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Kansas City, Missouri- Home for Veterans Since 1930
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Kansas City Missouri- Home to the Veterans of Foreign Wars since 1930, the same year as their anti- communist rally. Since its inception in 1899, the V.F.W. has championed the rights and welfare of veterans on many diverse fronts. The Headquarters building occupies a commanding place at its Broadway location south of Downtown Kansas City.
It is nearly impossible to miss the "Citizen Soldier" monument which captures two larger-than-life figures striding toward Broadway, one in battle dress holding an M-16 and the other in business attire grasping a rolled up paper; it is "the metamorphosis of soldier to citizen and V.F.W. member." Street view offers a "back-drop" white wall supporting the crests of the armed services and a placard honoring the veterans of the respective branches. Adjacent to this austere display is yet another wall with five titled areas of service: Future Vision, Ladies Auxiliary, Remembrance, Legislative, and Origins.
The placards inform the observer with little more than curiosity. Further, there is little indication that the towering structure sharing the block , and the monument are in anyway related. A southerly walk down Broadway to the next side street and a right turn reveals the southern entrance to the VFW headquarters. Through the glass doors sits the security officer; an inquiry for the museum might insight a reply of, "Just sign in here, take this badge (visitors badge), turn right down that hall -nine steps, then left- nine steps, and on your left... Enjoy."
Once inside the one-room museum a left to right muse will take you first, to a time-line record of the VFW from inception in 1899 to the 1999 anniversary, and several worth-while shadow-box displays. Next, "National headquarters then and now" traces the building's genealogy. Opposite the Building display, a display of V.F.W. "political and social influence." Then, past a six-foot semi-impressionistic oil painting of "A Marine in Iraq" is a "Chronicle of a worthy cause," a collage of the V.F.W. periodical cover art. Then, a Buddy Poppy display explaining the origins of the V.F.W. symbol inspired by the McCray poem, "In Flanders Field."
The final leg of the tour leads past several commemorative stamps, a collection of the U.S. Presidential members of the V.F.W., Commemorative decorations, badges, and metals; and a VFW family tree. Remaining true to a left to right tour, the last display is a flag display around the "Charter in Act" next to a visitor's sign in book; the book chronicles a pretty good history of the hometowns and associations of those who have visited.
The V.F.W. has stood in active support of our troops through many difficult eras and remains an active voice for those who have served in our armed forces. Right now, the outdoor memorial is decorated by half-massed flags, a salute to the fallen at Fort Hood. May we take note and honor their memory.
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