The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a nonprofit veterans service organization composed of eligible Veterans and qualifying active-duty, Guard, and Reserve service members who have served in overseas conflicts.
Founded in 1899 by Veterans of the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection, the VFW was established to secure care, compensation, and recognition for those returning home from combat. What began as local efforts by wounded and ill Veterans grew into a national organization dedicated to advocacy, service, and leadership.
Today, the VFW and its Auxiliary represent nearly 1.7 million members nationwide.
The VFW Department of Kentucky operates under the charter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and serves as the statewide governing body for VFW Posts across the Commonwealth.
The Department is comprised of approximately 15,000 members organized into 90 Posts throughout Kentucky. Each Post serves as a center of service and leadership within its local community.
Across the state, Kentucky VFW Posts remain actively engaged in:
Veteran advocacy and legislative outreach
Community service and volunteer initiatives
Youth scholarship and patriotic programs
Military family support
Memorial services and ceremonial honors
From rural counties to major cities, the VFW Department of Kentucky continues to uphold the traditions of service, leadership, and advocacy that have defined the organization for more than a century
