By Brian Duffy, VFW Commander-in-Chief
April marks the 100th Anniversary of the United States’ entrance into World War I. This is a very solemn reminder of the more than 100,000 U.S. Troops who sacrificed so others might live in peace. The VFW has joined other veteran service organizations in supporting the World War One Centennial Commission’s efforts to honor the heroism of those Americans who served and to commemorate the centennial of this global event. The official launch of events by the Commission is scheduled for April 6 at the World War I Memorial in Kansas City, Mo., a little more than a mile from the VFW National Headquarters.
The public programs and events hosted by the Centennial Commission are scheduled throughout the year at venues across the country, culminating with the dedication of the National World War I Memorial in Washington D.C.’s Pershing Park. There also will be events planned overseas to honor U.S. veterans. I will have the opportunity to visit the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial located just outside Paris in Marnes-la-Coquette in April. The Memorial commemorates the courage and the sacrifice of the American pilots who came to France before April 1917 to fight with the French military, collectively called the “Lafayette Flying Corps.” It also honors the longstanding friendship between France and the United States, where each has come to the other’s assistance in defending liberty and freedom.
The VFW has a proud history of supporting veterans of every era, and those of WWI are no exception. Following the Great War, VFW played a significant role in ensuring WWI veterans received the benefits they earned. The support the VFW provided in pursuing legislation securing the WWI bonus was the turning point in its history.
In 1927, the VFW maintained a membership of only 60,000 and was described at the time as “an organization not sufficiently large enough to make it a vital factor in public sentiment” by members of the House Committee on World War Veteran Legislation. But by 1936, its membership soared to more than 300,000. This was attributed to its incredible efforts in proposing and continuing to push controversial legislation that demanded full and immediate payment in cash for the World War I bonus.
By Jan. 22, 1936, at the height of the depression and after numerous vetoes by several presidents, the bonus was granted. At 1.3 million-strong, we continue our WWI veteran support legacy by continuing to stand up for veterans and their benefits. VFW’s many programs and initiatives have made it one of the top veteran service organization in the U.S.