Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2913, Patchogue, New York

The Veterans of Foreign Wars includes veterans of all of America's wars and recognized expeditionary campaigns of the 20th and 21st centuries. It all began on September 29,1899, when 13 vets of the 17th Infantry Regiment who had served on Cuba met in Columbus, Ohio, to form the American Veterans of foreign service to assist Spanish-American war veterans. The early founders adopted the Cross of Mal

ta as their symbol. A merger in 1914 with like-minded vet groups from the Philippines War resulted in the birth of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Explosive growth after World War I catapulted VFW onto the national stage. Congress officially charted the VFW in 1936 as a fraternal, patriotic, historical and educational organization "to perpetuate the memory and history of our dead and to assist their widows and orphans.....to maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom and to preserve and defend the United States." A milestone was reached in 1984 when membership broke the 2 million mark. VFW had stayed true to its founders' intent of remaining "evergreen," rejuvenation its ranks with fresh influx of Vietnam veterans. Since its founding, the VFW has fulfilled those goals and more. By maintaining its venerable traditions, the organization has passed along a proud history - a worthy legacy for succeeding generations of overseas campaign veterans.