Veterans Of Foreign Wars Department Of California

TO PROVIDE FOR THE SOCIAL WELL BEING OF VETERANS OF THE VARIOUS BRANCHES OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WHO HAVE SERVED IN A FOREIGN WAR.

VFW SERVICE DEPARTMENT - THE VFW SERVICE DEPARTMENT EXISTS TO ASSIST VETERANS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS IN DEALING WITH THE VA CLAIMS PROCESS. VFW SERVICE OFFICERS ARE TRAINED EXPERTS, HELPING VETERANS DEVELOP THEIR CASE WITH EASE BY REVIEWING AND APPLYING CURRENT LAW, PERTINENT LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS, AND MEDICAL HISTORIES. AS SKILLED PROFESSIONALS, THEY ASSIST IN FILING FOR DISABILITY COMPENSATION, REHABILITATION AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS, PENSION AND DEATH BENEFITS, AND EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAMS.

MEMBER AND LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY - VFW IS ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED VOICES IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND WITHIN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACROSS AMERICA. VFW ADVOCATES FOR JUSTICE FOR OUR NATION'S VETERANS, SERVICE MEMBERS AND MILITARY FAMILIES ON AN ARRAY OF ISSUES AND CONTINUE TO BE THE VOICE FOR VETERANS EVERYWHERE. VFW CONSISTENTLY MONITOR VETERANS' EXPERIENCES WITH THE VA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND DELIVER VETERANS' FEEDBACK DIRECTLY TO VA OFFICIALS IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT NEW PROGRAMS AND METHODS TO ENSURE AMERICA'S VETERANS RECEIVE THE TOP-QUALITY CARE THEY DESERVE. VFW ENSURES WOMEN VETERANS RECEIVE BENEFITS AND SERVICES THAT HONOR THEIR BRAVE MILITARY SERVICE. WITH THE STEADY INCREASE OF WOMEN WEARING OUR NATION'S UNIFORM, IT HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT TO ENSURE WOMEN VETERANS HAVE A VA THAT IS READY AND ABLE TO CARE FOR THEM, SO THIS HAS BEEN A TOP PRIORITY. VFW'S ACTION CORPS IS THE VFW'S GRASSROOTS LOBBYING EFFORT. LOCATED IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE GLOBE, THIS GROUP WORKS TO INFORM AND EDUCATE VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS ON THE INITIATIVES AND POLICIES THAT AFFECT THEM AND TAKE THE VOICE OF VETERANS TO LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LAWMAKERS. IT REGULARLY TESTIFIES BEFORE CONGRESS, MEETS WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS AND RALLIES THE NATIONAL NETWORK OF VFW MEMBERS AND PATRIOTIC SUPPORTERS TO ENSURE LAWMAKERS PUT VETERANS FIRST.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES/RECOGNITION - THE PURPOSE OF THE VFW COMMUNITY ACTIVITY AND RECOGNITION PROGRAMS IS TWO-FOLD. FIRST AND FOREMOST, AS AN ORGANIZATION OF WARTIME VETERANS AND THEIR SPOUSES, THE VFW AND ITS AUXILIARY UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE PERFORMED ABOVE AND BEYOND THEIR PEERS AND OFFERS SEVERAL SPECIAL PROJECTS AWARDS. THESE INCLUDE AMERICANISM, POW/MIA, VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION, COMMUNITY SERVICE, AWARDS AND RECOGNITION. VFW'S OLDEST AND PERHAPS MOST HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT PROGRAM IS THE VFW "BUDDY POPPY" PROGRAM. VFW IN THE CLASSROOM PROGRAMS REGULARLY PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH RARE INSIGHT INTO THE GREAT SACRIFICES OUR SERVICE MEMBERS MAKE TO MAINTAIN FREEDOM. TEACHER OF THE YEAR PROGRAMS RECOGNIZE EXCEPTIONAL TEACHERS, ONE EACH FROM THE ELEMENTARY, JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVELS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT TO TEACH AMERICANISM AND INSTILL PATRIOTISM IN THEIR STUDENTS. EACH YEAR, THE VFW SELECTS EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS (SERVICES), LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND FIREFIGHTER PERSONNEL TO RECEIVE VFW PUBLIC SERVANT AWARDS.