VFW Press Releases

1. VFW Applauds VA for Resuming Electronic Health Record Rollout in Michigan

   WASHINGTON -The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) commends the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for resuming deployment of its Federal Electronic Health Record (EHR) system, with new implementations now live across multiple VA medical centers in Michigan.

   Announced in an April 13 VA news release, the Federal EHR system officially went live April 11 at VA facilities in Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Detroit and Saginaw, marking a critical step forward in modernizing veterans' health care delivery.

   "The VFW has long supported the modernization of VA's health record systems because veterans deserve a seamless, integrated and accessible health care experience," said VFW National Commander Carol Whitmore. "This rollout represents meaningful progress toward that goal, and we are encouraged to see VA taking a deliberate, improved approach after addressing earlier challenges."

   According to VA, the Federal EHR system aims to create a unified, interoperable record between the Department of Defense, VA and private-sector providers. Developed through a partnership with Oracle Health, this modernization is expected to reduce redundant testing, improve care coordination and allow clinicians to spend more time with patients instead of navigating outdated systems.

   The VFW has consistently advocated for the deployment of a modern electronic health record system that ensures continuity of care for service members transitioning to veteran status and throughout their lifetime. While the organization previously raised concerns about early implementation issues, it has remained steadfast in its belief that a properly executed system is essential to delivering 21st-century care.

   The VFW was most critical of VA's past outreach efforts to veterans in affected communities, which stifled past roll-out efforts where veterans did not know what to expect from the transition or how the initiative would benefit them in the long term. VA Deputy Secretary Paul Lawrence, who is responsible for the rollout, took this concern seriously and worked to personally oversee the outreach efforts leading up to the recent rollout.

   The VFW Department of Michigan also leaned forward to support the outreach effort, hosting multiple outreach events over the last few months at VFW Posts in the state where Lawrence, other VA leaders and Oracle Health met directly with Michigan's veterans. These events culminated the night before last week's rollout when VA Deputy Secretary Lawrence sat with Michigan veterans at VFW Post 6691, Fraser, Michigan, and discussed the benefits to be expected by veterans from full implementation of the Federal EHR.

   The organization is also helping facilitate feedback from veterans to both VA and Oracle to ensure the system is responsive to the needs of the veteran community.

   "Our role is to be the voice of the veteran," said VFW Department of Michigan State Commander Reinold Yahnka. "The VFW Department of Michigan is proud to stand alongside VA and its partners to make sure this rollout works for those it is intended to serve. That means educating veterans, identifying issues early and ensuring accountability every step of the way."

   The Michigan deployment is the first of 13 planned Federal EHR implementations in 2026, part of an accelerated schedule to bring a single, unified health record system to VA facilities nationwide. The VFW looks forward to playing a consistent role in VA and Oracle's proactive outreach to ensure a smooth transition to best serve veterans.

2. VFW Names 2026 Top National Teachers

   KANSAS CITY, Mo. -The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is proud to announce the selection of the national top three teachers in its annual 2026 Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award contest.

   Established in 1999 and named after former VFW National Commander John Smart and retired VFW Quartermaster General Larry Maher, the award recognizes America's top teachers for their exceptional commitment to imparting the value of Americanism and patriotism to their students by promoting civic responsibility, flag etiquette and community service in their classroom.

   Awarded annually, the VFW recognizes one teacher to represent the elementary (K-5), middle (6-8) and high school (9-12) levels. Each teacher will receive a $1,000 award for professional development and $1,000 for their school.

   Elizabeth Lee, a science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) K-5 teacher at Ranson Elementary School in Ranson, West Virginia, was chosen as the elementary school winner for her dedication and focus on service, respect, empathy and civic responsibility built into her teaching. She is known for hosting initiatives like neighborhood clean-ups, food drives and collecting supplies for local animal shelters in need, in addition to planning family STEAM nights that help strengthen student learning and build a stronger community. Lee was sponsored by VFW Post 3522 in Charles Town, West Virginia.

   Selected to represent the middle school level, Tammy Gipson is a teacher at St. Joseph Catholic School in McPherson, Kansas, and was chosen for her desire to bring the world and history to life in her classroom, and for her dedication to teaching the value and importance of community service, military service and civic duty. From bringing in local military and veteran families to discuss the meaning of Veterans Day and putting up a "Veteran's Wall of Fame" with students writing letters to veterans, to organizing mock elections and hosting a piece of the World Trade Center from 9/11 to ensure newer generations never forget, her work with her students and the community continues to push the bar higher for her peers. Gipson was sponsored by VFW Post 2715 and its Auxiliary in McPherson, Kansas.

   Selected to represent the high school level, Jeron Velasco, a high school teacher at Dishchii'Bikoh High School in Cibecue, Arizona, was chosen for his ability to transform history into a living dialogue of democracy, civic responsibility and community empowerment and support. A Filipino educator with American roots and the grandson of a veteran, Velasco bridges cultures through his Heroes of Cibecue project where students research, write and publish a book preserving the untold military service stories of White Mountain Apache veterans. Velasco was sponsored by White Mountain Area VFW Post 9907 and Auxiliary in Show Low, Arizona.

   "To be a VFW Teacher of the Year requires a special blend of heart, resourcefulness and a deep-seated love of country, and teachers like Elizabeth, Tammy and Jeron represent the gold standard of education," said VFW National Commander Carol Whitmore. "When instructors of this caliber inspire students through passionate, innovative and community-engaged teaching, not only do they embody the very best of the teaching profession, they also prove that education remains the cornerstone of a strong democracy."

   Each of the three national recipients will be presented with a $1,000 award for professional development and $1,000 for their school during the 127th VFW National Convention in Reno, Nevada, July 25-29, 2026. Nominate a deserving teacher you know for the 2027 Teacher of the Year at vfw.org/TeacheroftheYear.

3. VFW 2026 National Youth Scholarship Winners Announced

   PHILADELPHIA - Earlier today the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) proudly named the national winners of its 2025-2026 Voice of Democracy^® and Patriot's Pen^® youth scholarship competitions as it presented more than $176,000 in national scholarships and awards.

   For the first time in two decades, the national winners were announced at a special 79th annual Parade of Winners ceremony at the historic Union League of Philadelphia during the winners' trip to Founding Forward's Spirit of America Youth Leadership experience at Valley Forge. The trip, awarded to every VFW Department (state) winner, was sponsored by Twisted X.

   VFW Junior Vice Commander Glenn Umberger Jr. and VFW Auxiliary President Lois Callahan were joined by Twisted X Senior Director of Sales Clayton Smith to announce this year's winners, presenting the national first place Voice of Democracy top $35,000 T.C. Selman Memorial Scholarship prize to Olivia Drewniak.

   Following the announcement, Drewniak delivered her winning essay on this year's thought-provoking theme, "How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?" Read her winning essay. Drewniak, a high school senior at Morse High School in Bath, Maine, was sponsored by VFW Post 7738 in Bath.

   Second place winner Kylie Saltzman, a senior at Lower Cape May Regional High School in Cape May, New Jersey, was awarded the $21,000 Charles Kuralt Memorial Scholarship. She was sponsored by VFW Post 386 in Cape May. Abigail Smith, a junior homeschool student in Bloomington, Indiana, was sponsored by VFW Post 604 and its Auxiliary in Bloomington and received the third place $15,000 VFW Scholarship.

   The Parade of Winners presented $176,500 in national scholarships, with this year's contest awarding more than $1.6 million combined at the local, Department and national levels. All Department winners received a college scholarship worth at least $1,000.

   Also featured during today's awards ceremony was the 2026 Patriot's Pen first place winner, Andrew Ge. Sponsored by VFW Post 75 in Danville, California, Ge was awarded the top first place Patriot's Pen award of $5,000 and delivered his winning essay addressing the same theme, "How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?" Read his winning essay.

   The Patriot's Pen second place winner, Michael Sieniawski, sponsored by VFW Post 1337 located in Mount Prospect, Illinois, will receive a $4,000 award, while third place winner Brandon Darnell, sponsored by VFW Post 5738 located in Clare, Michigan, will receive a $3,500 award.

   The VFW is now accepting entries for its 80th annual Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Pen competitions. To win a share of nearly $2.7 million in scholarships and awards, middle and high school students must answer "What a Veteran Taught Me About America." The deadline to enter is Oct. 31, 2026. To read more about the contests or download the entry form, visit vfw.org/YouthScholarships.

   See the complete list of all 2026 Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Penwinners.

4. VFW Honors the Nation's Gulf War Veterans

   KANSAS CITY, Mo. -April 11 marks the 35th anniversary of the formal end to the Persian Gulf War. On this milestone date, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) honors the nearly 700,000 military men and women who served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

   On April 11, 1991, less than 90 days after the U.S.-led campaign known as Operation Desert Storm began, the United Nations Security Council declared the conditions of Resolution 687 in effect, making the ceasefire official and formally ending the Persian Gulf War.

   While decades have passed, the legacy of the American soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who served in the Gulf War and ensured one of the swiftest, most decisive victories in U.S. history remains a cornerstone of modern military history.

   However, the cost of this victory was significant. We must never forget the cost of war and the 382 who gave their lives, the 467 wounded in action, and that two service members' remains have yet to come home.

   The VFW fought relentlessly to guarantee the passage of the PACT Act, and we remain committed to ensuring that those who served in the sands of Kuwait and Iraq receive the health care and benefits they earned.

   On behalf of a grateful nation, the VFW honors all Gulf War veterans and remembers this momentous event for our country and for liberty. We continue to recognize the courage of these brave men and women who fought to liberate a nation more than 7,000 miles away from American shores, and whose service left an indelible mark on history.

5. VFW Announces Fifth Annual Day of Service

   KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is proud to announce the fifth annual VFW Day of Service - a dedicated day of service led by veterans throughout the country and the world - will kick off the first Saturday in May (May 2), marking the start of veteran-led community service projects to take place throughout the month. Last year, more than 2,300 events were held worldwide, and this year is on track to exceed that total.

   "For the past four years, thousands of VFW members and veterans around the world have joined together through VFW Day of Service to continue a legacy of service beyond the uniform," said VFW National Commander Carol Whitmore. "Their dedication to strengthening communities, helping neighbors and bringing people together reflects the very best of who we are. We are proud to see Day of Service 2026 build on that momentum and create an even greater impact in communities around the world."

   VFW Day of Service began in 2022 as an outgrowth of the organization's Still Serving campaign that highlights the ongoing dedication of veterans and service members who continue to uplift and improve their communities after their military service has ended. This year's VFW Day of Service is sponsored by Humana, USAA, CenterWell and loanDepot.

   Veterans are more likely to volunteer in their communities than their civilian counterparts, according to a recent civic health survey¹ of veterans. The study also found that veterans donate to charities, register to vote and remain more actively engaged in civic and community life than civilians.

   The VFW is calling on all veterans across America and around the world to join in the VFW Day of Service to show that veterans never stop serving.

   To register your event and get resources, or to find an event near you to join and see how other veterans around the country are making a difference, visit at VFWDayofService.org.

   ¹2021 Veterans Civic Health Index