FAQ's
Subscription dues are just like a magazine subscription. It gives you
365 days of membership in the VFW. With this being the first year that
they are coming into effect it will be a process that we are not use to.
The basic breakdown of what is going to happen is:
If you are an annual member and you pay your dues before Jan your
expiration will be Jan 2015. If you pay after that date whatever day
your dues are processed at National will be the new expiration date.
Example would be that you send in your dues to National on 1 Feb 2015
and National processed them on the 15 Feb. Your new expiration date
would be 15 Feb 2016.
Eligibility
For Post Members
There are three qualifiers for membership in the VFW, as set out in our By-Laws. An individual must meet all three in order to become a member. They are as follows:
1: Citizenship – must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. National.
2: Honorable Service – must have served in the Armed Forces of the United States and either received a discharge of Honorable or General (Under Honorable Conditions) or be currently
serving.
3: Service in a war, campaign, or expedition on foreign soil or in hostile waters*. This can be proven by any of the following:
- An authorized campaign medal (see a full list of qualifying medals and badges)
- Receipt of Hostile Fire Pay or Imminent Danger Pay (verified by a military pay statement)
- Service in Korea for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days
*This information is usually available through a veteran’s DD-214. If other information is needed or if a veteran’s DD-214 is not complete, they can contact the National Personnel Records Center online or at 314-801-0800 to request more information
There are two types of membership as a Post Member and they are based on age, annual or lifetime membership. With an annual membership you will pay each year, with a lifetime membership you can pay a one-time payment or pay over 12 months. Please see the Membership Application for the current amounts.
For Auxiliary Members
Welcome to the VFW Auxiliary!
Our organization is comprised of members from all walks of life with a common connection: all are relatives of those who served in overseas combat.
More than 470,000 members in nearly 3,800 Auxiliaries across the nation work to improve the lives of veterans, active-duty service members and their families, and their communities in a variety of ways.
When you join the VFW Auxiliary, you’ll have the opportunity to:
- Support Veterans, Active-Duty Service Members and Their Families
The VFW Auxiliary offers numerous avenues for service, such as hospital volunteering, the adoption of military units and promoting patriotism. Anyone with a heart for veterans can count their membership as an important way to stand with veterans and the military community on Capitol Hill and in local legislative battles affecting them. - Develop New Skills
The VFW Auxiliary offers numerous ways for members to acquire and utilize skills such as leadership, public speaking, fundraising, event planning and community outreach. - Network and Develop Friendships
Through local and national events, members have the chance to meet people from all walks of life and many career backgrounds, creating a vast network of people who are passionate about veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. - Receive Service Benefits
The VFW Auxiliary is pleased to offer members access to one of the nation’s largest networks of money-saving products and services in the insurance and benefits industry.- Discounted policies for life, health, accident, long-term care and dental insurance, along with many other benefit plans.
- Access to discounts on products and services that are important to you – including local offers!
- Credit cards and certain financial services are available through USAA.
- Discounted policies for life, health, accident, long-term care and dental insurance, along with many other benefit plans.
Youth Scholarships
The VFW is dedicated to promoting patriotism and investing in our future generation. If you are a democracy-loving high school student interested in a $30,000 college scholarship or a patriotic middle school student interested in winning $5,000, these scholarships may be for you.
Voice of Democracy
Established in 1947, our Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, nearly 40,000 9-12 grade students from across the country enter to win their share of $2.1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program.
The national first-place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. A complete list of other national scholarships range from $1,000-$16,000, and the first-place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins a minimum scholarship of $1,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. Want to apply? Read the rules and eligibility requirements, then download and complete the 2019-20 entry form. All student entries must be submitted to a sponsoring local VFW Post by midnight, Oct. 31.
The 2019-20 theme is:
What Makes America Great
About the 2018-19 winner ...
Christine Troll, a senior home-school student from Somerset, Pa., was named the 2018-19 Voice of Democracy first-place winner. Christine's speech on the theme, "Why My Vote Matters," won her a $30,000 college scholarship. Christine was sponsored by VFW Post 554 and its Auxiliary in Somerset, Pa. Watch as Christine delivered her winning speech.
Want to catch up on everything that happened this year? You can watch the Parade of Winners ceremony from the 2019 VFW Legislative Conference, see this year's complete list of winners, or listen to the winning essay from your state.
County VA Representative is a member of our Post.
Please contact our Post, during office hours, to set up an appointment. You can contact the post at (951) 674-4735
Yes, the post does have a hall for rent which many people use for holding fundraisers, birthdays, anniversaries, even weddings, and seats approximately 83 people. The rental of the hall also includes the use of tables and chairs. Pricing is currently $100 for members of Post 1508 and $300 for non-members and there is a refundable cleaning deposit of $200 as well. Please contact the post for additional information and availability at (951) 674-4735.
The VFW Buddy Poppy program provides compensation to the veterans who assemble the poppies, provides financial assistance in maintaining state and national veterans' rehabilitation and service programs and partially supports the VFW National Home For Children. Show your support today. Host a Buddy Poppy drive in your town, or have your local government issue a special proclamation.
Yes our Post has a Canteen. Our normal business hours are M-F open at 2 pm Sat-Sun open at 11 am. The Canteen may close early based on the time and number of membership in attendance at the time per the House Committee rules.
The VFW Auxiliary is made up of family members (husband, wife, mother, father, son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter) of the people who have served in combat. While the Auxiliary has its own programs, they also assist the Post membership in running the post and with its programs as well. In order to join the Auxiliary it is helpful to have a copy of the family members DD214 but we can assist with getting a copy of it for you if you do not have one. There is also a fee based on the age of the perspective Auxiliary member.
For more information on what the Auxiliary does please Click Here
For an application to become an Auxiliary member please fill out the Application and bring it to the post.
Both Post and Auxiliary have meetings once a month. Currently Post meetings are on the second Wednesday of the month at 7 pm and Auxiliary meetings are on the third Monday of the month most of the year and third Tuesday for October and November. You can check the calendar in our New and Events section.
Donations to the Post go to our programs. No money goes to salaries as all of our people are volunteer's, by doing this we make sure the money goes where it is needed the most. We also accept other types of donations depending on what it is. Due to space and other restrictions, if you are considering making a donation other then a monetary one please contact the post at (951) 674-4735 and ask for the Post Commander, Quartermaster, or Public Affairs Officer prior to the donation to ensure we can accommodate it.
