The Veterans of Foreign Wars has a rich
tradition of serving veterans, military families and their local communities.
The VFW traces its 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.