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VeterBehind the Valor: Unveiling the Complexities of the Veterans of Foreign Wars

VFW Series Part 1: Contributions, Controversies, and the Call for Change

Jamie Hairston
11 min readOct 2, 2023

Introduction to the Controversies Surrounding the VFW

Did you know that the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) has more than 1.5 million members and has served veterans, service members, and their families since 1899? That’s a long history, but comes with complexities and controversies like any venerable institution.

What is the purpose of today’s article?

This blog post aims to remove the curtain on the VFW, diving into its contributions and controversies. While the VFW has an admirable mission and a storied history, some areas necessitate scrutiny and advocacy for change.

Brief Overview

The VFW is a nonprofit veterans service organization comprised of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, guard, and reserve forces. The organization advocates for all veterans, provides various types of aid to veterans and their families, and fosters a sense of community among veterans. However, the very services and advocacy meant to be its strong suits have also been sources of

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Jamie Hairston
Jamie Hairston

Written by Jamie Hairston

Jamie is a former addiction counselor who now writes fiction about substance abuse and mental health issues.

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