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PROGRAMS

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Working alongside America’s Youthand

Instilling a sense of patriotismhas always been

– and –will always be

- a -VFW Priority

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WE DO THISTHROUGH

OURPROGRAMS

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VOICEOF

DEMOCRACY

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TheVoice of Democracy Program

was establishedin 1947

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To Provide studentsin grades 9 – 12

the opportunity to expressthemselves in regard to

democratic ideasand

principles

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The Voice of Democracy Programis open to students

in grades 9-12who are enrolled in a public,

home, parochial or home school study program

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A student is required torecord a 3-5 minute

(+ or – 5 seconds max.)essay on a standard Cassette

tape or CDon a theme selected byVFW National each year

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First Place Winner receives a $30,000

Scholarship

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Other Scholarshipsrange from

$1,000 - $16,000and

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TheFirst Place Winner

from each statewins an all-expense

paid trip to Washington, D.C.

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All entriesBegin at the Post Level

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The only exception is where a school/class have large numbers of students and wish to conduct their

own competitionthen,

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The school or classwould submit

one winner for each 15 students to the localVFW Post competition.

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AnIndividual Student

can submithis/her applicationdirectly to a Post

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Applicationsmust be received

at the Postno later than

12:00 midnighton

November 1st

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A local Postwill hold its own judging

by November 15thforwarding

1 for every 15to the District for judging

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District judging will be completed

by December 15th

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Department Judgingcompleted byJanuary 10th

&Selected Department Winner

to National by January 15th

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Applicationscan be

downloadedat

http://www.vfw.org/VOD/under theCommunity Tab

Youth & Education

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PATRIOTS PEN

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The Patriots Pen Programis a nationwide VFW sponsored youth essay competition giving

students an opportunity to write essays expressing their views on

democracy

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The Patriot’s Pen Programis open to students

in grades 6-8who are enrolled in a public,

home, parochial or home school study program

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Students are required to write an essay of not less than 300 words

nor more than 400 wordson a theme

selected by National

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All entriesBegin at the Post Level

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AnIndividual Student

will submithis/her applicationdirectly to a Post

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Applicationsmust be received

at the Postno later than

12:00 midnighton

November 1st

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A local Postwill hold its own judging

by November 15thforwarding

1 for every 15to the District for judging

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District judging will be completed

by December 15th

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Department Judgingcompleted byJanuary 10th

&Selected Department Winner

to National by January 15th

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Applicationscan be

downloadedat

http://www.vfw.org/PatriotsPen/under theCommunity Tab

Youth & Education

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SCOUTOF THE

YEAR

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Each year the VFW recognizesthree exceptional people:

Boy Scout or Girl Scout⤖ a Sea Scout⤖

or a Venturing Crew⤖

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TheVFW

Scout of the Year Programrewards with

college scholarshipsup to $5,000.00

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Scouts should submit a completedVFW Scouting Scholarship formResume of high school activities

Scouting recordCommunity Service Record

& Letters of Recommendation

to:

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A Local VFW Post

No later thanMarch 1st

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Applicationscan be

downloadedat

www.vfw.orgunder the

Community TabYouth & Education

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TEACHEROF THE

YEAR

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The VFW Teacher of the Yearrecognizes three

exceptional teachers fortheir outstanding commitment

to teaching Americanism &patriotism to their students

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Winners receive:

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A $1,000 award forprofessional development

expenses

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$1,000.00 awardfor his or her school

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Two award plaques:

One for the teacher&

One for his/her school

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An all-expenses-paidtrip to attend a

VFW conference toreceive their award

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Teacherswho promote

civic responsibility,flag etiquette

&patriotism

are prime candidates for the award

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Applicationscan be

downloadedat

www.vfw.orgunder the

Community TabYouth & Education

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Operation UPLINK

A Calling Program for deployed service members that provides free phone time to active-duty military

personnel and hospitalized veterans.

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UNMET Needs

Unmet Needs helps to meet the critical needs of service members and their families who

experience a sudden financial hardship, oftentimes during a deployment.

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Unmet Needsassists with basic life needs such

as: mortgage and rent, home and auto repairs, insurance, utilities,

food and clothing.

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To date Unmet Needs has provided more than $4.3 million in

emergency financial grants to military families across the nation.

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Military Assistance Program (MAP)

A huge part of MAP includes the Adopt-a-Unit Program. Through Adopt-a-Unit, VFW and its Ladies

Auxiliary adopt hundreds of military units around the world and provide them personal necessity items, care

packages, books and more.

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National Veterans ServiceNationwide network of VFW

Service Officers assist more than 120,000 veterans nationwide. From

assisting veterans in filing for disability compensation to requesting hearings

before the VA Board of Appeals.

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In New York State, the Department of NY VFW maintains two Veteran

Service Officers. One in Albany, NY and one in Buffalo, NY. In 2012 alone,

they were able to garner $82,561,145.00 in benefits for NY

Veterans.

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Emergency Relief

When an emergency arises or a disaster occurs as happened with

"Hurricane Sandy", the VFW stands ready to help and assist its Veterans.

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During the Sandy disaster the Department of NY VFW Relief

Funds combined with the $80,000 in relief funds provided by VFW

National were distributed to VFW members who lost their homes or

were displaced by the storm.

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Not a week - a month - or six months - BUT WITHIN DAYS.

Checks were written and given to our veterans when they needed it -

long before FEMA or any other agency.

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VFWNATIONAL

HOMEFOR

CHILDREN

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The VFW National Home for Children was founded in 1925 as a place where the

families left behind by war -- mothers and children, brothers and sisters -- could

remain together, keeping the family circle intact even when their serviceman didn't

come home

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Today's families face different challenges -- reintegration, post-

traumatic stress, high unemployment and rehabilitation from battlefield injuries, among others -- and the National Home

has evolved over our decades-long history to meet those changing

needs.

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Whether we help a family find strength and support close to

home through our Helpline, or they become part of our campus community, military and veteran families can count on the VFW

National Home for Children to help them build better lives together.

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Get Involved

- LEAVE A LEGACY

- PURCHASE A Tribute Brickor

Donate Directly

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- VFW members can significantly impact their local communities

through youth activities, assisting veteran families in need and

supporting their local military units before, during and after their

deployments.

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Donations to programs such asOperation Uplink – MAP –

UMET Needs – Emergency Relief FundNVS & National Home

can be made by mailing your donation

to Department of NY VFW

69 Sand Creek RoadAlbany, NY 12205

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To preserve & strengthen comradeship among its members⟡

Assist worthy Comrades ⟡

Perpetuate the memory and history of our dead

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This is what we do!