Join the VFW

Join Online

While the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States can trace its origins back more than 100 years, the VFW, as we think of it, dates back to 1914, and the merger of three veterans organizations whose members had a common bond: foreign service in the US military. These three veterans organizations came into being entirely independent of one another. Indeed, at first, none of the three had any knowledge of the others. Here are a few of the important dates in the evolution of the VFW.

SEPTEMBER 29, 1899: The American Veterans of Foreign Service organized as a national body in Columbus, Ohio. It was chartered by the state of Ohio October 10, 1899. J. C. Putnam was elected as the first Commander-in-Chief.

DECEMBER 12, 1899: The Colorado Society of the Army of the Philippines organized at Denver, Colorado, by General Irving Hale. The newly formed organization became the National Society of the Army of the Philippines, on August 13, 1900, with Francis V. Greene as the first Commander-in-Chief.

At their Encampment, on August, 1909, the name was changed to the Army of the Philippines.

JULY 10, 1901: The Philippine War Veterans organized in Altoona, Pennsylvania, by H.O. Kelley. In July, 1902, it was reorganized with C.O. Knighton as President.

OCTOBER 13, 1901: The Philippine War Veterans was organized at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with G.H. Smith elected Commander. On April 27, 1902, it was reorganized as Foreign Service Veterans with Jacques La Belle as Commander.

JUNE 24, 1902: The American Veterans of Philippine and China Wars was organized at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Robert S. Hansbury.

SEPTEMBER 1903: The Philippine War Veterans (Altoona), Philippine War Veterans (Pittsburgh), and American Veterans of the Philippine and China Wars (Philadelphia), met on September 10-12, 1903, at Altoona, Pennsylvania, and formed the Eastern society of the American Veterans of the Philippines, Cuban, Puerto Rican and China Wars.

Later, in 1903, the name was changed to American Veterans of Foreign Service - Eastern Branch.

SEPTEMBER, 1905: During the period of September 13-15, 1905, at Altoona, Pennsylvania, the American Veterans of Foreign Service - Eastern Branch amalgamated with the original American Veterans of Foreign Service of Columbus, Ohio, to become one society known as the American Veterans of Foreign Service. Herbert O. Kelley, of Altoona, was elected Commander.

AUGUST, 1913: In Denver, Colorado, the Army of the Philippines and the American Veterans of Foreign Service united under the temporary name of Army of the Philippines, Cuba and Puerto Rico, with Rice W. Means as the first Commander-

in-Chief. During that year, the organization's name was changed by plebiscite and General Order No. 1 to the present-day Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

At the Encampment in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1914, the name Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and a constitution were formally adopted.

MAY 28, 1936: The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States was incorporated by Congressional Charter.