VFW Celebrates 107 Years of Service Sept. 29, 2006
Sep. 29, 2006 at 11:44 PM
by Blogmaster
Today, in honor of VFW Day, Veterans of Foreign Wars members worldwide are celebrating our 107 years of service to our nation, community, veterans and the military.As such it is appropriate to mark this anniversary in the same spirit of service that is the VFW trademark. Just like our founding fathers did back in 1899, VFW members are continuing in the tradition of helping others by annually contributing more than 14 million volunteer hours and more than $50 million toward community service projects.
In Massachusetts, Ray Roberge took advantage of a state lottery program that awards a new $1 lottery ticket for every 25 losing tickets that are turned in. It took four months of collecting, but Ray drove up to the State Lottery Commission with 300,000 losing tickets and took 12,000 new ones back to VFW Post 7272 where volunteers began scratching. Their winnings topped $7,500. All the money went to support disabled veterans, the VFW's National Home for Children and Post college scholarship programs.
VFW Post 1390 in St. Maries, Idaho, closed its doors recently, but before they merged with another Post, they sold their building and gave $5,000 checks each to the National Home, to Operation Uplink, and to the local veteran's hospital and county food bank.
Tiny Delaware, the first state to enter the union, is 45th in population and 49th in size, but the Department of Delaware is mighty big when it comes to contributions to Operation Uplink-- almost $200,000 in four years.
These are just a few examples that represent the heart of the VFW and its Auxiliaries, and I just want to say 'thank you' for all that you do. Your contributions to your community and to the nation truly represent the spirit of America. Your benevolence and service to others are admirable and appreciated. Thank you for helping to make America better.
Gary Kurpius
VFW Commander-in-Chief
