U.S. SPACE FORCE

The USSF is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping Guardians to conduct global space operations that enhance the way our joint and coalition forces fight, while also offering decision makers military options to achieve national objectives.

U.S. ARMY

As a branch of the armed forces, the mission of the U.S. Army is "to fight and win our Nation's wars, by providing prompt, sustained land dominance, across the full range of military operations and the spectrum of conflict, in support of combatant commanders ".

U.S. MARINES

"The Marine Corps shall be organized, trained, and equipped to provide fleet marine forces of combined arms, together with supporting air components, for service with the fleet in the seizure or defense of advanced naval bases and for the conduct of such land operations as may be essential to the prosecution of a naval campaign.

U.S. NAVY

The United States Navy mission statement is “to maintain, train and equip combat-ready Naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas.” The statement echoes the fact that the Navy acknowledges that America is not immune to external threats through its seas.

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U.S. AIR FORCE

The mission of the United States Air Force is to fly, fight and win - airpower anytime, anywhere. Whether full time, part time, in or out of uniform, everyone who serves plays a critical role in helping us achieve mission success.

NATIONAL GUARD

The National Guard continues its historic dual mission, providing trained units to the states, territories and the District of Columbia and keeping itself equipped to protect life and property. The Guard also provides trained units to the nation equipped and ready to defend the United States and its interests all over the globe.

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U.S. COAST GUARD

The U.S. Coast Guard brings unique capabilities thanks to a wide suite of specialized maritime capabilities, competencies, and authorities. Their mission set capabilities include search and rescue operations, counter drug enforcement, port, waterway, and coastal security, and living marine preservation.

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WELCOME TO VFW POST 632 / RION-BOWMAN POST

No One Does More for Veterans
Welcome to our website. We are the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Post 632 and Auxiliary, serving the City of Harrisonburg, VA and the surrounding area of Rockingham County since March 31, 1921.  We are a veterans' organization, and our mission is to support all veterans and our community. As yesterday's defenders of freedom, we want to welcome today's military service members into our ranks to become part of our elite group.  As veterans, our common bond is the battlefield, whether it is service in Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Korea, Kosovo, the War on Terrorism or the peace-keeping expeditionary campaigns around the world.  Your courage and sacrifice have made a difference in preserving and defending world peace. We believe we are still serving, but now it is in service to other veterans and our local civilian population.
 

The VFW Auxiliary is one of the nation’s oldest veterans’ service organizations and our members are the relatives of those who served in a location of foreign conflict. Nearly 470,000 members in more than 3,500 Auxiliaries nationwide, plus three foreign-based Auxiliaries, volunteer millions of hours and fundraise millions of dollars for charitable projects that benefit veterans, military service personnel and their families. Through our National Programs we assist the VFW to pass or block legislation that impacts veterans and their families, provide nearly a million volunteer hours in the VA medical system, conduct patriotic programs with thousands of students and offer hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships for our nation’s youth.



Announcements




This year's contest has ended; however, the VFW 2025-26 Scholarship Essay Contest begins this September.

 

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VFW Post 632 is very proud to take part in the VFW 2024-25 Scholarship Essay Contest. Area students wishing to participate through our Post are those enrolled in Harrisonburg City and Rockingham County High Schools (Grades 9-12) through the "Voice of Democracy" program. Students enrolled in Middle Schools (Grades 6-8) within the same areas participate through the "Patriot's Pen" program. These contests are sponsored by the VFW National Headquarters and is supported by all VFW Posts in the nation.

 

VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

 

Established in 1947, the Voice of Democracy scholarship program is audio-essay competition open to high school students in 9th through 12th grades, with the national first place prize scholarship totaling $35,000 and the first-place winner from each VFW Department (State) being awarded a scholarship of at least $1,000.  The first place Department (State) winners receive a special Parade of Winners trip to Washington, D.C., sponsored by Twisted X, where they compete for more than $170,000 in national scholarship awards. Nearly 22,000 high school students worldwide compete in the competition each year.

 

The 2024-25 Voice of Democracy scholarship competition theme is:

 

"Is America Today Our Forefathers’ Vision?”

 

Before submitting your essay, download the 2024-2025 entry form here and find your sponsoring local VFW Post here.

 

 

Virginia is beginning implementation of VFW's new scholarship management system, Scholar’s App. This is an online platform that is intended to not only streamline the application submission and judging processes for the scholarship program, but it will also expose the students to a wide range of scholarship opportunities once they create an account on the system. Please go to our ScholarsApp page for more information on the new system here.

 

While we encourage the use of the new system for applicants, the traditional method of paper and electronic submission of applications will still be accepted at the local Posts this year. 

 

 

Applications/Essays are due to your local VFW Post by 31 October!

 

JUDGING CRITERIA

Originality - 30 points: Treatment of the theme should show imagination and human interest

Content - 35 points: Clearly express your ideas in an organized manner. Fully develop your theme and use transitions to move smoothly       from one idea to the other.

Delivery - 35 points: Speak in a clear and credible manner.

 

                                                                                               PATRIOT'S PEN

 

The Patriots Pen scholarship program in an essay competition open to students in 6th through 8th grades who are enrolled in public, private, parochial schools, or home study programs in the United States and its territories. The national first place prize scholarship totaling $5,000 and the first-place winner from each VFW Department (State) being awarded a scholarship of at least $500.  

 

The 2024-25 Patriots Pen scholarship competition theme is:

 

"My Voice in America's Democracy?”

 

Before submitting your essay, download the 2024-2025 entry form here and find your sponsoring local VFW Post here.

 

Virginia is beginning implementation of VFW's new scholarship management system, Scholar’s App. This is an online platform that is intended to not only streamline the application submission and judging processes for the scholarship program, but it will also expose the students to a wide range of scholarship opportunities once they create an account on the system. Please go to our ScholarsApp page for more information on the new system here.

 

While we encourage the use of the new system for applicants, the traditional method of paper and electronic submission of applications will still be accepted at the local Posts this year. 

 

Applications/Essays are due to your local VFW Post by 31 October!

 

JUDGING CRITERIA:

Knowledge of the theme - 30 points: You must show a thorough knowledge of the theme in your work. Demonstrate you have researched the issue extensively.

Theme development - 35 points: Answer all relevant facts about the theme such as the who, what, where, when, and why. Relate the  theme to your own experiences.

Clarity of ideas - 35 points: Write your essay in an easy-to-understand format. Leave your reader with a clear understanding of your       explanation of the theme.


VFW Post 632 awards local participants who place 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in both contest levels.
  • Voice of Democracy - 1st Place: $250   2nd Place: $150   3rd Place: $100
  • Patriot's Pen - 1st Place: $250   2nd Place: $150   3rd Place: $100

  All participating students are eligible for non-monetary rewards providing they have made a good-faith effort to fulfill the essay requirements.

 
 

News & Events

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View Local, State and National events. 

Membership

Membership Details

As yesterday's defenders of freedom...

 ...we want to welcome today's military service members into our ranks to become part of our elite group.

WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, Kosovo, War in Afghanistan, War in Iraq, War on Global Terror and other Peace-Keeping Expeditionary Campaigns throughout the globe.

Assistance & Benefits

Assistance & Benefits

The Veterans of Foreign Wars is dedicated

 to supporting those who sacrifice so much for this country, veterans, service members in the US Armed Forces, and their families and continues to be a voice for returning and currently deployed service members and their families.

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Statewide News

News & Info from your department

Post 12218's First Change of Command

Western Prince William County Post 12218 will be conducting their first Change of Command Ceremony on June 8th, 1000 at Great Mane Brewery in Haymarket, VA. Come on out and support one of Virginia's newest Posts.

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Vietnam Veterans - Welcome Home!

The United State of America Vietnam War Commemoration is holding a Welcome Home event at the National Mall in Washington DC on May 11th to 13th 2023.

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National News

Important info from National VFW

VFW Names First Woman Veteran to Lead its National Legislative Efforts

WASHINGTON - The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is proud to announce the selection of the first woman veteran as director of the V...

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VFW Leaders Prepare for Diplomacy, Troop and DPAA Site Visits

WASHINGTON - On the heels of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Washington Conference, two official delegations comprised of senio...

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OUR MISSION

That the purpose of this Corporation shall be fraternal, patriotic, historical, charitable, and educational: to preserve and strengthen comradeship among its members; to assist worthy comrades; to perpetuate the memory and history of our dead; and to assist their widows and orphans; to maintain true allegiance to the Government of the United States of America, and fidelity to its Constitution and laws; to foster true patriotism; to maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom, and to preserve and defend the United States from all her enemies.