The VFW traces its roots back to 1899 when veterans of the Spanish-American War (1898) and the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service: Many arrived home wounded or sick. There was no medical care or veterans' pension for them,and they were left to care for themselves. Simply put, the VFW strives to do good things for deserving people; particularly veterans, their families, and their communities. From local grassroots ideas to national influence, we work everyday to make a difference. It's our strength as an organization. And, with each individual membership, we only grow stronger.