VFW Programs
Since its founding, the VFW has been a staple in the community. Youth activities, troop support, volunteering and scholarship programs are a few of the ways the VFW shines in the many communities and cities where Posts are located.
Community Service, Youth Scholarships and Activities
Patriot’s Pen
More than $1.2 million is awarded annually to students in grades 6-8 in this essay contest. The first place winner receives $5,000.
Voice of Democracy
This audio-essay competition annually awards nearly $2 million in scholarships to students in grades 9-12. The first place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship.
Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award - Teacher of the Year
The VFW annually recognizes one exceptional elementary, junior and high school teacher for their outstanding commitment to teaching Americanism and patriotism to their students. Awards include $1,000 for professional development, $1,000 for his/her school, and an all-expense-paid trip to attend the VFW National Convention. In addition, the top 10 high school Teacher of the Year recipients will have an opportunity to attend a graduate level Medal of Honor Character Development program at Freedoms Foundation.
VFW Scouting - Scout of the Year
Three scholarships are awarded annually to outstanding scouts. First place receives $5,000, second place receives $3,000 and third place receives $1,000.
VFW "Buddy" Poppy Program
The oldest and perhaps most historically significant program is the VFW "Buddy" Poppy program.
Since 1922, the "Buddy”® Poppy has been an integral part of
the VFW community. As VFW’s official
memorial flower, the Poppy represents the blood shed by American service
members. It reiterates the VFW will not
forget their sacrifices.
The Poppy movement was inspired by Canadian Army Col. John
McCrae’s famous poem, "In Flanders Fields.” Poppies were originally distributed by the
Franco-American Children’s League to benefit children in the devastated areas
of France and Belgium following WWI. In
1922, VFW conducted a campaign and got Poppies from France. Members soon discovered it took too long to
get the flowers in from France and they came up with a better idea. Disabled, hospitalized and aging veterans
could make the paper flowers and ship them out to the members for distribution.
And so it was known, for veterans in VA hospitals and
domiciliaries and in state veterans’ homes, every day would be VFW "Buddy”®
Poppy Day. These men and women assemble
the Poppies, tie them in bunches of 10 and pack them in boxes of 500, 1,000 or
2,000 for shipment to the Posts and Auxiliaries.
VFW pays the disabled veteran for the work. In most cases, this extra money provides
additional income for the worker to pay for the little luxuries which make life
more tolerable. Furthermore, Poppy
assembly is often used as a therapy program to provide exercise for fingers and
hands crippled by wounds, disease and the effects of old age. Another reason Poppies are so important is
because all proceeds from distribution are used for veteran’s welfare or for
the wellbeing of their needy dependents and the orphans of veterans. More than 2,300 children of veterans have
been, or are being cared for in the VFW National Home in Eaton Rapids,
Michigan, thanks to a portion of Poppy funds.
Veterans and Military Support Programs
Military Assistance Program (MAP)
The program is designed to encourage the link between the VFW and the Military community. Two unique services help foster the relationship between the Post and the local military community, the Military Assistance Program Grant process and the Adopt-A-Unit program.
The
Military Assistance Grant process is intended as financial assistance for
Posts, Districts, and Departments to sponsor events for active-duty military
units, National Guard, and Reserves.
The
Adopt-A-Unit program was developed as a means to pledge support of the Post to
the service members and families of a unit from the local military
community. The Post makes a commitment
to the service members and their families to provide moral and emotional support
before, during and after deployment.
VFW’s "Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship”
The 1 Student Veteran program enacted in 2013 offers direct assistance to student veterans who have questions or are experiencing problems accessing their VA benefits.
The VFW/SVA Legislative Fellowship Program provides 10 exemplary VFW members who are student veterans the opportunity to make their voices heard on Capitol Hill and in their community.
