society were on hand to judge every meat made at the Armed Forces BBQ Challenge. VFW National Headquarters in July partnered with the Kansas City Barbeque Society, which sanctions official barbeque competitions. The Kansas City Barbeque Society plans to send judges to other barbeque contests at other VFW Posts across the country.

In July 2021, VFW Post 3396 was selected as VFW’s Post of the Month as part of the #StillServing campaign. Visit vfw.org/stillserving to learn more about #StillServing.

A brand new VFW Post in Texas at Fort Hood was chartered in January with its members having a goal in mind: to help military members and their families.

VFW Post 12209 members held the installation ceremony on Jan. 7 at Fort Hood’s Phantom Warrior Center.

Post Commander Willie Keller said that Post members wanted the Post to be on the grounds of Fort Hood to help with the “perception” of VFW.

“A lot of people think the VFW is a place to get a drink,” said Keller, who has been a VFW member since 1995. “We want to show troops at Fort Hood that VFW is here to help them, and we have many VFW services they can use.”

Keller, an Army veteran of more than 16 years – said he and other Post 12209 members wanted to introduce VFW services to potential members. He named the Military Assistance Program, which provides grants to Posts to help active-duty troops, and Unmet Needs, which helps military families with financial difficulties, as well as programs offered by the VFW Department of Texas. Keller
added that being on base is “more effective” than being located outside of the installation.

“We are on Fort Hood four times a week,” said Keller, who medically retired from the military in 2009. “We at the VFW are out here with the troops. We talk to them – we assist them with what they need. We want to guide them in the right direction through the military.”

The Post was named in honor of the late A.C. Cotton, a retired command sergeant major who died at the age of 86 on Sept. 7, 2021. Cotton, a Vietnam War veteran, joined the Army in 1955 and served 33 years. Cotton also was the first black command sergeant major of the Army’s “First Team,” the 1st Cavalry Division, according to Keller.

Keller – who served in Haiti, Afghanistan and Iraq – said he and the other Post members took the chance to name a Post after a soldier who made history in the military.

“We named the Post in honor of Cotton because we all personally knew him,” added Keller, who medically retired from the military in 2009. “When he passed last year, it affected all of us. He was well-known in the armored cavalry community.”

For those interested, VFW Post 12209 is located at Fort Hood Building 18000. The Post also can be followed on Facebook by searching CSM A.C. Cotton VFW Post 12209.

This article is featured in the 2022 May issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Dave Spiva, associate editor for VFW magazine.

When an Auxiliary member in Muncy, Pennsylvania, suffered a near-death experience following a gruesome motorcycle crash in April, his VFW Post 3428 counterparts stepped in to provide assistance.

More than 85 people attended a fundraiser at VFW Post 3428 on behalf of Anthony Mitchell in July, helping raise $5,490 towards the Auxiliary member’s hospital bills accrued over months of intensive care and surgeries.

“It was overwhelming,” Mitchell told the PA homepage news outlet in Pennsylvania. “Even if it was not a lot of people, friends are friends.”

The wreck happened on April 30, when Mitchell lost control of his motorcycle on his way home after a benefit ride in memory of a local child that had passed away.

He recalled the grass, gravel and then the fog that comes from broken pieces after a traumatic accident shatters perception.

“From that point there, I can’t tell you what happened because I don’t know what happened,” Mitchell said. “My mind just went completely blank after that.”

Mitchell spent five weeks in the hospital nursing broken ribs, a punctured and collapsed lung, as well as blood clots. For an avid motorcyclist, the traumatic accident marked his first in more than 30 years of riding.

“After 33 years together, I just had to make sure he was okay,” said Millie Mitchell, Anthony’s wife. “He’s my best friend, my husband. I don’t know what I would do without him.”

With the mounting expenses as a result of surgeries and physical therapy since the crash, the Mitchells received a hand up by members of Post 3428, who surprised the couple with a fundraiser laden with food, live music and raffles.

Though Mitchell’s recovery remains a work in progress, he was deeply moved by the Post’s efforts to help a fellow friend and Auxiliary member the way it did.

“I get very emotional because they’re not just friends, they’re all family,” Mitchell said. “I appreciate everything.”

When VFW Post 3911 in Key West, Florida, needed an innovative way to raise money for its relief fund in 2013, Powell Thomas turned to the island’s roots.

Revered as a bustling fishing village with a long and celebrated history, Thomas knew Key West served as the perfect backdrop for a veterans fishing tournament to raise funds.

With a history of avid fishermen that includes Ernest Hemingway and legendary baseball player and Korean War veteran Ted Williams, fishing is either a vocation or a pastime for most locals in Key West.

“Just about everyone in Key West owns a boat or knows someone who does,” said Thomas, a Vietnam veteran and a life member of Post 3911. “So I went to the meeting and said this is something we should do. I had run a few fishing tournaments before, and I knew my way around constructing them.”

The Post’s quartermaster at the time, Thomas believed a two-day fishing tournament would both enhance the Post’s presence on the island and help raise funds to support its sizeable veterans population.

“I knew a lot of veterans in the area who were doing quite well, but I also knew a few who weren’t doing so well,” Thomas said. “There are many active-duty service men and women in the Florida Keys, so the Post relief fund also helps many of these people when a sudden deployment wreaks havoc on a young family’s finances.”

With help from Post members and the VFW Auxiliary president, Thomas launched the first “Fish for Veterans” tournament in June 2013, welcoming a modest 18 boats manned by veterans and non-veterans fishing for cash prizes.

Since then, the tournament has grown exponentially as a result of continuous advertising in national fishing and wildlife magazines, as well as word of mouth amongst veterans and locals. And despite cancelling the 2020 tourney due to COVID-19, the 2021 event last June proved the most profitable to date.

The ninth annual “Fish For Veterans” tournament last year welcomed a record 213 participants and 46 boats from across the country. It also yielded more than $20,000 in cash prizes for the heaviest species of mahi, tuna, wahoo, grouper and snapper caught, as well as individual angler categories that included ladies, peewee, junior, active duty, veteran, senior and first responders.

“The event has grown steadily each year with the exception of 2020, but last year was the biggest one yet,” Thomas said. “That’s a testament to how well-supported the tournament is among the Florida Keys communities and their local businesses.”

The tournament’s success over the years also has met Thomas’ expectations for its creation, amassing more than $200,000 through 2021 for Post 3911’s relief fund. Through the fund, Post 3911 has continued to help Key West’s veterans’ population, which includes sizeable donations annually to Volunteers of America (VOA), a social services organization providing transitional housing to homeless veterans in Key West.

“Volunteers of America provides some housing for homeless veterans, and its semi-long term,” Thomas said. “What we’ve done is support them financially over the years. We also help the homeless veterans themselves, helping the individuals get on their feet once they leave there by giving them furniture, clothes and stuff of that kind.”

Though Thomas stepped down as program director after the ninth annual tourney last year, he will remain a fixture during the planning and undertaking of the event, adding that he believes it will be the best one to date.

“It will be bigger and better than ever,” Thomas said. “This year, the super prize for heaviest mahi has been increased to $20,000 or a brand new Toyota Corolla.”

The 10th annual tournament is scheduled for June 17-19, and it will be open to the general public as always.

Further information can be obtained by visiting www.vfwpost3911.org.

This article is featured in the 2022 May issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Ismael Rodriguez Jr., senior writer for VFW magazine.

When President Joe Biden signed a law on Oct. 13, 2021, that designates a 1,300-mile trail called the September 11th National Memorial Trail, it served as the culmination of two decades of planning for David Brickley.

Brickley, who heard the news while on a business trip in Austria, fused his gratification with the memory of the project’s genesis in the wake of one of America’s darkest days.

In September 2001, Brickley served as director of Virginia’s Department of Conservation and Recreation. He was to join a 13-state conference on trails and greenway infrastructure from Sept. 15-18 in Arlington, Virginia, when the Sept. 11 attacks happened.

“When 9/11 hit, we had a conference call among ourselves, and it was agreed to proceed with the conference, partly as a reflection that we couldn’t be beaten down,” said Brickley, who was awarded the Bronze Star during his deployment to Vietnam in 1969.

Brickley, a Life member of VFW Post 1503 in Dale City, Virginia, welcomed the multi-state representatives into a conference room at the Crystal City Marriott by having his park rangers pass out small U.S. flags at the entrance.

“I wanted to establish a mood of resiliency and patriotism in the wake of these senseless terrorist attacks,” Brickley said. “At the end of the conference, I said we needed to find a way to merge our love of trails and greenways with this horrific event that happened just days before and just blocks from where we were meeting.”

With overwhelming support, Brickley formed the 9/11 National Memorial Trail Alliance, a Prince William County nonprofit, a year later. The goal of the Alliance was to create a multi-state trail system that linked all three September 11 memorial sites – the National September 11 Memorial in New York City, the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Arlington.

“We have had tremendous support from local and state governments ever since,” Brickley said. “Our volunteers are the backbone, and they come from all backgrounds, which includes the mother of a beautiful daughter lost in the Flight 93 crash and a New York City firefighter who survived the collapse of both towers [of the World Trade Center.]”

Brickley’s vision took the form of a triangle on the map, which linked all three sites in what runs 1,300 miles long altogether. In order to actualize the vision, however, Brickley had to find answers for several concerns.

From finding ways for the National Park Service to manage the multi-state trail to linking other existing trails and historic areas together, Brickley sought help from local and state governments in order to materialize the concept. With help and support from Virginia Sen. Charles Colgan and later Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania, concerns became possibilities for Brickley.

“I wrote to Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, and his chief of staff called me back and said, ‘The governor really loved the idea, because it could be the state’s longest trail, crossing the mountains to Pittsburgh,'” Brickley said. “He even provided initial funding toward our project.”

After laying out the blueprint for a trail system, the next task was to find a link between the Flight 93 crash site and the West Allegheny Passage, which is part of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, extending from Pittsburgh through West Virginia down into Virginia.

The link needed to encompass a 21-mile gap, which led to Brickley’s partnership with CSX Corp., a U.S.-based holding company focused on rail transportation and real estate, among many other ventures.

It was Brickley’s brother-in-law, Ben Swecker, who discovered an abandoned railroad corridor owned by CSX Corp., that could shorten the gap.

“We didn’t have funds when we started to negotiate to buy the land,” Brickley said. “I wrote CSX Corp.’s CEO Michael Ward a letter to remind him that 2016 would be the 15th anniversary of 9/11. Then I asked him if it wouldn’t be a wonderful gesture to donate 12 miles of the corridor.”

A month after the letter was written and sent, Brickley received a response from Ward, who was glad to help the cause by having CSX Corp. donate all 12 miles of the land toward the project.

After more than 16 years to find land and piece together the trail, Brickley’s next step was to seek designation as a federal trail to protect and solidify the land’s purpose in the future.

Through his connections, Brickley had U.S. Reps. Gerald E. Connolly (D-Va.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Don Beyer (D-Va.) introduce a bill to make the 1,300-mile trail a federal landmark in 2020. The bill subsequently passed in the House of Representatives with a vote of 423-0, which was then followed by the Senate’s unanimous consent.

“It was a great example of what can happen when both political parties work together,” said Brickley, who has since remained with the Alliance as its president emeritus. “In this case, the goal led to this system that connects five states and is a multi-use, on-road and off-road trail to honor the heroes of 9/11, as well as show the resilience and perseverance of Americans since the founding of our country.”

Though Brickley remained in Austria during the signing of the bill into public law by Biden on Oct. 13, he professed his appreciation for the President’s interest and involvement with the Alliance.

“Biden spent over an hour with our Alliance members talking about trails and greenways,” Brickley said. “He was engaging and understood how important it was to remember those heroes of 9/11 and ensure their memories are never forgotten.”

Now that the September 11th National Memorial Trail has earned federal designation, Brickely added that the next step is to continue working with the National Park Service in making the trail 100 percent off-road.

Today, the trail remains 50 percent off-road, allowing those who venture along it the options to drive, cycle or hike. Since 2001, hundreds of thousands of people have ventured on the trail, according to Brickley, with a few hundred people completing the full 1,300 miles.

“We’ve been greeted by the communities along the trail, and it really shows a sense of patriotism,” Brickley said. “It is still a work in progress, but our goal is to eventually have an entirely off-road trail. It’ll probably take decades, but it’s open now, and it’s a wonderful symbol of America.”

This article is featured in the 2022 May issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Ismael Rodriguez Jr., senior writer for VFW magazine.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is proud to announce that Freddie John Falgout Post 3665 in Raceland, Louisiana, was selected to receive the 2022 VFW Fred C. Hall Memorial Outstanding Post Special Project Award, a prestigious award that recognizes VFW Posts for notable and exceptional community service projects.

VFW Post 3665 was selected for its tireless work aiding and supporting its hometown in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida in the fall of 2021. When the town took a direct hit, knocking out critical infrastructure, Post members jumped into action, opening the doors of the Post to provide shelter, collecting fuel, nonperishable foods, water, tarps and cleaning products to distribute to the community.

Going above and beyond, Post members fully committed to the recovery efforts and worked with other nonprofit organizations to provide more than 2,000 hot meals to the community. Because of their efforts, 84 brand new mattresses found their way to the homes of people impacted by the hurricane.

“Service to others is a founding tenet of the VFW, and what Post 3665 was able to accomplish in the chaos and destruction following Hurricane Ida is a perfect example of the VFW doing what it does best,” said VFW National Commander Fritz Mihelcic.

VFW National Commander Mihelcic will present VFW Post 3665 Commander James Prestenbach with the 2022 VFW Fred C. Hall Memorial Outstanding Post Special Project Award on Wednesday, July 20, during the 123rd VFW National Convention being held in Kansas City, Missouri.

When Afghanistan War veteran Tony Mayne retired from the Army after more than 20 years, he vowed to continue serving fellow Rangers by sharing his invaluable knowledge.

Understanding the complexities of a journey from service member to civilian, Mayne resolved to help the Rangers population through a “Ranger For Life” concept he began developing while serving in the 75th Ranger Regiment’s public affairs staff in 2014.

“I knew Rangers were not aware of the resources available to them due to my day-to-day interactions,” said Mayne, who deployed with C Co., 3rd Ranger Bn., 75th Ranger Regt. during the initial airborne assault on Objective Rhino in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, on Oct. 19, 2001.

Mayne knew the Army’s “Soldier for Life” program was a good starting point, but he believed service in the 75th Rangers provided the foundation for success.

“We look at ourselves as Rangers first,” said Mayne, a Life member of VFW Post 665 in Columbus, Ga. “Soldier for Life can work if it is tailored to the unit level. That’s why we developed the Ranger For Life concept as a retention and transition program.”

The program, which the 75th Rangers officially established in 2019 to both help with civilian transition and expand retention through the Phalanx program for Rangers who want to remain in the Army, follows a holistic approach comprised of five key elements for transition. For Mayne, who retired in April 2020, those five elements became the pillars upon which his Columbus-based company, Ranger For Life LLC, was created in July 2020.

“Employment and education are the easy parts of transition,” Mayne said. “Our Ranger For Life holistic approach is comprised of the big five – networking, continuing education and initial employment, VA integration, financial literacy and holistic strength training of the body, mind and spirit.”

Operating out of the Ranger Outreach Center in Columbus since its inception in 2020, Mayne’s company has continuously developed contacts and boasts a diverse array of professionals, businesses and organizations ready to assist Rangers with their transition.

As its CEO, Mayne also has partnered with GallantFew Inc., and Three Rangers Foundation to enhance the effectiveness of providing Rangers with a pathway to success as they enter the civilian world.

“GallantFew, Three Rangers Foundation and Ranger For Life LLC have a 100 percent employment placement and/or enrollment in a chosen field of study for the more than 400 transitioning Rangers we have seen six months prior to Expiration Term of Service,” said Mayne, who has served as GallantFew’s programs director since April 2020.

Mayne attributes the growing success of the partnership between these veteran-based organizations to networking, a staple of his Ranger For Life concept and one learned from his time at Clemson University and The Ohio State University, respectively.

“Like at universities, we are building the alumni network,” Mayne said. “Every successfully transitioned Ranger is a spokesperson for the regiment – that is recruiting. A well-transitioned Ranger is a potential Ranger volunteer – that is relationship building through mentorship.”

From transition support for the individual to training solutions scalable for large-sized organizations, Mayne believes his Ranger For Life approach can help navigate a post-military career without hiccups.

“It’s not mandatory for Rangers to see us, so once a Ranger takes the GallantFew self-assessment test, steps in the doors of the Ranger Outreach Center or signs up for our elite courses, watch out,” Mayne said. “A Ranger who seeks assistance has already overcome the biggest hurdle in transition – fear of the unknown.”

In spreading the word, Mayne also created A More Elite podcast in May 2021, which welcomes guests to share their personal journeys as examples of perseverance. The podcast episodes air every Thursday at noon ET on Apple Podcasts.

“Our desire is only to see our Rangers and their families continue to serve our great nation and thrive in the process,” Mayne said. “At the end of the day, we’ve got a lot of people who can make an impact across many industries. We want to put our Rangers front and center.”

For more information on how Ranger For Life injects the holistic wellness practices of Rangers into America, visit www.rangerforlife.com.

This article is featured in the 2022 April issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Ismael Rodriguez Jr., senior writer for VFW magazine.

Members of VFW Post 3834 in San Fernando, California, are celebrating their recent achievement of earning All-American status. They are celebrating for good reason. This is the first time in the Post’s 80-year history to have received the honor. A quick look at the Post’s community involvement makes clear the title is well deserved.

“Our Post provides opportunities to those veterans who want to continue their service or find connections with like-minded veterans,” said Post Commander Raul Barragan. “From providing opportunities for local families through our Cub Scout pack to offering vaccinations through a local health partnership, we are committed to continuing to be a pillar [for] our community.”

It is important to members of Post 3834 that that community includes everyone. They take extra care to ensure veterans from every era and background feel supported. Last spring, the Post hosted a Salute to Women Veterans event where women service members received a specially prepared meal, vocational resources, COVID supplies and more. In October, the Post held a ceremony to award a Korean War veteran with a special citation for his service.

No matter where they served or what they experienced, the Post provides resources to support the well-being of all veterans. Partnering recently with other local entities, it co-hosted a Veterans and Military Families Wellness Day. The event featured family fun activities and entertainment. Attendees received meals and groceries, vaccinations, wellness checks, employment assistance, haircuts and more.

For young people, too, the Post makes sure to lead and inspire by example. Working with Boy Scouts of America, the Post chartered a new chapter, Scout Pack 3834.

“Involvement with the Scouting program presented our Post with the ability to positively affect the lives of youth in our community while developing partnerships,” said Barragan.

“Both organizations share similar goals, primarily that of supporting the community. By working together, we can help develop the leaders of our future through teaching hard lessons learned by the leaders of today.”

In addition to these events and programs, Post members are working together to come back from the pandemic stronger than before. They remain focused on providing a place where every veteran feels welcome and equipped to fulfill their passion to serve.

“We strive to continue to lead by example,” said Barragan. “As they say, just because we are no longer in uniform doesn’t mean our commitment to serving our nation wanes.”

The VFW is proud to honor the members of Post 3834 who are #StillServing today, and celebrates them as the June 2022 VFW #StillServing Post of the Month.

OAK BROOK, Ill. – Ace Hardware is collaborating with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) once again this year to honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country by giving away 1 million American flags nationwide on Saturday, May 28, 2022.

Consumers who visit a participating Ace store on May 29th will receive a free 8″ x 12″ American flag.* A second flag will be donated to a local VFW Post to be used for marking and honoring veterans’ graves this Memorial Day.

“Ace is proud to be a part of this nationwide effort to distribute flags to our customers and to the VFW to help honor our fallen heroes on Memorial Day,” said Kim Lefko, Chief Marketing Officer, Ace Hardware. “With Ace stores easily accessible to millions of Americans, we wanted to step up and provide a way for our customers, and our store owners and associates, to pay tribute to our military men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.”

“For veterans and VFW members, Memorial Day is the most sacred of days as we remember and honor the men and women of our armed forces who made the ultimate sacrifice,” said VFW National Commander Fritz Mihelcic. “We’re proud to partner with patriotic and compassionate companies like Ace Hardware to help ensure our fallen service members are never forgotten.”

Last year, over 500,000 American flags were given away to customers at Ace stores nationwide. In addition, Ace sent 550,000 flags to more than 1,900 VFW Posts for placement on veterans’ graves.

“The American flag giveaway aligns with Ace Hardware’s long history of supporting veterans nationwide,” added Lefko. “Ace’s very name is a commemoration of the “flying aces,” the courageous fighter pilots from World War I. Ace’s patriotism continues through the support of its veteran retailers, and the sincere appreciation for all the veterans and active-duty military who work in Ace stores, distribution centers, and its corporate offices.”

*Flags will be available at participating Ace stores while quantities last. Limit one 8″ x 12″ flag per customer. No purchase necessary.

About Ace Hardware
Ace Hardware is the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the world with more than 5,500 locally owned and operated hardware stores in approximately 70 countries.

Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., Ace and its subsidiaries operate an expansive network of distribution centers in the U.S. and have distribution capabilities in Ningbo, China; Colon, Panama; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Since 1924, Ace has become a part of local communities around the world and known as the place with the helpful hardware folks. For more information, visit acehardware.com or newsroom.acehardware.com.

About the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is the nation’s largest and oldest major war veterans organization. Founded in 1899, the congressionally chartered VFW is comprised entirely of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, Guard and Reserve forces. With more than 1.5 million VFW and Auxiliary members located in nearly 6,000 Posts worldwide, the nonprofit veterans service organization is proud to proclaim “NO ONE DOES MORE FOR VETERANS” than the VFW, which is dedicated to veterans’ service, legislative advocacy, and military and community service programs. For more information, or to join, visit our website at vfw.org.