Established February 1950 VFW Post 8971 currently has 210 members. Members Dues are $32.00 yearly.
The post has 91 Life Members consisting of five Legacy Life members. Seven Gold Legacy and two Bronze Legacy Life members.
The post has three All American Commanders and six All State commanders.
VFW
Post 8971 has an Auxiliary membership that helps the post with their
events and activities. The members are wife's, husbands, daughters,
sons, sisters, brothers and grand children of VFW members. The Auxiliary
meets at the same time the VFW meets.
Monthly meetings are held every third Monday of the month at 7 PM.
The VFW Post and Auxiliary gives back to the Community with the following events each year.
Honor Guard Services for deceased veterans.
Bi-Weekly bingo, Sundays and Thursdays at 6 PM.
Buddy Poppy Drives
Awards
banquet honoring Outstanding EMT, Law Enforcement, Fireman and Teacher
of the year in the city of Eunice and Parish of St. Landry.
School programs promoting Americanism, Voice of Democracy and Patriotism in all schools in the area.
Donating flags and having flag raising in the community and schools in the area.
Sponsoring Veterans Day, Memorial Day, POW/MIA Day and Patriots Day (9-11).
Doing Veterans Day programs at many of the schools in the area.
Providing assistance to veterans in need and many many more.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.
In their misery, some of these veterans banded together and formed
organizations with what would become known as the Veterans of Foreign
Wars of the United States. After chapters were formed in Ohio, Colorado
and Pennsylvania, the movement quickly gained momentum. By 1915,
membership grew to 5,000; by 1936, membership was almost 200,000.
Since then, the VFW's voice had been instrumental in establishing
the Veterans Administration, creating a GI bill for the 20th century,
the development of the national cemetery system and the fight for
compensation for Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange and for veterans
diagnosed with Gulf War Syndrome. In 2008, VFW won a long-fought victory
with the passing of a GI Bill for the 21st Century, giving expanded
educational benefits to America's active-duty service members, and
members of the Guard and Reserves, fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The VFW also has fought for improving VA medical centers services for women veterans.
Besides helping fund the creation of the Vietnam, Korean War, World
War II and Women in Military Service memorials, the VFW in 2005 became
the first veterans' organization to contribute to building the new
Disabled Veterans for Life Memorial, which opened in November 2010.
Annually, the nearly 2 million members of the VFW and its
Auxiliaries contribute more than 8.6 million hours of volunteerism in
the community, including participation in Make A Difference Day and
National Volunteer Week.
From providing over $3 million in college scholarships and savings
bonds to students every year, to encouraging elevation of the Department
of Veterans Affairs to the president's cabinet, the VFW is there.
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