The Veterans of Foreign Wars traces its origins to 1899, when veterans of the Spanish–American War and the Philippine Insurrection, many of them sick or wounded and without access to medical care or pensions, banded together to secure their rights. Early chapters in Ohio, Colorado, and Pennsylvania grew quickly, and by 1915 membership reached 5,000. By 1936, it had surged to nearly 200,000.

Since then, the VFW has played a pivotal role in shaping veterans’ policy—helping establish the Veterans Administration, advocating for the GI Bill, expanding the national cemetery system, and securing compensation for veterans exposed to Agent Orange and Gulf War Syndrome. In 2008, the organization achieved a major victory with the Post-9/11 GI Bill, providing expanded education benefits to service members, Guardsmen, and Reservists serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The VFW has also championed national remembrance, contributing to the Vietnam, Korean War, World War II, and Women in Military Service memorials, as well as being the first veterans’ group to support the Disabled Veterans for Life Memorial, dedicated in 2010.

Today, with nearly 2 million members, the VFW remains a force for service. Each year, members volunteer over 8.6 million hours in their communities, support major national volunteer initiatives, and award more than $3 million in scholarships and savings bonds to students. From elevating the Department of Veterans Affairs to cabinet-level status to ensuring every generation of veterans receives its due, the VFW continues to fulfill its mission of service and advocacy.