Esan Assn-Southern CA, US

The VFW has more than 2.6 million members in approximately 9,000 local posts around the world. VFW members, along with those from their corresponding Ladies Auxiliaries, annually contribute more than 13 million volunteer hours to their communities, including participation in Make a Difference Day and National Volunteer Week. When the American Veterans of Foreign Service and the National Society of the Army of the Philippines first started in 1899, their goal was to secure rights and benefits for veterans of the recent Spanish American and Philippines Wars. When the two entities merged in 1914 to form The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States many of the ideals and requirements for membership remained the same.