Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars

09/11/2026

Texas VFW reminds you that checking in can make a meaningful difference. September is Su***de Prevention Month, AND every month connection can make a difference!

A Buddy Check is taking a few moments to intentionally connect with a fellow Veteran and pay attention to how they’re really doing.

CONNECT by reaching out
NOTICE changes in behavior or routine
ASK honest questions, and truly listen.
ACT if they need support. Don’t leave them to face life’s challenges alone.

You don’t need the perfect words. You just need to show up, listen, and remind them they are not alone.

* Pictured here is Gabriel Kanawite, Texas VFW member and su***de awareness advocate.

If a Veteran is in crisis, call or text 988, then press 1, or visit www.veteranscrisisline.net. Support is available 24/7.

***dePreventionMonth

09/11/2026

On Patriot Day, Texas VFW remembers the nearly 3,000 innocent lives lost on September 11, 2001, and we honor the extraordinary courage revealed in one of America’s darkest hours.

September 11 is a solemn reminder that America’s strength is found in the courage of its people, the resolve of those willing to serve, and the unity we demonstrate in the face of tragedy.

Today, approximately 4.4 million living Americans are Veterans of the post-9/11 era. For nearly 25 years, Veterans have continued to serve across the world, continuing the legacy of courage and sacrifice.

We will never forget those we lost. We will never forget those who sacrificed. And we will always honor the heroes who show the world what American bravery means.

09/07/2026

Your voice could win a scholarship!

Texas students in grades 6-8 (Patriot's Pen) and 9–12 (Voice of Democracy) have until October 31 to connect with a VFW Post and enter the VFW’s scholarship competitions for a chance to win a share of nearly $2.7 million in scholarships and awards nationwide.

This year’s theme, “What a Veteran Taught Me About America,” is more than a chance to win scholarship money, it’s an opportunity to explore the vital role our Veterans have played in shaping our nation and share what their service and experiences mean to you.

📍 Find a participating Texas VFW Post to get started:
https://www.texasvfw.org/find-a-post-near-you/

Grades 6–8: Patriot’s Pen, national first prize $5,000
Grades 9–12: Voice of Democracy, national first prize $35,000

The deadline is October 31. Don’t wait.

09/07/2026

May your Labor Day celebration have the same energy as the 1882 New York City parade that helped start it all, 10,000 workers, a march through Manhattan, and one memorable picnic afterward.

Today, we celebrate the workers who keep Texas and America moving forward and the generations of Americans whose hard work helped build the nation we’re proud to call home.

From the Texas VFW, have a safe, well-earned, and memorable Labor Day!

09/02/2026

A monumental chapter in history arrived on September 2,1945 with VJ Day. Representatives of the Japanese government, along with U.S. Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, signed the Instrument of Surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. This significant act marked the formal end of World War II, a devastating conflict that reshaped the world and demanded extraordinary service and sacrifice.

More than 16 million Americans bravely answered the call to serve, with over 400,000 making the ultimate sacrifice. For these heroes, VJ Day represented not just victory, but the promise of returning to loved ones. To families who had endured years of uncertainty and anxiety, and communities that had held vigil, hoping for a brighter future. For many families, the waiting continued. The return of America's servicemen and women was a massive undertaking that stretched well into 1946

As we reflect on this pivotal moment, Texas VFW honors the courage of World War II Veterans who fought valiantly across the globe and remembers those who did not return home. Their sacrifices continue to resonate deeply, reminding us of the price of peace and the resilience of the human spirit.

September 2, 1945, is a testament to victory, but it is also a somber reminder of the human cost behind it. Texas VFW pays tribute to this remarkable generation that answered the call. While encouraging our fellow Veterans and our nation's citizens to carry forward the responsibility to remember their service and preserve their legacy for future generations.

09/01/2026

SEPTEMBER CERT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES!

The Texas VFW’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic Training (G-317) provides nationally recognized, hands-on training in disaster preparedness, first aid and medical operations, fire safety, light search and rescue, communications, disaster psychology, team organization and more.

📅 Two September opportunities:

1️⃣Sept. 18–20 | Rockport --VFW Post 3904
REGISTER: [email protected]

2️⃣Sept. 25–27 | Mineral Wells -- VFW Post 2399
REGISTER: [email protected]

Check the graphic for complete dates, times and registration information.

More CERT training dates are coming throughout the year, stay tuned!

Veteran Led. Texas Strong.
Together, We Build a Stronger, Safer Texas.

08/31/2026

Not just another date, August 31 marks the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom, which began in 2003 and asked hundreds of thousands of Americans to serve and sacrifice with courage far from home.

Nearly 4,500 U.S. service members did not return home.
Another 31,994 service members were wounded in action.
And still today, injuries and illnesses have emerged, persist, and are diagnosed years later.

The mission ended. The effects of service did not.

Veterans returning home have continued to experience health conditions associated with the hazards and exposures of military service. A reminder of the magnitude of what service members have been asked to do and the responsibility that comes with asking them to do it.

Honor the Contract is a reminder of the commitment made when these men and women raised their right hands and signed their enlistment contracts.
Those benefits are not charity. They are not a handout. They are not something a Veteran must prove they deserve. And they should not be up for negotiation after the fact. They were earned.

The VFW continues to call on our nation to Honor the Contract,
Oppose Section 108 of the Take Care of America's Veterans Act,
Stop the reduction of future Veterans' disability compensation to fund other provisions of the legislation

Pass TCAVA without asking one generation of Veterans to sacrifice benefits earned by another.

On this commemoration day, we remember those who served, honor those who never came home, and recognize the strength and sacrifice of the generations who answered the call.
Continue the efforts and tell your representative to remove Section108: https://votervoice.net/VFW/Campaigns/138781/Respond?_gl=1*1omkjs8*_gcl_au*MTA3MDkzOTgyMi4xNzgxMjI3MDI4*_ga*ODgwMTEyMzIyLjE3NTE4Mzc4Nzk.*_ga_GJV0BCNHVD*czE3ODgxMTQ4MDMkbzczJGcwJHQxNzg4MTE0ODAzJGo2MCRsMCRoMjUzNTc3NDA1

08/28/2026

"For us in Gillespie County, it really helps us maximize our ability to respond and be able to serve people," Fredericksburg-Gillespie County Office of Emergency Management spokesperson, Ashley Morris, reflecting on their partnering with Texas VFW CERT team.

Texas VFW CERT team recently held this training at VFW Fredericksburg Post 7105.

Read more 👇 about the importance of this training and look for your opportunity to sign up for a class near you in our media.

As Gillespie County continues recovering from historic summer flooding, emergency management officials are looking ahead to the next disaster by building a team of trained volunteers ready to respond ...

08/27/2026

Charging money to prepare or file initial and supplemental VA claims is against the law.
GET FREE, ACCREDITED HELP!
Veterans NEVER have to pay to get the benefits they earned.

The VFW provides expert, VA-accredited representation completely free of charge.

2,000 Texas VA-accredited service officers are available to assist you! Find a TxVFW Post and get assistance locating an accredited service officer: https://www.texasvfw.org/find-a-post-near-you/

Veterans do NOT have to be VFW members to receive assistance with claims!

Shown here: Texas VFW’s legislative chair Mitch Fuller’s testimony at the Texas Senate Select Committee on Veteran Affairs on 8-26-26.

08/26/2026

Because advocacy isn't something that happens somewhere else.
Texas VFW National & State Legislative Chairman Mitch Fuller to testify before the Texas Senate Select Committee on Veteran Affairs as lawmakers examine these two issues that matter to Veterans across our state.

Protecting Veterans from predatory claims assistance "claims sharks"
◼ making sure Veterans seeking the benefits they've earned aren't exploited by unaccredited or deceptive actors.

Strengthening the military-to-civilian transition
◼ making sure Texans leaving military service have the resources and connections they need to successfully transition into civilian life.

These aren't abstract legislative issues. They're issues that can affect a Veteran's ability to navigate benefits, find resources, and build a successful life after service.

📍 Texas Capitol
🗓️ Wednesday, August 26

Follow the Department of Texas VFW as we bring you the latest from the hearing and the work being done on behalf of Texas Veterans.