VFW Press Releases

1. Winners of VFW Publication Contest Announced

   KANSAS CITY, Mo. -VFW has announced the winners of the 2026 National Publications Contest. Like previous years, to encourage further participation, this year's contest included the categories of Best Magazine and Best Feature Story.

   Two non-VFW affiliated journalism professionals served as judges for the competition. This is designed to guarantee impartiality and objectivity in judging. One of the judges commented that this year saw some of the best submissions for the VFW Publication Contest, particularly in the category for Best Feature Story.

   The winning publications in each category are:

   Best Magazine

   Grand Award:
   The California Veteran
   Skip Miller, Editor

   Silver Award:
   Texas VFW
   Kayla Caruso, Editor

   Bronze Award:
   Department of South Carolina Sentinel
   Bill LaMonte, Editor

   Best Feature Article

   Grand Award:
   "Renewed Purpose: Veteran Finds Community in the VFW"
   Macee Swafford, The Sentinel-Echo

   Silver Award:
   "Remembering Lt. John Marshall Runkle, Who Gave All for Country"
   Zoltan Krompecher, The Plain Dealer

   Bronze Award:
   "HLWW Honors Those Who Have Served with Annual Veterans Day Program"
   Austen Neaton, Herald Journal

   Department Publications

   Large Frequency (printed 5+ times per year)

   Grand Award:
   Wisconsin VFW News
   Marla J. Morgan, Editor

   Small Frequency (printed 1-4 times per year)

   Grand Award:
   Illinois VFW News
   Barbara Wilson, Editor

   Silver Award:
   New York State Overseas Veteran
   Jody Treadway, Editor

   District/Post Publications

   Large Frequency (printed 5+ times per year)

   Grand Award:
   VFW Post 1503 Newsletter
   Mike Beach & Ben Guinan, Editors

   Silver Award:
   VFW Post 2894 Newsletter
   Dan Eaker, Editor

   Small Frequency (printed 1-4 times per year)

   Grand Award:
   VFW Post 2016 News
   Ski Iworsky, Editor

   Silver Award:
   VFW Post 1318 News
   Gundel Metz, Editor

   Bronze Award:
   VFW Post 4495 Quarterly
   Mary Koches, Editor

2. Burger King Franchisees to Spend May Giving Back to Veterans

   KANSAS CITY, Mo. -The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is pleased to announce starting May 1, participating Burger King® franchise restaurants will kick off their annual fundraiser to raise money throughout the month of May in support of the VFW's National Veterans Service (NVS), helping to ensure the VFW can continue to provide service members, veterans and their families with accredited assistance navigating VA claims processes which is absolutely free.

   For nearly two decades, Burger King franchisees have conducted an annual fundraiser benefitting VFW programs by encouraging guests to donate $1 or more with their purchase.

   "The VFW's NVS program is the tip of the spear in our fight for the benefits our veterans have earned," said VFW Foundation Executive Director Hal Roesch. "No veteran should have to navigate the VA's bureaucracy alone, and supporting this program helps guarantee that their sacrifice is recognized with the compensation and care it deserves."

   In 2025, NVS helped recoup $16.2 billion in VA benefits and compensation free of charge on behalf of the veterans and eligible family members we represented. The program currently has nearly 2,300 VFW Accredited Service Officers across America and abroad, including more than 20 Pre-Discharge offices on military bases to assist service members within 180 days of discharge. The VFW assisted more than 164,000 veterans in submitting new VA claims last year alone.

   Since 2007, Burger King franchisees have raised more than $8.1 million in support of the VFW's Veteran and Military Support programs. Nearly 900 Burger King franchise restaurants are participating in this year's campaign. Find a participating restaurant near you.

3. VFW Honors Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

   KANSAS CITY, Mo. - In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is proud to honor our nation's Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander service members, veterans and their families throughout the month of May.

   The Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander designation encompasses more than 50 ethnic and linguistic groups living in the United States and its territories that have helped shape the American story.

   From the first Japanese immigrants arriving in 1843 to the vibrant Pacific islands and Southeast Asia communities of today, these individuals have been an integral part of our national fabric. Their military legacy is equally deep, with historical records documenting Asian Americans serving in the U.S. military as early as the War of 1812, helping to defend a young nation that was still defining its own boundaries.

   This legacy is reflected in the legendary 442nd Regimental Combat Team of World War II and in the hundreds of thousands of service members who have earned their U.S. citizenship through their honorable military service. Their stories prove that patriotism is defined by one's actions and commitment to the Constitution. The presence of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities within the U.S. Armed Forces ensures that our nation's military reflects the diversity that remains one of America's greatest strengths.

   On behalf of the more than 1.3 million members of the VFW and its Auxiliary, we salute all Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander service members, veterans and their families. We remain committed to ensuring that every veteran, regardless of their background or origin, receives the support, respect and benefits they have earned through their service to a grateful nation.

4. VFW Applauds Supreme Court Decision Reaffirming Accountability for Contractors

   WASHINGTON -The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) today applauded a landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in Hencely v. Fluor Corp., which restores a critical legal pathway for injured service members seeking accountability from government contractors.

   In a decision issued April 22, 2026, the court vacated a lower-court ruling that had broadly shielded contractors from liability under the doctrine of "battlefield preemption." The ruling allows U.S. Army Spc. Winston Hencely's case to proceed, marking a significant victory for service members harmed by contractor negligence.

   The case stems from a 2016 attack at Bagram Airfield, where Hencely was severely injured while confronting a suicide bomber employed by contractor Fluor. His actions likely prevented greater loss of life, but he suffered permanent disabilities, including a traumatic brain injury.

   After lower courts dismissed his lawsuit, VFW General Counsel John Muckelbauer filed amicus briefs at both the certiorari and merits stages, arguing that overly broad application of battlefield preemption denied service members meaningful legal recourse.

   "The Supreme Court's decision is a decisive affirmation that contractors cannot evade accountability when their actions fall outside authorized military direction," said Muckelbauer. "This ruling ensures that injured service members like Winston Hencely retain access to state-law tort claims - one of the only remaining avenues for legal accountability and meaningful recovery available to service members - particularly for incidents occurring in areas where safety should be paramount."

   The court's opinion, delivered by Justice Clarence Thomas, aligns closely with the VFW's arguments, rejecting blanket immunity for contractors and clarifying that federal law does not preempt state-law claims absent a clear conflict with federal interests. The decision narrows the scope of contractor immunity and reinforces the principle that negligence, especially in controlled environments, must be subject to legal scrutiny.

   The VFW emphasized that this outcome preserves accountability and strengthens protections for those who serve.

   "As advocates for veterans, service members, and their families, we remain committed to ensuring justice is not denied through overly broad legal doctrines," said Muckelbauer.

   The VFW will continue to monitor the case as it proceeds and stands ready to support efforts that uphold the rights and protections of America's service members.

   Read the full Supreme Court decision.

5. VFW Commends White House Executive Order Advancing Research, Access to Emerging Treatments

   WASHINGTON -The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) applauds President Trump for signing an executive order on Saturday aimed at accelerating alternative treatments for serious mental illness, a move the organization says could be transformative for veterans struggling with mental health challenges.

   The executive order, titled Accelerating Medical Treatments for Serious Mental Illness, directs federal agencies, particularly the Departments of Veterans Affairs (VA), Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration, to speed up research, approval pathways and clinical access to emerging treatments for serious mental illness. A central focus is expanding study and potential medical use of psychedelic-assisted therapies (e.g., psilocybin, MDMA), including issuing clearer guidance for clinical trials and reducing regulatory barriers.

   "For years, our members have prioritized research and clinical trials of alternative mental health treatments of all kinds," said VFW National Commander Carol Whitmore. "The VFW applauds President Trump for signing this important executive order, which seeks to cut through bureaucracy and deliver innovative treatments to veterans who need them."

   This marks a notable shift in federal policy from a cautious, tightly restricted approach to these substances toward a more proactive, innovation-driven model. While it does not immediately legalize new treatments, it accelerates the pipeline from research to patient access, signaling federal support for unconventional therapies, especially for conditions like PTSD, depression and other severe mental illnesses where existing treatments prove inadequate.

   "This executive order has been a long time coming and reflects years of advocacy from the veterans' community, especially from our partners at the Grunt Style Foundation," said Whitmore. "They have advocated that cocktails of pills alone are not enough to treat veterans' mental illnesses. That is why the stroke of the president's pen over the weekend has the potential to save lives today and into the future."

   Among those attending Saturday's executive order signing were former U.S. Navy SEALs and veteran advocates Rob O'Neill, Marcus Luttrell and Rep. Morgan Luttrell, a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee.

   "Innovative therapies have shown life-changing results in treating combat-related mental health injuries, especially where conventional treatments, like opioids, have fallen short," said Rep. Luttrell, who is also a Life member of the VFW. "If there's a chance to give our veterans their lives back, we have a responsibility to explore it. As a proud member of VFW Post 4709 in Conroe, TX, I appreciate the support of my hometown brothers and sisters and look forward to sharing these new therapies with them."

   "We were proud to see congressional champion for veterans' rights and fellow comrade Rep. Luttrell for this momentous occasion," said Whitmore. "He is a leader who truly listens to veterans and acts to get things done on their behalf."

   In March of this year, Whitmore spoke about on the topic during the VFW's annual legislative presentation to Congress, demonstrating the scope of the crisis as nearly every VFW and VFW Auxiliary member in attendance stood during the hearing before the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees to show just how many veterans have been affected by suicide.

   This latest executive order is the latest win for congressional supporters and veteran advocates of emerging treatments, such as the Grunt Style Foundation who have led the effort to bring change to the VA policy on alternate modalities. Last year, President Trump signed an executive order recognizing legitimate medical uses and expanding research into medical marijuana and cannabidiol, a decision applauded by the VFW.

   The VFW remains committed to advancing innovative solutions that improve the health and well-being of America's veterans.

   "The VFW looks forward to working with the VA to ensure veterans can access the care they deserve," said Whitmore.