The following persons, to wit: James E. Van Zandt, Altoona, Pennsylvania; Bernard K. Kearney, Gloversville, New York; Scott P. Squyres, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Robert B. Handy, Junior, Kansas City, Missouri; Henry F. Marquard, Chicago, Illinois; William E. Guthner, Denver, Colorado; Edward J. Neron, Sacramento, California; Joseph C. Menendez, New Orleans, Louisiana; Paul L. Foulk, Altoona, Pennsylvania; Robert E. Kernodle, Kansas City, Missouri; Walter I. Joyce, New York City, New York; George A. Ilg, Cranston, Rhode Island; James F. Daley, Hartford, Connecticut; Charles R. Haley, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; F. C. Devericks, Clarksburg, West Virginia; John J. Skillman, Miami, Florida; Ellie H. Schill, New Orleans, Louisiana; Gerald C. Mathias, Lagrange, Indiana; James W. Starner, Effingham, Illinois; Leon S. Pickens, Wichita, Kansas; Archie W. Nimens, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Harvey W. Snyder, Denver, Colorado; Charles O. Carlston, San Francisco, California; Walter L. Daniels, Seattle, Washington; John E. Swaim, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Peter J. Rosch, Washington, District of Columbia; and their successors, who are, or who may become, members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, a national association of men who as soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen have served this Nation in wars, campaigns, and expeditions on foreign soil or in hostile waters, and such national association, are created and declared a body corporate, known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
(May 28, 1936, ch. 471, §1, 49 Stat. 1390; May 29, 1953, ch. 85, §1, 67 Stat. 40.)
1953—Act May 29, 1953, included airmen.
This section is referred to in section 112 of this title.
The said persons named in section 111 of this title, or their successors, and such other persons as are duly accredited delegates from any local post or State department of the existing national association known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, under its constitution and bylaws, are hereby authorized to meet and to complete the organization of said corporation, by the adoption of a constitution and bylaws, the election of officers, and to do all other things necessary to carry into effect and incidental to, the provisions of this chapter.
(May 28, 1936, ch. 471, §2, 49 Stat. 1390.)
The purposes of this corporation shall be fraternal, patriotic, historical, and educational; to preserve and strengthen comradeship among its members; to assist worthy comrades; to perpetuate the memory and history of our dead, and to assist their widows and orphans; to maintain true allegiance to the Government of the United States of America, and fidelity to its Constitution and laws; to foster true patriotism; to maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom; and to preserve and defend the United States from all her enemies, whomsoever.
(May 28, 1936, ch. 471, §3, 49 Stat. 1391.)
The corporation created by this chapter shall have the following powers: To have perpetual succession with power to sue and be sued in courts of law and equity; to receive, hold, own, use, and dispose of such real estate, personal property, money, contract, rights, and privileges as shall be deemed necessary and incidental for its corporate purposes; to adopt a corporate seal and alter the same at pleasure; to adopt, amend, apply, and administer a constitution, bylaws, and regulations to carry out its purposes, not inconsistent with the laws of the United States or of any State; to adopt, and have the exclusive right to manufacture and use such emblems and badges as may be deemed necessary in the fulfillment of the purposes of the corporation; to establish and maintain offices for the conduct of its business; to establish, regulate, or discontinue subordinate State and Territorial subdivisions and local chapters or posts; to publish a magazine or other publications, and generally to do any and all such acts and things as may be necessary and proper in carrying into effect the purposes of the corporation.
(May 28, 1936, ch. 471, §4, 49 Stat. 1391.)
Loan or gift of condemned or obsolete material by Secretary of military department or Secretary of Treasury, see section 2572 of Title 10, Armed Forces.
Penalty for unauthorized manufacture, reproduction, or sale of badges or emblems of veterans’ organizations, see section 705 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.
Recognition by Secretary of Veterans Affairs of representatives of Veterans of Foreign Wars for prosecution of claims under laws administered by Department of Veterans Affairs, see section 5902 of Title 38, Veterans’ Benefits.
No person shall be a member of this corporation unless he has served honorably as an officer or enlisted man in the Armed Forces of the United States of America in any foreign war, insurrection, or expedition, which service shall be recognized as campaign-medal service and governed by the authorization of the award of a campaign badge by the Government of the United States of America.
(May 28, 1936, ch. 471, §5, 49 Stat. 1391; May 29, 1953, ch. 85, §2, 67 Stat. 40.)
1953—Act May 29, 1953, extended membership eligibility to all persons who have served in Armed Forces and are otherwise eligible.
Said corporation may and shall acquire all of the assets of the existing national association known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States upon discharging or satisfactorily providing for the payment discharge 1 of all its liabilities.
(May 28, 1936, ch. 471, §6, 49 Stat. 1391.)
1 So in original. Probably should be preceded by “and”.
The said corporation shall have the sole and exclusive right to have and to use, in carrying out its purposes, the name “Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States” and the sole and exclusive right to the use of its corporate seal, emblems, and badges as adopted by said corporation.
(May 28, 1936, ch. 471, §7, 49 Stat. 1391.)
Penalty for unauthorized manufacture, reproduction, or sale of badges or emblems of veterans’ organizations, see section 705 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.
Said corporation shall, on or before the 1st day of January in each year, make and transmit to the Congress a report of its proceedings for the preceding fiscal year: Provided, however, That said report shall not be printed as a public document.
(May 28, 1936, ch. 471, §8, 49 Stat. 1391; Aug. 30, 1964, Pub. L. 88–504, §4(10), 78 Stat. 637.)
1964—Pub. L. 88–504 struck out “, including a full and complete report of its receipts and expenditures” after “fiscal year” and “financial” before “report shall not be printed”.
Printing of proceedings of national encampments as House documents, see section 1332 of Title 44, Public Printing and Documents.
As a condition precedent to the exercise of any power or privilege herein granted or conferred, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States shall file in the office of the Secretary of State of each State the name and post-office address of an authorized agent in such State upon whom legal process or demands against the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States may be served.
(May 28, 1936, ch. 471, §9, 49 Stat. 1391.)
The right to repeal, alter, or amend this chapter at any time is expressly reserved.
(May 28, 1936, ch. 471, §10, 49 Stat. 1391.)