Charles Mix County Veterans Service Officer

This past Sunday, September 29, we proudly celebrated VFW Day, marking the 125th anniversary of the Veterans of Foreign s (VFW). This extraordinary milestone is not only a testament to our rich history, but also a reflection of the unwavering dedication of veterans across our nation and around the world.

On September 29, 1899, 13 Spanish-American War veterans gathered in a small tailor shop in Columbus, Ohio, to discuss how they could assist their fellow veterans and the dependents of their fallen comrades.

Since its founding in 1899, the VFW has been a beacon of hope and assistance for millions of veterans and their families. We have fought for the rights, recognition, and benefits that they earned and deserve. Our organization stands united in its mission of advocacy, service, camaraderie, and honoring those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom. Soon joined by American veterans from the Philippine Insurrection, their selfless desire to care for those who share a common bond forged by war laid the foundation for the multifaceted, powerhouse organization that is known worldwide as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

The voice of the VFW was instrumental in establishing the Veterans Administration, development of the national cemetery system, in the fight for compensation for Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange, and for veterans diagnosed with Gulf War Syndrome. In 2008, we won a long-fought victory with the passing of a GI Bill for the 21st Century, giving expanded educational benefits to America's active duty service members, and members of the guard and reserves, fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. We were the driving force behind the Veterans Access and Accountability Act of 2014, and continually fight for improved VA medical centers services for women veterans. The VFW's legislative advocacy efforts were also the driving force behind the passage of the 2019 Blue Water Navy Veteran Act, and the passage of the 2022 Honoring Our PACT Act, which the VFW considers one of the most significant pieces of veterans legislation in history.

In addition to its main aim of aiding veterans, the VFW sought from the beginning to promote patriotism among Americans. For example, it placed emphasis on respect for the American flag; as early as the 1920s it distributed nearly a million copies of a booklet, “Etiquette of the Stars and Stripes,” to schools and other organizations. One of its achievements was a lobbying campaign that in 1931 led Congress to officially designate “The Star-Spangled Banner” as America’s national anthem.

Historically, the VFW has promoted patriotism through its “Americanism Program.” It provides materials and information and sponsors events and activities that are designed to stimulate interest in U.S. history, traditions and institutions. The “Voice of Democracy” program is a national essay competition that annually provides more than $2.5 million in college scholarships and incentives.

The VFW National Legislative Service office in Washington, D.C., monitors legislation that affects veterans. It alerts the membership to key legislation and lobbies Congress and the executive branch on veterans’ issues. The office of-ten assists congressional staffs in preparing legislation. In the early 2000s, the VFW legislative goals included a VA budget with sufficient funds to provide adequate veterans health care, vocational training and retraining for veterans, and employment opportunities for veterans.

The VFW has almost 16,000 trained service officers to assist veterans and their dependents in gaining federal or state entitlements. These service officers help with military discharge upgrades, records correction, education benefits, disability compensation, pension eligibility, and other types of veterans’ issues. Field representatives conduct regular inspections of VA health care facilities, regional VA offices, and national cemeteries.

The 125th anniversary is a testament to VFW’s commitment to being a vital resource and advocacy service for the veteran community. Charles Mix County Veterans Service Officer, Jerry Seiner, is a VFW accredited service officer. He is also accredited with the American Legion and South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs and is available to assist all veterans.