VFW
Mission
The objectives of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars are:
fraternal, patriotic, historical and educational,
to preserve and strengthen comradeship among its members,
to assist worthy comrades,
to perpetuate the memory and history of our dead and to assist their widows and
orphans,
to maintain true allegiance to the Government of the United States of America
and fidelity to its Constitution and laws,
to foster true patriotism, to maintain and extend the institutions of American
feedom,
and to preserve and defend the United States from all her enemies,
whomsoever.
Major Accomplishments:
1917 - War Risk Insurance
1918 - Vocational Training for WW1 veterans
1920 - Pension for Spanish-American War veterans
1921 - Veterans Bureau organized
1924 - House Veterans Affairs Committee established
1924 - Bonus for WW1 veterans proposed
1930 - Veterans Administration founded
1931 - Star-Spangled Banner adopted as national anthem
1932 - WW1 Veterans Bonus March in Washington, D.C.
1934 - Pension for widows of WW1 veterans
1936 - Bonus paid in cash to WW1 veterans
1943 - Benefits provided for WW2 veterans
1944 - GI Bill passed
1944 - Veterans Preference Act passed
1948 - Subsistence increase for GI Bill
1952 - GI Bill provided to Korean War veterans
1954 - November 11 (Veterans' Day) became federal holiday
1958 - May 1 established as Loyalty Day
1966 - GI Bill provided for Cold War/Vietnam Era veterans
1970 - Senate Veterans Affairs Committee established
1973 - 25% increase in GI Bill benefits
1978 - Veterans Preference in hiring preserved. VA Home Loan amount increased
1979 - First joint meeting of the Senate and House Veterans Affairs Committees
1980 - VA Home Loan amount increased
1981 - POW/MIA benefits established
1982 - Veterans Employment & Training Service created in the Department of
Labor
1988 - Atomic Veterans Compensation Act
1989 - VA elevated to a Cabinet-level department
1990 - Specific Agent Orange Connection established
1991 - Agent Orange Act of 1991
1991 - Persian Gulf War Veterans Assistance Act of 1991
1992 - Rural Health Care Initiative defeated in Congress
1993 - Persian Gulf Medical Care Legislation
