Community Services

Community Services

ANTHEM, DESERT HILLS, NEW RIVER, AND TRAMANTO VFW LOCAL PROGRAMS

Working alongside America’s youth and instilling a sense of patriotism has always been – and will always be – a VFW priority. Learn more about the VFW’s youth and education programs below.

YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS:

Voice of Democracy: The VFW Voice of Democracy contest provides students in grades 9-12 the opportunity to explore democratic ideals and principles through audio essays. The first-place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship and a trip to Washington, D.C. Learn more. (Deadline: November 1)

  • The students are from Boulder Creek High School.  The VFW awards the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winner $100.00 each.

Patriots Pen: The VFW Patriot’s Pen essay contest is for students in grades 6-8 and challenges them to reflect on American history and their own experiences based on a patriotic theme. The first-place winner receives $5,000 and a trip to Washington, D.C. Learn more. (Deadline: November 1)

  • The students are from Boulder Creek High School.  In 2016, the VFW awarded 1st place with $100.00 and 2nd place with $50.00.

Scout of the Year: Three scholarships are awarded annually to outstanding scouts. First place receives $5,000, second place receives $3,000, and third place receives $1,000.

EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH:

If you would like to volunteer to teach “Echoes form the Wall”, discuss flag etiquette, or share your wartime experiences with high school students, please contact us by clicking on the “Contact Us” button at the top of the Home page.

Echos of the Wall: VFW partners with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund to distribute  the curriculum, Echoes From the Wall, to 25,000 public and private high schools and donates $50,000 to the project.

The Vietnam War is one of the most divisive moments in US history and because of this, many educators experience difficulty teaching it in their classrooms.  The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund provides teachers with robust education materials to help students learn about the lasting impact of the Vietnam War, while reinforcing history, civic engagement, writing, and other interdisciplinary skills. Learn More.

Educational Brochures: The VFW produces and distributes a flag brochure and poster for educational purposes at local high schools. Learn More. 

  Flag Retirement: In May 2015, the VFW assisted Britton Usher, an Eagle Scout from Anthem, in conducting a flag retirement ceremony. The remains were buried at the Daisy Mountain Fire Department Station 141. Over 400 flags were retired.

In May 2016, the VFW assisted Scout Luke Weber of Boy Scout Troop 432, along with the Anthem Community Boy Scouts, demonstrating the proper way to retire an American flag as part of his Eagle Scout project. His project is entitled “Retirement of the American Flag”.

Veterans in the Classroom: November is officially known as VFW Veterans in the Classroom Month. Members demonstrate flag etiquette and share their wartime experiences with America’s youth. Veterans play an important role in educating our nation’s youth about the founding principles upon which America was founded. As combat veterans, VFW members can provide students with insight into the great sacrifices our service members make to maintain freedom for all of us. Learn More.

YOUTH ACTIVITIES:

Our  veterans  believe  it  is  important  to  support  youth  activities  to include youth baseball, football, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, air rifle competition and school activities  just  to  name  a  few.  Annually  we  sponsor Boys State, Girls State, Voice  of Democracy and other citizenship activities as well as school visits to disseminate US. Flag etiquette, Constitution Day, Armed Forces Day and to talk with students regarding the importance of military and community service.

Teacher of the Year: Each year the VFW recognizes three exceptional teachers – one each from the elementary, junior high, and high school levels – for their outstanding commitment to teach Americanism and instill patriotism in their students. Learn More.

COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERISM:

Each year, Anthem VFW members volunteer over 1500 hours of service to various community endeavors. Making the decision to volunteer your personal time to our nation’s heroes is an amazing way to give back and thank those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom.

Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service: The Anthem VFW members volunteer at VA medical facilities to provide much needed support and companionship to our nation’s heroes and their families.

Buddy Poppy: Every year the Daisy Mountain VFW’s distributes the Buddy Poppy to help raise funds in support of Veterans’ well-being through our Relief Fund.  The red poppy is a symbol of war and remembrance, dating back to Canada’s Col. John McCrae’s poem, “In Flanders Field,” which describes blowing red fields of poppies among the graves of the fallen. View In Flanders Fields.

Patriotic Days: The VFW hosts public commemorations and other events on many patriotic days, honoring America’s veterans and rich history. Below is a short list of the events the VFW hosts in the local community. Learn More.

  •   Veterans Day – November 11
  •   Pearl Harbor Day – December 7, 1941
  •   Memorial Day – May 30
  •   Independence Day – July 4, 1776
  •   Patriot Day – September 11, 2001
  •   Loyalty Day –  May 1, 1930
  •   POW/MIA Recognition Day – 3rd Friday in September
  •   Flag Day – June 14, 1777

We Care in Anthem Partnership: The VFW partnered with the American Legion and two local Anthem businesses to raise money for “We Care in Anthem”, a local non-profit charity to benefit ill children.

TROOP SUPPORT

The VFW supports our troops day in and day out. Our members offer support to the military community in many different ways, whether that means helping military families get through long deployments or hosting send-off and welcome-home events. The VFW knows how important troop support is because all of our members have been there!

Military Assistance Program (MAP): MAP is the outstretched hand between the VFW and the local military, offering VFW support around the world. MAP offers grants to VFW Posts who participate in military unit functions, such as sponsoring “Farewell and Welcome Home Activities,” “Family Readiness Group” events, or other sponsorship ideas.

  • The VFW participates in Anthem farewell and welcome-home activities for our local troops.

Adopt-a-Unit: More than 2,600 units and ships have been adopted through VFW Posts since 2007.

Care Packages: The VFW shows support of America’s military by collecting and distributing much needed personal items for deployed troops.

VFW Operation Uplink TM: This program connects active-duty personnel and hospitalized veterans with family members through free phone time and VFW “Free all Days.”

VFW Unmet Needs: Unmet Needs is there to help America’s service members who have been deployed in the last six years and have run into unexpected financial difficulties as a result of deployment or other military-related activity. The program provides financial aid of up to $5,000 to assist with basic life needs in the form of a grant -not a loan- so no repayment is required. To further ease the burden, we pay the creditor directly. Learn More.

VFW “Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship”: The VFW and one of its major supporters, Sport Clips Haircuts, have again partnered to help our veterans and their families. The program provides service members and veterans with the financial assistance they need to complete their educational goals without incurring excessive student loan debt. Learn More.

 

Daisy Mountain Veterans
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