There are a lot of traditional special days in the United States, such as Memorial Day, Martin Luther King Day, and Labor Day, etc., as well as numerous non-traditional ones like National Good Neighbor Day or Loyalty to America Day.  To me it just seems like there is a “Day” for everything nowadays.  But I guess that’s because America is such a diverse country and even more importantly, because the people of America have created a country that gives them the freedom to have their own opinion about things.  And speaking of opinions, I believe that certain special days need to be treated more reverently than others.  For example, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Day or VFW Day is one of those.  It was established long ago by groups of American veterans who got together in different parts of the U.S. to honor those who fought for our country in various wars overseas.  This Sunday, September 29, 2024, in fact is a special VFW Day since it marks the organization’s 125th anniversary !!

Of note is that not all veterans can join the VFW.  This I feel creates a special bond between those who can.  As a member of the US Navy, I participated in activities of significance while serving aboard the submarine USS Billfish that earned me the honor of receiving the Navy’s Expeditionary Medal.  This is one of several important medals given out by our nation’s military which the VFW organization utilizes to determine who can join their ranks.  Because of this medal, after I got out of the service, I submitted my application and was permitted to join the VFW.  Currently I am a Life Member and attend VFW Post 8685 (known as Fort Apache) in Juniata, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Altoona, PA.   As a member of the VFW I receive their magazine, which to my surprise in this month’s issue had a VFW Family Tree (shown below) that illustrates the history behind the formation of the VFW.  What surprised me even further was that the town I live in – Altoona, PA – played an important role in the eventual creation of the VFW.  It is shown in three places in the VFW’s family tree (identified in the three blocks with the heavier lines drawn around them in the picture below).  I had no idea.  Of the thousands of communities around the country that could have played a role in creating the VFW, my town, the town where I graduated High School in 1970 and where I currently live, was one of the important places where what we now know as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, one of the largest and most established of the organizations of war veterans in the United States, was formed.  Makes me even more proud of my city.  But no matter what city, town, borough or glen you’re from, it’s important to take the time tomorrow to honor all those veterans who fought, and especially those who died, in the foreign wars that our country was involved in; and to salute the members of the organization that keeps their stories and memories alive – the VFW.