# What's with the Veteran of Foreign Wars membership criteria?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-veteran-of-foreign-wars-membership-criteria/1011647>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 15, 2024, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-veteran-of-foreign-wars-membership-criteria/1011647 "2024-12-15T01:01:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-veteran-of-foreign-wars-membership-criteria/1011647/21 "2024-12-17T23:41:41Z")

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That was my understanding (to exclude Civil War vets).

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**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2024, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-veteran-of-foreign-wars-membership-criteria/1011647/22 "2024-12-18T00:54:30Z")

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> [@Chronos](#):
>
> If you can’t join posthumously, then being killed in action actually disqualifies you from membership.

Killed in action isn’t necessary to get into Arlington or the VFW. A Purple Heart got Stethem into Arlington, not his death by terrorists. Had he only been wounded by terrorists, he still would have had a Purple Heart and still would have been authorized for burial in Arlington upon his eventual death, years later.  
A Purple Heart is also a qualification for admission to the VFW. See here: [https://vfworg-cdn.azureedge.net/-/media/VFWSite/Files/Join/One-PageEligibilitySheet.pdf?la=en&v=1&d=20241021T210254Z](https://vfworg-cdn.azureedge.net/-/media/VFWSite/Files/Join/One-PageEligibilitySheet.pdf?la=en&v=1&d=20241021T210254Z)

Purple Heart (not KIA) gets you into Arlington and the VFW. Also gets you free license plates in some states.

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