VFW Recognition Program

The purpose of the VFW Recognition Program is twofold. First and foremost, as an organization of wartime veterans and their spouses, the VFW and Auxiliary understand the need to recognize and honor those individuals who have performed above and beyond their peers. Of particular significance are those who, like wartime veterans, have placed the safety and welfare of others above their own. Secondly, the VFW and its Auxiliary realize the value of these awards to the Post, District, Department and National organization. Recognizing worthy individuals makes the public aware of the VFW and Auxiliary and increases the public’s respect and appreciation for these organizations. That increased respect and appreciation results in greater public support for these organizations and membership growth.

For those reasons, it is important that VFW and Auxiliary leaders at every level take advantage of every opportunity to honor worthy individuals and sometimes organizations. With that in mind, the VFW National organization has established a number of suggested awards. The Post/Auxiliary Safety Chairperson should constantly be on the lookout for opportunities to honor individuals of all ages in the community.

The following are suggested awards:

Public Servant: All Department Public Servant Citations must be requested through the VFW Department Public Servant Award Request form through Formstack. VFW Programs staff will email the form link to Department Adjutants and Quartermasters prior to deadline. Deadline for Department submissions to National is February1, to guarantee receipt for Department Convention presentations. 

VFW National Emergency Medical Technician Public Servant Citation: Any individual/group, who actively gives emergency medical treatment, provides rescue service or civil disaster assistance as a member of any public or volunteer company organized to give emergency medical care, provide rescue and civil disaster assistance to our nation’s citizens.

VFW National Law Enforcement Public Servant Citation: Any individual/group, who serves in a municipal, county, state or federal unit tasked with enforcement of the laws pertaining to their area of responsibility. This award does not apply to individuals employed by private companies or security services.

VFW National Firefighter Public Servant Citation: Any individual/group, who actively fights fires as a member of any public or volunteer company organized to fight fires and give assistance to our nation's citizens.

VFW National 911 Dispatcher Public Servant Citation: Any individual/group, who serves in a municipal, county, state, or federal unit tasked with providing the vital link between callers in distress and emergency response teams by obtaining essential information to send the appropriate responders to the right location.

VFW National Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Public Servant Citation: Any individual/group, who serves in a municipal, county, state or federal unit tasked with the enforcement of the laws and special handling pertaining to disposal of explosive threats to our nation's citizens.

Documentation required for all Candidates:

1) Public Servant Award Citation Post Entry Form.

2) Nomination letter containing the candidate’s or group’s name, title, address, telephone and identifying the award for which the individual/group should be considered.

3) Include justification outlining background in the field, accomplishments, and awards. *If personal identifiable information (PII) becomes a concern recommending an officer, please submit as much information as possible to justify nomination.

* Nomination - Post Safety Chairpersons should send the above information to their Department Headquarters to arrive no later than January 1.

* Departments should submit their "VFW Department Public Servant Award Citation Request Form” on vfw.org no later than February 1.

* If you have any questions, please contact VFW National Headquarters—Attn: Tammy Beauchamp at 816.756.3390 Ext 6287 or via e-mail at tbeauchamp@vfw.org.

Life Saving Award: Safety Chairpersons at Posts, Districts and Departments are encouraged to regularly identify and honor individuals throughout the year in their geographic area who have saved a life. The VFW National Programs office provides the following three different citations and medals, free of charge, for local presentation.

• Regular Life Saving Citation – Honors individuals who have, without regard for their own comfort, taken action resulting in the saving of another human life.

• Line of Duty Life Saving Citation – Honors individuals who, in the execution of their assigned duties, have taken action resulting in the saving of another human life.

• Valor Life Saving Citation – Honors civilians who have taken action resulting in the saving of another human life and have placed their own safety at risk.

All Life Saving Award Citations must be requested through the Programs Dashboard Tool. You can access the Programs Dashboard tool by logging in to vfw.org, on the "My VFW” page, under the Membership Quick Links section. Documentation of the event, newspaper clippings, articles, etc., will need to be uploaded with the entry. If there are any questions email tbeauchamp@vfw.org or call 816.756.3390 Ext. 6287.

Recognizing local heroes, heroines, patriots and outstanding youth with VFW awards, citations and medals is one of the easiest and most effective ways to grow a VFW Post. Every time your VFW Post honors a local individual, you spread good will among the individual’s family, friends and your entire community. That good will returns to your Post in the form of increased public support for your fundraising, increased attendance at your events and, perhaps most importantly, more members for your Post and its Auxiliary.

 VFW awards don't cost; they pay - BIG dividends

FOR MORE INFORMATIN CONCERNING VFW SAFETY AND VFW RECOGNITION PROGRAMS CONTACT:

Tammy Beauchamp

Phone: 816-756-3390, ext. 6287

Email: tbeauchamp@vfw.org