Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1263

416 Burnett Ave. S.

Renton, WA 98057

425.255.9010

1978-1979 “All American Post” 2002-2003

Program

• Overseas Troop Support

• Volunteering in VAMC and other Medical Facilities

• Community Service

• Legislative Action

• Charitable Donations/Research

• Youth Programs

Description

Overseas Troop Support

Projects such as Operation Uplink, which provides prepaid long-distance telephone cards to deployed military personnel, hospitalized veterans, etc. Local Posts and Auxiliaries also sponsor morale-boosting programs, such as Adopt-a-Unit and sending food and other reminders of home.

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Volunteering in VAMC and other Medical Facilities

Members volunteer more than 3,000,000 hours each year in VAMCs and other medical centers throughout the country. VFW Service Officers assist veterans and current military personnel with problems, ranging from guaranteeing disability compensation to acquiring well-deserved military awards. Together, the VFW, Ladies Auxiliary, and Mens Auxiliary assist homeless veterans and other non-hospitalized veterans and current military personnel, along with their families, needing food, clothing, transportation or other assistance.

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Community Service

Conducting fund raisers for persons in need of transplants or local high school band for uniforms, helping fire and flood victims, volunteering to help with programs sponsored by other organizations, such as Special Olympics, March of Dimes, Ronald McDonald houses and Make-A-Wish Foundation, and serving meals to senior citizens and the homeless are just a sampling of the 13,000,ooo volunteer hours provided by our members.

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Legislative Action

Members send mail and E-mail to our elected officials, such as Governors and U.S. Senators, encouraging support of the VFW and Auxiliaries positions on legislation dealing with veterans, active duty personnel and national security, as well as personally contacting them. The VFW maintains an office in Washington, DC to monitor legislative issues of interest and keep members informed, and was recently ranked the 16th most influential lobby on Capitol Hill. Issues include the VA budget, future health care, POW/MIA issues, military actions and troop illnesses, such as those affecting persons who served in Vietnam and the Persian Gulf.

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Charitable Donations/Research

Each year the VFW, the Ladies Auxiliary and the Mens Auxiliary donate hundreds of thousand of dollars to persons need help and organizations such as the Diabetes Foundation and Alzheimer’s Association. Since 1987, the Ladies Auxiliary has raised more than $3,000,000 each year to help cancer-stricken members invest in research. Postdoctoral fellowships and research grants are awarded annually throughout the country.

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Youth Programs

Led by the Voice of Democracy and Young American Creative Patriotic Art contests, the organizations provide numerous award and scholarship opportunities for students. Sponsorship and support of scout troops, athletics, parties for children in need are other examples. In addition, Sons of the VFW and Junior Girls Units offer opportunities for children and grandchildren of persons eligible for membership.

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