THE VFW FIGHTS TO PROTECT OUR VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS ON CAPITOL HILL. WE MAKE SURE OUR GOVERNMENT KEEPS ITS PROMISES TO AMERICA’S HEROES. THANKS IN LARGE PART TO THE LOBBYING OF THE VFW, WE CELEBRATE SEVERAL SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. THE VFW IS A MULTI-FACETED ORGANIZATION BUT OUR TOP PRIORITY REMAINS; TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO OUR SERVICE MEMBERS, VETE
RANS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THAT’S WHY THE EFFORTS OF OUR NATIONAL MILITARY SERVICE PROGRAMS ARE SO VITAL. THEY PROVIDE UNPARALLELED SUPPORT BY WAY OF GRANTS TO SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS, AND STRIVE TO KEEP ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY AND HOSPITALIZED VETERANS IN CONTACT WITH LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS DURING A TIME WHEN A SIMPLE PHONE CALL CAN MAKE ALL OF THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.
• BY PROVIDING FREE PHONE TIME TO SERVICE MEMBERS, OPERATION UPLINK WORKS TO CONNECT ACTIVE-DUTY AND HOSPITALIZED VETERANS WITH THEIR LOVED ONES SINCE THE PROGRAM’S INCEPTION IN 1996.
• THE VFW MILITARY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OR MAP, PROVIDES FOR POST-HOSTED MILITARY UNIT FUNCTIONS, FAMILY READINESS GROUP MEETINGS AND MORALE, WELFARE AND RECREATION ACTIVITIES. MAP OFFERS GRANTS TO VFW POSTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN MILITARY UNIT FUNCTIONS SUCH AS SPONSORING FAREWELL AND WELCOME HOME ACTIVITIES AND FAMILY READINESS GROUP EVENTS.
• ADOPT-A-UNIT IS INTENDED TO FORGE A CONNECTION BETWEEN VFW MEMBERS AND THEIR LOCAL MILITARY COMMUNITY. BY ADOPTING A UNIT THE POST CAN ESTABLISH AND SUSTAIN A LONG-TERM FRIENDSHIP WITH THOSE SERVING STATESIDE AND ABROAD.
• THE UNMET NEEDS PROGRAM ASSISTS FAMILIES FACING A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP DUE TO DEPLOYMENT OR MILITARY SERVICE WITH GRANT FUNDS.
• THE VFW'S NATIONAL VETERANS EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE SERVICE STRIVES TO ENSURE THE EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS AND BENEFITS OF VETERANS IN THE WORKPLACE. THIS IS ACHIEVED BY WORKING DIRECTLY WITH FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES, AS WELL AS CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES.
• IN 2001, VFW LAUNCHED ITS BENEFITS DELIVERY AT DISCHARGE (BDD) PROGRAM AT MILITARY INSTALLATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. A COOPERATIVE INITIATIVE WITH VA AND THE PENTAGON, BDD WAS ESTABLISHED TO ASSIST SERVICE MEMBERS DEPARTING FROM THE MILITARY. PRE-DISCHARGE CLAIMS REPRESENTATIVES AT EACH BDD SITE HELP WADE THROUGH ALL THE PAPERWORK FOR VETERANS SEEKING VA ENTITLEMENTS. THESE REPRESENTATIVES ALSO DISCUSS EDUCATION AND MEDICAL BENEFITS AND VA HOME LOANS.
• VFW SERVICE OFFICERS ARE SKILLED PROFESSIONALS, TRAINED EXPERTS IN DEVELOPING DISABLED VETERANS' CASES BY REVIEWING AND APPLYING CURRENT LAW, PERTINENT LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS AND MEDICAL HISTORIES. VFW SERVICE OFFICERS FUNCTION AS ATTORNEYS-IN-FACT FOR THE VETERANS AND FAMILIES THEY REPRESENT. THEIR COUNSELING ON THE FULL RANGE OF VETERANS' BENEFITS AND PROGRAMS PROVIDED UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LAW IS INDISPENSABLE. THE VFW IS AN ORGANIZATION OF VETERANS WHOSE GOAL IS TO “HONOR THE DEAD BY HELPING THE LIVING.”
