VFW

In an open letter, VFW Commander-in-Chief Glen Gardner is urging his 1.6 million members to help OEF/OIF veterans cope with the stresses of war.

May 29, 2009 -- Dear Comrades:

There is an enemy in our midst that is having a devastating effect on our servicemen and women in the field and at home. That enemy is stress.

Since 9/11, more military personnel and veterans have committed suicide than the total dead from both wars in Iraq and Afghanistan combined, and this tragedy is occurring despite the best of intentions and programs offered by the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. That is because the need has overwhelmed the capacity of government and civilian mental health centers. It's also because some people simply refuse to admit they need help.    » read more »

Washington, March 17, 2009 – President Obama met yesterday with the national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. to discuss the VFW's opposition to an administration proposal to bill veterans with private health insurance for the care they receive for their service-connected disabilities and wounds.

"The president told us that he would not go through with the third-party billing proposal if he felt the veterans' community didn't approve of it," said Glen M. Gardner Jr., who leads the nation's largest organization of combat veterans. "We made our opposition clearly known."    » read more »

August 18, 2008 -- As John McCain addressed the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in Orlando, FL, this morning, he was practicing more of the same old politics. McCain claims to be an advocate for America's veterans despite his record on veterans' issues. Like Bush, McCain will continue sending American soldiers - along with billions of dollars - to Iraq and Afghanistan, but he'll block programs for health care and education for veterans here at home.

John McCain (left) visits with a WWII veteran: Photo by sloomis08 (CC)    » read more »

Creating separate system is an injustice to all disabled veterans

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2008--The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is urging the leadership of four key congressional committees to block attempts to create a separate disability system that would have the Department of Veterans Affairs compensate veterans with similar wounds differently based on their age.    » read more »

February 4, 2008 - Vermont Attorney General William H. Sorrell applauded a Caledonia Superior Court decision issued on January 31, 2008, that prohibits smoking in a building operated by the Lyndonville VFW on Hill Street in Lyndonville. The court upheld the validity of Vermont’s Smoking in Public Places law and found the VFW in violation of the law.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4, 2008--The national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is calling the president’s budget proposal for the Department of Veterans Affairs a good start, and is now asking Congress to improve upon the funding and policy package. He is also urging Congress to make sure that the VA receives its funding before the government's new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1.    » read more »

CHARLOTTE, Mich., Nov.8, 2007--Maple City Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2406 in Charlotte celebrated its new Family Assistance Center during a Veterans Day ceremony.

The VFW Post 2406 Family Assistance Center is one of only three centers in Michigan. The facility for the military is open to the public and will serve the communities of Mid-Michigan. Currently, the nearest VFW Family Assistance Center is located in Grand Rapids – 63 miles from Charlotte and 68 miles from Lansing. Individualsdo not need to be VFW members to use the Family Assistance Centers.    » read more »

President Bush Fails to Adequately Address Urgent Issues Facing Veterans Today

August, 20, 2007 -- NEW YORK –Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation’s first and largest organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, released the following statement in response to President Bush’s remarks to the Veterans of Foreign Wars national convention in Kansas City today:    » read more »

August 21, 2007 -- As President Bush prepares to address the 108th annual convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Kansas City tomorrow, Democrats today called on the President to offer more than the same empty rhetoric and broken promises on the issues that matter to America's veterans and military families.    » read more »

President Bush Fails to Adequately Address Urgent Issues Facing Veterans Today

August, 20, 2007 -- NEW YORK –Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation’s first and largest organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, released the following statement in response to President Bush’s remarks to the Veterans of Foreign Wars national convention in Kansas City today:    » read more »

August 22, 2007 -- Chicago, IL -- U.S. Senator Barack Obama released the following statement today in response to the speech delivered by President Bush at the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention.    » read more »

August 22, 2007 -- Washington, DC— United States Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today made the following statement after President Bush’s speech at the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention:    » read more »

August 22, 2007 -- BOSTON – Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) today made the following statement in response to the speech today by President Bush to the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Kansas City, Missouri in which the President invoked comparisons to the Vietnam War to defend his war policy:    » read more »

August 22, 2007 -- Washington, DC – “Our brave troops have been doing everything asked of them for four and a half years. And they have been doing everything asked of them since the Administration announced the surge.

The surge was designed to give the Iraqi government time to take steps to ensure a political solution to the situation. It has failed to do so.

The White House's report in September won’t change that. It is abundantly clear that there is no military solution to the sectarian fighting in Iraq. We need to stop refereeing the war, and start getting out now.”    » read more »

August 21, 2007 -- Washington, DC — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made the following statement today, in advance of President Bush’s planned speech at the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention tomorrow morning.    » read more »