This past week, thousands of VFW and VFW Auxiliary members converged in Columbus, Ohio, to conduct the business of the organization and decide the priorities for the upcoming year. We heard from distinguished guests and speakers like Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and many more. The week culminated with the election of the 117th national commander, Iraq War veteran Carol Whitmore. She is the first woman elected to lead the 125-year-old organization.

During her address to convention delegates, Chief Whitmore looked to the future of the organization, reminding members that the strength of the veteran community is its greatest asset. Her speech emphasized the VFW's legislative advocacy as a priority for her year, with a focus on fighting to get Congress to grant concurrent receipt for select combat-injured veterans through the Major Richard Star Act.

National Commander Whitmore said to delegates, "I am your sister by mud, by blood, by dust, by dirt, by sand, by land, by sea, by air ... I am a veteran first."

If you weren't able to join us in Columbus, you can catch up on everything that happened at vfw.org/Convention.

Respectfully,

Your VFW

Iowan Native Elected Commander An Army veteran with 36 years of service and Bronze Star recipient, Carol Whitmore was elected to lead the VFW on Aug. 13, 2025. Read more about her service and vision for the next year.

Thank You to our Sponsors The 126th VFW National Convention was an amazing success, and it wouldn't have been possible without the amazing support of our convention sponsors. We thank you for your generosity and look forward to next year! See the full list of convention sponsors here.

Boldoe Named VSO of the Year VFW Department of Georgia Service Officer Belinda Boldoe was named the 2025 John A. Biedrzycki Accredited Service Representative of the Year for her work advocating on veterans' behalf. Read more about the high example she sets.

VFW Action Alert September will be here before we know it, and we need your help reminding Congress that two VFW priorities need to remain in the 2026 NDAA. Make your voice heard to protect veterans benefits.

UTCH Becomes Uniting for Veterans Together with Humana, the VFW announced during the Joint Opening Session that the UTCH program will now be known as Uniting for Veterans in an effort to reflect the program's expanded focus and our united dedication to addressing the evolving needs of our military and veteran communities. Find out more.

CTG Expands Reach The VFW announced a series of groundbreaking relationships aimed at expanding its Combat Tested Gaming (CTG) league, furthering the available mental wellness resources and strategic tech relationships with gaming and VR industry leaders like Healium, Omnic.AI, August Interactive, Alexander PCs and The Realms of Asgard. Read more about the new relationships here.