Programs Department at the VFW National Headquarters

Working through a long week of meetings, in-person and virtual!  I did get to spend some time with the Programs Department Director, Lynn R.  He does some amazing work for all of us and this week he is up to his eyeballs getting things prepared for the upcoming virtual Voice of Democracy Program.  Don't forget to tune into FaceBook Live on 1 April when we will all wait in eager anticipation of learning which student is going to walk away with the top prize of $30,000 in scholarship money!  Programs is also responsible for the Buddy Poppy project and they have done great work getting millions of poppies produced and sent out to all the Posts and Auxiliaries for their upcoming distribution drives.  I can tell you that Lynn and all the people in his Department are working hard for us every day and I'm so proud of what they do!

This is a recently completed hand painted Poppy wall in the Programs Conference room. Just above Mama's head is the iconic poem, "In Flanders Fields".  This beautiful artwork was completed by Nick L., a USMC veteran and Youth Coordinator.  It really is stunning!

In addition to all of the scholarship money [each of the 52 finalists all get something!], they also get a goodie box.  Since the Program is virtual this year, Tammy B has 52 shipping boxes and is filling them with swag!  The students get Commander pins from all over the VFW, a custom personalized Spyder fleece, a lot of swag AND.... a brand new Dell laptop!

Since I drove to Kansas City, Mama made the trip with me.  The office I'm using is similar in layout to the one I had at the United States Transportation Command.  I laid out her blanket under the credenza and she plopped right in, just like she did for so many years while I worked for USTC.