The Veteran of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 9871 was established in North Ridgeville, Ohio in April of 1966.The VFW Organization, itself, 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.
Annually, the more than 1.7 million members of the VFW and its Auxiliaries contribute more than 8.6 million hours of volunteerism in the community. (See www.vfw.org)
Locally, the Post members of 9871 serve our community through: youth programs, Patriots Pen and Voice of Democracy; contributing and delivering Meals on Wheels; sponsoring Cub and Boy Scout Troops; keeping active with our senior citizens groups; helping out at Community Care which helps people in need; actively helping our community through the local Chamber of Commerce; keeping our promise to promote Americanism and Patriotism throughout the community.
We are also very proud to have an active Honor Guard that participates in flag-raising ceremonies and Parade honors as well as providing full military honors for deceased servicemen/women, both locally and in the Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman, Ohio.
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