Daniel D. Fernandez, VFW Post 9676 was Chartered and came into existence on May 8, 1966, shortly after local Los Lunas, New Mexico hero, Specialist 4th Class, Daniel D. Fernandez, heroically gave his life to save the lives of four of his comrades. During a fire fight near Cu Chi, a suburb of Saigon, Vietnam, Daniel without any regard for his own life threw himself onto a enemy grenade as it exploded. Daniel sacrificed his own life so the four men with him could survive. He was only 21 years old. Several current Post members knew Daniel personally and served in Vietnam at the same time. In Daniel's honor and in the tradition of all Veterans of Foreign Wars Posts, for almost fifty three (53) years, members of Post 9676, have served and will continue to serve their communities in and around Valencia County, New Mexico.
Below is a Short History of the VFW Organization
The VFW traces its roots back to 1899 when veterans of the Spanish-American War
(1898) and the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) founded local
organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service: Many
arrived home wounded or sick. There was no medical care or veterans'
pension for them,and they were left to care for themselves.
In their misery, some of these veterans banded together and formed
organizations with what would become known as the Veterans of Foreign
Wars of the United States. After chapters were formed in Ohio, Colorado
and Pennsylvania, the movement quickly gained momentum. By 1915,
membership grew to 5,000; by 1936, membership was almost 200,000.
Since then, the VFW's voice had been instrumental in establishing
the Veterans Administration, creating a GI bill for the 20th century,
the development of the national cemetery system and the fight for
compensation for Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange and for veterans
diagnosed with Gulf War Syndrome. In 2008, VFW won a long-fought victory
with the passing of a GI Bill for the 21st Century, giving expanded
educational benefits to America's active-duty service members, and
members of the Guard and Reserves, fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The VFW also has fought for improving VA medical centers services for women veterans.
Besides helping fund the creation of the Vietnam, Korean War, World
War II and Women in Military Service memorials, the VFW in 2005 became
the first veterans' organization to contribute to building the new
Disabled Veterans for Life Memorial, which opened in November 2010.
Annually, the nearly 2 million members of the VFW and its
Auxiliaries contribute more than 8.6 million hours of volunteerism in
the community, including participation in Make A Difference Day and
National Volunteer Week.
From providing over $3 million in college scholarships and savings
bonds to students every year, to encouraging elevation of the Department
of Veterans Affairs to the president's cabinet, the VFW is there.
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