There are two veterans’ organizations in Rochelle: Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3878 and American Legion Post 403.
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ROCHELLE – There are two veterans’ organizations in Rochelle: Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3878 and American Legion Post 403.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars is a nonprofit organization that serves veterans and military service personnel from the active duty, National Guard and reserve forces. The VFW was formed in 1899 and today has a national membership of approximately 1.3 million.
VFW post 3878 has a building at 318 Fourth Avenue in Rochelle and engages in several community activities. The VFW provides an honor guard that typically leads parades in the community. The VFW also provides an honor guard service at the funeral home and grave side for veterans.
Several fundraisers are held at the VFW for various community activities throughout the year. A VFW member typically wears a dark brown cap with the VFW emblem (Cross of Malta). Membership in the VFW is limited to those who have served overseas during a time of military conflict.
The American Legion is a nonprofit veterans’ organization chartered by Congress in 1919 and also serves veterans and military service personnel from the active duty, National Guard and reserve forces. The national membership of the American Legion is approximately 2.4 million. Membership is not as restrictive as the VFW and allows members from periods of conflict (WWII, Korea, Vietnam, etc.) regardless of whether the persons served overseas or stateside, as well as all veterans who served since 1991. The Rochelle American Legion Post 403 does not have a building but meets at various venues in Rochelle.
American Legion members wear a dark blue cap with the American Legion emblem on the front. The dark brown and dark blue caps are often thought to be the same organization but are in fact two different organizations. The American Legion also engages in fund raising for a variety of community activities and provides service for veterans. The 100th anniversary of the American Legion will be in 2019.
Both organizations work together on the honor guard, the Rochelle Veteran’s War Memorial Association committee, parades and other community activities throughout the year. It is fortunate that we have such organizations to contribute to the well-being of our community.
