During the early years of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Posts were
directly responsible to the National Organization. The first mention of a
"Department” appears in the National Bylaws following the 1920 National
Encampment (National Convention).
Districts appear to have come into existence
in an evolutionary process, probably because of the need for an intermediate
body between the Post and the Department. The fist mention of "Districts”
appears in the 1931 Bylaws which provided that District representatives on the
Department Council of Administration be elected at the Department Encampment.
Districts finally gained a section of their own in the Bylaws following the
1938 National Encampment but were denied any legislative or taxing power. It
was only with the complete revision of Bylaws in 1948 that Districts gained
full recognition under a special article devoted only to that subject. The
Department holds Jurisdiction over Districts and determines its boundaries;
however, the Commander-in-Chief issues District Charters.
Districts popularity
probably stems from the flexibility of their boundaries to meet specific
conditions, plus the fact that the National Bylaws grant them representation on
the Department Council of Administration.
Districts have earned a very definite
place in the VFW structure. Their size is such as to permit direct supervision
of Posts within their jurisdiction. Not the least of their value is the pride,
loyalty and comradeship developed among the Posts within their boundaries.
Anyone who has attempted to redistrict a Department knowns of the fierce
loyalties of a Post to its District.
