The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a nonprofit veterans’ service organization comprised of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, guard, and reserve forces.

We trace our roots back to 1899 when veterans of the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service. Many arrived home wounded or sick and had no medical care or veterans' pension. After chapters were formed in Ohio, Colorado, and Pennsylvania, the movement quickly gained momentum. Today, membership stands at more than 1.3 million members of the VFW and its Auxiliary.

Our voice was instrumental in establishing the Veterans Administration, development of the national cemetery system, in the fight for compensation for Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange, and for veterans diagnosed with Gulf War Syndrome. In 2008, we won a long-fought victory with the passing of a GI Bill for the 21st Century, giving expanded educational benefits to America's service members fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. We were the driving force behind the Veterans Access and Accountability Act and continually fight for improved VA medical centers services for women veterans. The VFW's legislative advocacy efforts were also the driving force behind the passage of the Blue Water Navy Veteran Act, and the passage of the Honoring Our PACT Act, which the VFW considers one of the most significant pieces of veterans’ legislation in history.

The VFW helped fund the Vietnam, Korean War, World War II, Women in Military Service, and Disabled Veterans for Life Memorials. We became the first supporters of the Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial which broke ground in July of 2022 and is expected to be dedicated this year.