AmLegion and VFW: what the difference?

Question

What's the difference between the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars? Why can't they merge?

Answer 1

The VFW is the Veterans of Foreign Wars - hence, if you served 20 years non-combat you CAN'T join.
American Legion takes a whole bunch of folks. Certainly anyone who served and various other people, i.e. wives and people who play a mean trumpet.
I think the important distinction is that the VFW is strictly for those who served in combat overseas. Everytime they think they're going to run out of members we have a new war.
My father was in both.

Answer 2

The VFW was formed in 1899 for any soldier returning from combat duty during a war. It is actually for only anyone who had served in a combat zone in a foreign war.

The American Legion was established in 1919 and is open to all military persons whether they were in a combat zone or not.

There has been controversy on this for years as soldiers who have been in battle have always received higher respect then some who never seen battle.

Merge them? I don't ever see the likeliness of it although I have been in clubs where both organizations use the same facilities because of the population of the area which made sense. A lot of clubs have disappeared because of lack of interest in the past few years so some clubs in the same towns may soon turn to using the same facilities in years to come.

Answer 3

Any Veteran can be a member of the American Legion... only Veterans of Foreign Wars...hence the name VFW, can be members of the VFW. Both organizations work together for the rights, laws, etc...of American Veterans...but you need to have served in a Foreign War or have earned certain medals to be a member of the VFW...

Answer 4

american legion is mainly for american soldiers ones that didnt fight over seas. VFW veterns of foreign wars