ABOUT US

Our Mission: To foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts. To serve our veterans, the military and our communities. To advocate on behalf of all veterans.

Our Vision: Ensure that veterans are respected for their service, always receive their earned entitlements, and are recognized for the sacrifices they and their loved ones have made on behalf of this great country. 

The Global VFW

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 (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 that would eventually band together and 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. Today, membership stands at more than 1.5 million members of the VFW and its Auxiliary around the world.

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 active duty service members, and members of the guard and reserves, fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. We were the driving force behind the Veterans Access and Accountability Act of 2014, and continually fight for improved VA medical centers services for women veterans. And, most recently, if it weren't for the VFW, the PACT Act would not have been passed, signed into law and funded!

Besides helping fund the creation of the Vietnam, Korean War, World War II and Women in Military Service memorials, in 2005 the VFW became the first veterans' organization to contribute to building the new Disabled Veterans for Life Memorial, which opened in November 2010. And in 2015, we became the first supporter of the National Desert Storm War Memorial which is planned for construction at our nation's capital.

We have many programs and services that work to support veterans, service members and their families, as well as communities worldwide. Please check out our latest fact sheet, or spend some time browsing our site to learn why No One Does More For Veterans.

Our Post

Wake Forest VFW Memorial Post 8466 was chartered in 1989 and meets the first Thursday of each month at the Wake Forest American Legion building, 225 E. Holding Avenue, Wake Forest, NC 27587. Dinner is served at 6 PM followed by our membership meeting at 7 PM. We currently have almost 170 members from every branch of service and are very active in the community by supporting the following programs and events:

  • We donate to the VA Durham Medical Center, The USO @ RDU, and the VFW National Children’s Home monthly.
  • We assist the VA Durham Medical Center in their Volunteer programs. (Hospice, Data entry, and patient transportation).
  • We collect funds every Saturday morning at the Wake Forest Farmers Market with monies going directly to needy Veterans in our local area. Therefore, no overhead is involved.
  • We host two monthly "Coffees" for Veterans to come together, hash out issues, get information about benefits and simply speak with those who have similar life experience. 
  • We honor Deceased Veterans each year in the month of May when we participate in the National "Buddy Poppy Program”. We give away about 20,000 Poppies each year.
  • The Post is represented on the Wake Forest Memorial Flag Raising Committee. This Committee organizes programs to honor a deceased Veteran from the area on the 1st Monday of each month from April thru October at the Wake Forest Town Hall. Wake Forest is one of only three communities in North Carolina to honor veterans in this manner.
  • The Post is also represented on the Wake Forest Purple Heart Foundation (the first in the state). The Foundation honors those veterans wounded in combat with an annual banquet each August. Most years the banquet is held in August at Richland Creek Community Church. Check our calendar for exact time and date.
  • We host a ceremony on Memorial Day at the Heritage Veterans Memorial in honor of Veterans who gave their lives for their Country.
  • We also assist the American Legion in various projects. Included are collecting school supplies for the families of deployed soldiers , providing funds for local High School Seniors to attend Boys State and/or Girls State, placing flags on Veterans' graves for Memorial Day and placing wreaths on Veterans' graves for Christmas.
  • Our Post was recognized by the Town of Wake Forest in 2014 as "Organization of the Year”.

 

* And, of course, be sure to look for our "Chuck Wagon" food truck at Town and local events!


In addition to the items already listed, we participate in VFW National programs which we consider of utmost importance since they relate to our local community.

  • Scholarship opportunities are presented to local schools. Each year we organize essay contests for Middle and High School students. "Patriot’s Pen” for Middle School is a written essay on a Patriotic topic provided by VFW National. "Voice of Democracy” for High School is an oral presentation on a similar topic. These programs are judged on Post (local), District, Department (state) and National levels with the winners of each advancing to the next level. The entrants can win up to a $30,000 scholarship!
  • Also under the direction of VFW National, we award "Teacher of the Year” to select Elementary, Middle, and High School teachers. Anyone can nominate individuals for these awards.
  • Another National program that we participate in is recognizing "First Responders” annually. These include Police Officer, Firefighter, and EMT.
  • We present awards to the JROTC Cadet of the Year and Civil Air Patrol Officer and NCO Cadets of the Year.
  • We participate in fund-raising to assist the VFW/Sport Clips Help a Hero Scholarship Program, which provides scholarships for service members and Veterans for use at post-secondary schools and trade schools.
  • We can not forget our Scout of the Year program that provides members of Scouting with the opportunity to win scholarships worth up to $5,000. Only recently, the young woman selected as Post 8466 Scout of the Year went on to place second in the Nation!


Wake Forest VFW Memorial Post 8466 has been recognized regularly by both Department and National with the prestigious "All-State” and "All-American” designations for their efforts in supporting Veterans and their Community. We demonstrate on a continuing basis that No One Does More For Veterans than the VFW.

DONATE TO WAKE FOREST MEMORIAL POST 8466

Our programs support our service members while they are on the front line, as they are being discharged and long after they return. Your tax-deductible donation will be immediately directed to the VFW programs where your support is most urgently needed.

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