VFW Objectives
The objects of the Veterans of Foreign Wars are fraternal, patriotic, historical
and educational; to preserve and strengthen comradeship among its members; to
assist worthy comrades; to perpetuate the memory and history of our dead, and to
assist their widows and orphans; to maintain true allegiance to the Government
of the United States of America, and fidelity to its Constitution and laws: to foster
true patriotism, to maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom; and
to preserve and defend the United States from all her enemies, whomsoever

History of the VFW
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States traces its roots back to 1899.
That year, Veterans of the Spanish-American War (1898) and the Philippine
Insurrection (1899-1902) founded local organizations to secure rights and
benefits for their service. In Columbus, Ohio, they founded the American
Veterans of Foreign Service. In Denver Colo., they organized the Colorado
Society, Army of the Philippines.
In 1901, Philippine Veterans in Altoona and Pittsburgh, Penn., started the
Philippine War Veterans. The following year, Philadelphia, Penn., became the
home of the American Veterans of the Philippine and China Wars. In 1905, these
three groups merged with the American Veterans of Foreign Service.
In 1913, the American Veterans of Foreign Service was amalgamated with the
Colorado Society, Army of the Philippines and became the Army of the
Philippine-Cuba and Puerto Rico, then changed their name to the Veterans of
Foreign Wars of the United States.