During the month of September, every post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) throughout the entire nation, celebrates the Birthday of the national organization of Veterans of Foreign Wars. That organization was founded on September 29, 1899 by James C. Putnam shortly after the Spanish American War. Putnam was a veteran of that war who fought in Cuba and sought to unite U S military veterans who had fought in America’s wars in foreign lands and in foreign waters. He wrote the VFW constitution which served as the basis for the modern VFW organization.
The purpose of the VFW is laid out in Article I of the national VFW Constitution. It states that the objective of the order shall be fraternal, patriotic, historical, and educational, and that its members shall maintain allegiance to the government of the United States and fidelity to its laws; that the members shall foster true patriotism, and defend this nation from all enemies. Consequently, when a person joins the Veterans of Foreign Wars he/she joins the brotherhood of overseas veterans who pledge to keep on crusading with their comrades for the freedom of mankind during the years of peace as well as in war. (The local VFW Post fulfills this pledge when it contributes to the welfare of the local and national communities as well as to the welfare of local and national veterans.)
The VFW chose for the basis of its seal, the four point Cross of Malta, which the knights of the eleventh century wore during the Crusades when they fought in foreign lands. Then, they added to that seal, four rays of the sun to represent the vigor with which the present day brotherhood pledges to defend the nation in her time of need. And finally, to complete the eight point logo, the American eagle was superimposed on the seal as a symbol of a nation where generations of men and women fought and sacrificed to preserve the American way of life. All VFW members are proud to belong to this brotherhood and to wear the cross of Malta with its bold colors. Fairfield VFW members exemplify this rule. (When you see VFW members, note the colors of the Malta Cross on their caps and ask what each color represents.)
