Our History
Serving With
Pride
As one of America’s foremost
veterans service organizations, AMVETS (or
American Veterans) has a proud history of
assisting veterans and sponsoring numerous
programs that serve our country and its
citizens. The helping hand that AMVETS extends
to veterans and their families takes many forms.
One of
the most visible is our network of trained national service officers (NSOs)
accredited by the Department of
Veterans Affairs. Funded by the AMVETS National Service Foundation,
these dedicated men and women can be found in
close to 40 states, providing sound advice and
prompt action on compensation claims at no
charge to the veteran.
In one recent year alone, AMVETS national
service officers processed more than 24,000
claims that resulted in veterans receiving some
$400 million in compensation. This commitment to
service traces its roots back to 1948, when our
NSOs first began helping veterans of World War
II to obtain the benefits promised them by the
federal government.
Coincidentally, it was these returning veterans
who provided the impetus for forming AMVETS in
the first place. At the time, many of them
belonged to veterans clubs on college campuses.
As the number of returnees swelled into the
millions, it was evident that some sort of
nationally organized assistance for them would
be needed. The older established national groups
wouldn’t do; the leaders of this new generation
of veterans wanted their own organization.
With that in mind, eighteen of them,
representing nine veterans clubs, met in Kansas
City, Mo., and founded The American Veterans of
World War II on Dec. 10, 1944. Less than three
years later, on July 23, 1947, President Harry
S. Truman signed Public Law 216, making AMVETS
the first World War II organization to be
chartered by Congress.
Since
then, the original charter has been amended
several times to admit as members those who
served in different eras. Today, membership in
AMVETS is open to anyone who is currently
serving, or who has honorably served, in the
U.S. Armed Forces from World War II to the
present, to include the National Guard and
Reserves.
As a volunteer-led organization, we annually
elect and/or appoint officers at the national,
district, department and post levels. Each
August, representatives from these levels attend
the AMVETS national convention to make decisions
on issues affecting veterans and the
organization.
Over
the years, AMVETS has been in the forefront of
public-policy related to national defense,
services for homeless veterans, adequate funding
for the Department of Veterans Affairs,
concurrent receipt of retirement pay and
disability compensation by disabled military
retirees, veterans employment and training,
POW/MIA accountability and flag protection.
In
addition to the work of our national service
officers, other AMVETS members, as well as those
in the AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary, will
devote as many as 250,000 hours of free time a
year to brighten the lives of hospitalized
veterans. Here, something as simple as playing
cards with the lonely or watching television
with the disabled can make a world of
difference.
So can
the assistance we give those who want to finish
their education. Each year AMVETS awards scholarships totaling $40,000
to deserving high school seniors, ROTC students
and veterans pursuing higher education.
But
helping others is not limited to our fellow
veterans. AMVETS members in more than 1,400
posts nationwide also promote and support
“quality of life” community-service programs
ranging from Special Olympics and ROTC to
scouting and organ-donor projects.
Apart
from these initiatives, the organization has
thrown its monetary support behind work on such
national monuments as the USS. Arizona, the
Statue of Liberty and the Vietnam Veterans
Memorial. It also sponsors its own
carillon program to honor America’s
deceased servicemen and women. Since 1949, when
President Truman dedicated the first carillon at Arlington
National Cemetery, this program has grown to
encompass more than 60 sites in the United
States and overseas.
Another tribute unique to AMVETS is the Silver
Helmet Award, often referred to as the Veterans
Oscar. A replica of the World War II GI helmet,
this prestigious award is presented annually to
recognize excellence and achievement in
Americanism, defense, rehabilitation,
congressional service and other fields.
As the organization moves further into
the 21st century, it does so with the conviction
that its focus on preserving freedom, supporting
America’s defenders and serving her communities
remains a clear blueprint for continued service
to God and country.
AMVETS
Frequently Asked Questions
