We
encourage/invite any veterans to discover, find and/or create
activities that are of interest to themselves or other Honorably Discharged veterans, who served in
a combat zone e.g., Vietnam, Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc., and for fellow veterans to assist you in this effort, join Blackburn-Aurora
VFW Post 3348.
We
are interested in, and we invite, younger veterans to become part of our Post.
Their viewpoint is desirable in influencing what we do. Such veterans may
well be in college (UW, Shoreline College, Edmonds College, etc.), Trade school
or may have been recently discharged veterans from the U.S. Armed Forces (Army,
Navy, Air Force, Marines Corps and Coast Guard).
The
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is a non-profit organization that is authorized
by the U.S. Government. VFW Post 3348 holds 2 annual Buddy Poppy events
(Memorial Day & Veterans Day) which the U.S. Government has authorized the
VFW to use as a fundraiser. Every dime that is donated to us in exchange for a
red Buddy Poppy, is purposed for, and goes to help veterans.
We
also host a Bingo event once a year at the Seattle VA Hospital which is
attended by veterans who are hospitalized at the time. Normally, besides
running the Bingo game, our Post donates $100 in prize money to the veterans
who come to our Bingo game. Usually there are 4-5 members of VFW Post 3348 who
attend and help the veterans who need some assistance to see or hear. The 2020 Bingo night that our Post was to co-host was cancelled due to COVID-19.
The
VFW Department of Washington (State) hosts 2 state-wide meetings per year.
One is usually on the east side --- the other on the west side of the Cascade
Mountain range.
The January State Conference honors winners of the 3 annual youth essay
contests. One contest is WA State only, the WA State Youth Essay contest for
Grades 3-5. The other 2 contests are national: Patriot's Pen, for Grades 6-8,
with a top prize of $5,000; and the Voice of Democracy (VOD), for Grades 9-12,
with a top prize of $30,000. VFW Post 3348 actively looks for students to
enter all 3 contests.
The
other Statewide meeting is their Convention in June that is when the new officers for the new
fiscal year (July 1 to June 30) are elected. Annually, VFW Posts elect 6 officers; the State VFW elect 8 officers: Commander, Sr Vice Commander,
Jr Vice Commander, Quartermaster, Chaplain, Judge Advocate, Surgeon and
3-year Trustee. Post and District elections are held prior to this State
Convention but elected Post and District officers may not assume their duties until the new State
Commander has been elected and installed.
No
Officer at any level is paid a salary other than the elected State
Quartermaster, the appointed State Service Officer and the 3 Assistant Service
Officers. All State Officers (elected and appointed) travel around the State as
part of their duties and are reimbursed their expenses: mileage, hotel and
food.
The
VFW offers 3 annual student essay contests and presents an annual Teacher of
the Year award. There are various cash prizes for the students. The 2020-2021 options
for those 3 "Youth Essay Contests" and "Teacher of the Year" will be described in detail, on this menu, soon after the conclusion of the June 2020 State Convention at which the 2020-2021 State Officers will be elected.
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