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Who We Are
Officers of VFW Post 2780:
A History of The VFW
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States came into existence
in 1913 as a result of amalgamations over a period of years since 1899
of five separate foreign service organizations that had the same ideals
and similar requirements for membership. These organizations came into
being entirely independent of one another and without the knowledge of
one another at the time of their origin. A brief resume of these units
is as follows:
-September 1899, AMERICAN VETERANS OF FOREIGN
SERVICE organized as a national body in Columbus, Ohio. Were chartered
by the State of Ohio October 10, 1899 and elected J. C. Putnam as their
first Commander-in-Chief. They were organized through the efforts of
James Romanis.
-December 1899, COLORADO SOCIETY OF THE ARMY OF THE PHILIPPINES organized at Denver, Colorado by General Irving Hale.
-Became NATIONAL SOCIETY OF THE ARMY OF THE PHILIPPINES on August 13,
1900 with Francis V. Greene as their first Commander-in-Chief.
-At their Encampment in August 1909 they changed the name to ARMY OF THE PHILIPPINES.
-July 7, 1901, H.O. Kelley organized PHILIPPINE WAR VETERANS in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
-In July 1902 reorganized with C.O. Knighton as President.
-October 1901, PHILIPPINE WAR VETERANS organized at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with G.H. Smith being elected Commander.
-On April 27, 1902 reorganized as FOREIGN SERVICE VETERANS with Jacques La Belle as Commander.
-July 24, 1902, AMERICAN VETERANS OF PHILIPPINE AND CHINA WARS
organized at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by Captain Robert S. Hansbury.
-The
PHILIPPINE WAR VETERANS-Altoona, PHILIPPINE WAR VETERANS-Pittsburgh,
and AMERICAN VETERANS OF THE PHILIPPINE AND CHINA WARS-Philadelphia met
together September 10-12, 1903 at Altoona, Pennsylvania and formed the
Eastern society of the AMERICAN VETERANS OF THE PHILIPPINES, CUBAN,
PUERTO RICAN & CHINA WARS organization.
-In 1903 the name was changed by plebiscite to AMERICAN VETERANS OF FOREIGN SERVICE-Eastern Branch.
-During the period of September 13-15, 1905, at Altoona, Pennsylvania,
the Eastern Branch of the AMERICAN VETERANS OF FOREIGN SERVICE, which
was formed in 1903 at Altoona, Pennsylvania, amalgamated with the
original AMERICAN VETERANS OF FOREIGN SERVICE of Columbus, Ohio to
become one society known as the AMERICAN VETERANS OF FOREIGN SERVICE.
Herbert O. Kelley, of Altoona, was elected Commander.
-In August,
1913, at Denver, Colorado, the ARMY OF THE PHILIPPINES and the AMERICAN
VETERANS OF FOREIGN SERVICE united under the temporary name of ARMY OF
THE PHILIPPINES, CUBA AND PUERTO RICO with Rice W. Means as the first
Commander-in Chief. During the year the organization's name was changed
by plebiscite and General Order No. 1 to the present day VETERANS OF
FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES.
-At the Encampment in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1914, the name VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF
THE UNITED STATES and a constitution were formally adopted.
-On May 28, 1936, Congressional Charter incorporated the VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES.
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