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Membership: Programs
Membership:
The future of our organization depends on Membership to be strong for us to survive and perform our programs to help and assist fellow veterans. Remember, The membership Is the Governing Body, so we have to recruit New and Reinstate former members. There are thousands of eligible veterans out there just waiting for someone to ask them to join the greatest organization on this earth.
Need some help recruiting? Please call the District Commander, Sr. Vice Commander, or Post Commander in your local area.
Programs:
The VFW supports and operates many programs. The following are just a sample.
 Voice of Democracy - "Voice of Democracy" (VOD) began in 1946 as a National Association of Broadcasters program. Initially, four winners were selected as national winners and each received a $500 savings bond and a wristwatch.
Interestingly, in the competition's second year, a student by the name of Charles Kuralt, who would become a famous television journalist, was one of the winners. The VFW honored Charles Kuralt, who died in 1998, by naming its second-place $15,000 national scholarship in his memory.
VFW became the sole sponsor of the Voice of Democracy Contest in 1961. I n that year, the total scholarships amounted to $3,750. Today, national scholarships alone total $132,000, with awards and scholarships at all levels amounting to some $2.6 million. After more than a half -century of existence, this premier youth competition is stronger than ever, and it remains the pride of the VFW.
This is a national written essay for high school students in the 9th, l0th, 11th or 12th grade. Each state winner is provided with an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., plus the opportunity to compete for National scholarships totaling over $130,000. The First Place National Winner receives a $20,000 scholarship. The link above will connect you to the rules of the essay and the many prizes that are awarded.
Food Drives - We are proud to sponsor several food drives throughout the year. Our successful drives in the past have collected canned and dried food staples which are distributed to food pantries within the community. Homelessness is a becoming a chronic problem and it has been estimated that one in three Vets are homeless. The Link above will show dates, times and addresses for future drives. 
Buddy Poppy - Honor the Dead By Helping the Living. The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States was the first veteran~ organization to promote a nationally organized campaign for the annual distributiorion of poppies assembled by disabled and needy veterans. Once a year you will find us dressed in our recognizable vests, walking with our cans of poppies. Your donation will help those that need it most. The link above will connect you to The "History of the Buddy Poppy".
Voice of Democracy
1. WHAT IS IT?
A National Audio Essay Scholarship Contest designed to give high school students the opportunity to voice their opinion and address their responsibility to our country. The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and its Ladies Auxiliary hope that every high school in our country will provide the opportunity for its students to take part in this contest. Through classroom study projects and special assignments, students will be motivated, while writing and speaking, to express their opinion about their personal responsibilities and better understanding the rights and responsibilities of being an American.
2. WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Students must be in 9th, l0th, 11th or 12th grade and properly enrolled in a public, private, parochial high school or a home study program in the United States, its territories and possessions or enrolled in an overseas school as a dependent of U.S. military or U.S. civilian personnel. (Foreign Exchange students are excluded.)
3. WHAT ARE THE PRIZES?
Each state winner is provided with an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., plus the opportunity to compete for National scholarships totaling over $130,000. The First Place National Winner receives a $20,000 scholarship.
4. WHO SPONSORS THE PROGRAM?
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and its Ladies Auxiliary.
5. WHAT ARE THE CONTEST DEADLINES?
Student Entry NOVEMBER 1st
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE CONTEST?
The National Voice of Democracy Contest is offered to foster patriotism, love of country and intended to encourage good citizenship. The contest is conducted each year during the fall school term, allowing high school students the opportunity to win valuable scholarships and awards while expressing their opinion on America.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO COMPETE?
If you are currently a 9th, lOth, 11th or 12th grade student properly enrolled in a public, private, parochial high school or home study program in the United States, its territories and possessions, or a dependent of U.S. military or U.S. civilian personnel in overseas school... you may be eligible to compete. (Foreign Exchange students are excluded.)
HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE?
The contest is conducted each fall and any interested student should encourage their school to take part. Ask your counselor or a favorite teacher to contact the nearest Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in your local community and get full details on their local program. The competition must be sponsored by a VFW Post. Full cooperation between the Post and your school is vital to a successful competition. DEADLINE FOR ENTERING COMPETITION: NOVEMBER 1st. Any entry submitted directly to National VFW Headquarters will be returned to the sender. A Post may advance one winner from each school into the District Competition. One winner from each District will advance to the Department Competition. One winner from each Department (54) will advance to the National Competition.
AWARDS/OPPORTUNITIES
Each Department first place winner receives an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. Four fun-filled days of tours, visits to monuments, meeting with heads of state and often the President or Vice President of the United States. The National Judging is held in Washington, D.C. prior to the students' arrival and the winners are announced at a special reception in their honor. In June, each Department winner is invited to the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge Freedom & Leadership Youth Conference. The 3-day conference allows participating students the opportunity to converse with experts on current issues of citizenship, tour the Philadelphia and Valley Forge historic sites and participate in seminars designed to develop leadership skills and understand the value of community service. The foundations of American democracy and the elements of the free enterprise system will also be explored through thought provoking lectures and workshops. All National scholarships are paid directly to the American university, American college or vocational technical school as selected by the recipient. Disbursement is made directly to the college/school upon receipt of proper notice from the college certifying that the recipient has been accepted and is enrolled. All scholarship moneys are held in escrow at National headquarters for ten years and disbursed as needed until the scholarship is totally withdrawn. This time may be extended to cover all years of study as the student deems necessary. The funds may be used for tuition, books, computers, laboratory fees and/or other items relating specifically to the student's formal education. (Clothing, room and board and pocket money are not considered authorized expenditures.) All questions should be referred to National Headquarters for review. Numerous opportunities also exist to win valuable scholarships and awards at each level of the competition. Most VFW Posts/Auxiliaries offer additional monetary awards to participants who place in their local school competition.
WHAT IS ACTUALLY REQUIRED OF A PARTICIPANT?
All eligible students will be judged on their interpretation of the contest theme. A positive approach should be used to express the entrant's viewpoint. The theme is "What Price Freedom?" The finished written essay should not take less than three minutes nor longer than five minutes when recorded on a cassette tape.
DELIVERY
Delivery should be on a good-quality cassette tape and in a natural style. Voice tone should be normal and conversational. THE ESSAY SHOULD BE SPOKEN IN ENGLISH; NO BACKGROUND MUSIC, SINGING OR OTHER ENHANCEMENT ALLOWED. (When preparing and presenting the final written and recorded essay, care must be taken not to identify themselves, their city, state or school.)
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Available Scholarships
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$25,000
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T.C. Selman Memorial Scholarship
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$16,000
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Charles Kuralt Memorial Scholarship
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$10,000
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VFW Scholarship
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$ 7,000
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LeRoy Moorhead Memorial Scholarship
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$ 5,000
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VFW Scholarship
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$ 5,000
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Floyd County VFW Post 3281 New Albany Indiana Scholarship
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$ 5,000
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Rehoboth Beach Post 7447 and
Auxiliary Dept. of Delaware Scholarship
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$ 4,000
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Department of Minnesota
William F. Halsey Memorial Scholarship
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$ 3,000
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Department of Indiana and Auxiliary Scholarship
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$ 3,000
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Joseph O. Hansen Memorial Scholarship (MD)
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$ 3,000
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Department of New York and Auxiliary,
Albert G. Salmon Memorial Scholarship
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$ 2,500
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Daniel Sean Wallace Memorial Scholarship (NJ)
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$ 2,500
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Troy and Sandy Rothbart Memorial Scholarship (NY)
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$ 2,000
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Jesse A. Lewis Memorial Scholarship (CA)
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$ 1,500
Scholarships
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To many to list
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For further information please contact your high school counselor, a favorite teacher, or VFW Post.
Return to Top
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VFW Food Drives
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Monday March 5, 2003
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9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at TBA
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Monday March 19, 2003
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9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at TBA
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Monday April 5, 2003
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9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at TBA
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Monday April 19, 2003
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9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at TBA
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Monday May 5, 2003
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9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at TBA
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Monday May 19, 2003
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9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at TBA
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History of the Buddy Poppy
 The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States was the first veteran organization to promote a nationally organized campaign for the annual distribution of poppies assembled by disabled and needy veterans.
The poppy movement was inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields" written by Colonel John McCrae of the Canadian forces before the United States entered World War I. Selling replicas of the original Flanders' poppy originated in some of the allied countries immediately after the Armistice.
No definite organized sale of poppies on a nationwide scale was conducted in America until 1921, when the Franco-American Children's League sold poppies ostensibly for the benefit of children in the devastated areas of France and Belgium.
Madam Guerin, who was recognized as "the poppy lady from France", sought and received the cooperation of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. early in 1922, after the Franco-American Children's League was dissolved. The VFW conducted a poppy sale prior to Memorial Day, 1922, using only poppies that were made in France. In the 1923 poppy sale, due to the difficulty and delay in getting poppies from France, the VFW made use of a surplus of French poppies that were on hand and the balance was provided by a firm in New York City manufacturing artificial flowers.
It was during the 1923 campaign that the VFW evolved the idea which resulted in the VFW Buddy Poppy - fashioned by disabled and needy veterans who were paid for their work as a practical means of providing assistance for these Comrades. This plan was formally presented for adoption to the 1923 encampment of the VFW at Norfolk, Virginia. Immediately thereafter the VFW Buddy Poppy factory was established in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where all VFW Buddy Poppies for the 1924 sale were assembled by disabled veterans. General Frank T. Hines, Director of the U.S. Veterans' Bureau, endorsed the plan and pledged the cooperation of his department. All men employed in the assembling of the Buddy Poppies for the 1924 sale were sent to the VFW poppy workshop by the U.S. Veterans' Bureau regional manager in Pittsburgh. The designation "Buddy Poppy" which originated with the men themselves, was adopted at that time. IN FEBRUARY, 1924, THE VFW REGISTERED THE NAME "BUDDY POPPY" WITH THE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE, AND A CERTIFICATE WAS ISSUED ON MAY 20, 1924, GRANTING THE VFW ALL TRADEMARK RIGHTS IN THE NAME OF "BUDDY" UNDER THE CLASSIFICATION OF ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS. The VFW has made that trademark a guarantee that all poppies bearing that name and the VFW label are genuine products of the work of disabled and needy veterans. No other organization, firm or individual can make legal use of the name "BUDDY" POPPY.
Following the 1924 sale, a number of the larger Departments (States) of the VFW believed it would stimulate local sales if the poppies they used were assembled by disabled veterans in hospitals within their own jurisdiction. The 1924 encampment of the VFW at Atlantic City granted this privilege, under the provision that all poppies would be produced according to specifications set forth by the National Buddy Poppy Committee, and that all poppies would be assembled by disabled veterans in government hospitals and by needy veterans in workshops supervised by the VFW.
The National Buddy Poppy Committee has maintained a close check on the making of Buddy Poppies and has supplied VFW Buddy Poppy labels which must be used on all poppies sold by any unit of this organization. The VFW has steadfastly adhered to the policy of veteran assembled poppies.
Following the 1924 sale, a number of the larger Departments (States) of the VFW believed it would stimulate local sales if the poppies they used were assembled by disabled veterans in hospitals within their own jurisdiction. The 1924 encampment of the VFW at Atlantic City granted this privilege, under the provision that all poppies would be produced according to specifications set forth by the National Buddy Poppy Committee, and that all poppies would be assembled by disabled veterans in government hospitals and by needy veterans in workshops supervised by the VFW.
The VFW organized the first nationwide distribution of poppies ever conducted by a veterans organization in May, 1922. Immediately thereafter, the poppy was adopted by the National Encampment held in Seattle, Washington during August of that year as the official memorial flower of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
In September, 1920, the National Convention of the American Legion held at Cleveland, passed a resolution adopting the poppy as the official flower of that organization. However, at the third National Convention of the American Legion held in Kansas City in October, 1921, the American Legion repudiated the poppy and adopted the daisy as its official flower.
In October, 1922, following the first nationwide sale of poppies conducted by the VFW during the month of May of that year, the fourth National Convention of the American Legion held at New Orleans, Louisiana in October, adopted the following resolution which is taken from a printed summary of the proceedings: "Resolved, that the poppy is hereby declared to be the official American Legion flower, instead of the daisy, which was adopted by the 1921 convention of the American Legion".
This indicates the daisy was adopted by the American Legion in 1921 and following the successful poppy sale conducted by the VFW in May, 1922 the American Legion realized the financial possibilities of the poppy movement. In the spring of 1923, following the New Orleans encampment and one year after the first poppy sale of the VFW on a nationwide scale, the American Legion conducted its first poppy sale using poppies supplied by a French manufacturer as shown in the report of the National Adjutant for the year ending October 15, 1923.
The records are clear, however, on the subject of the first nationwide distribution of poppies by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. in May, 1922.
From the very beginning, the Buddy Poppy project of the VFW has received the endorsement and cooperation of the Director of the Veterans Administration, and the support of administrators and medical officers of government hospitals. All Presidents since Warren G. Harding (1921-1923) have conveyed to the nation at large, endorsement and recognition of this VFW effort.
Today, VFW Buddy Poppies are assembled by disabled, needy, and aging veterans in VA Hospitals and domiciliaries across the country. The majority of proceeds derived from each sale conducted by VFW Posts and their Ladies Auxiliaries is retained locally to provide for veteran services and welfare. The minimal assessment (cost of Buddy Poppies) to VFW units provides compensation to the veterans who assembled the poppies, provides financial assistance in maintaining state and national veterans' rehabilitation and service programs, and partially supports the VFW National Home for orphans and widows of our nation's veterans.
Buddy Poppy proceeds represent no profit to any VFW unit. All the money contributed by the public for Buddy Poppies is used in the cause of veterans welfare, or for the well-being of their needy dependents and the orphans of veterans.
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