ABOUT POST 5040

The Woodstock VFW Post 5040 is a non-profit organization serving veterans and promoting Americanism in the community in which we live. The history of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5040, Woodstock, Illinois, dates back to 1945. In that year, World War II veterans began work leading up to the establishment of our Post, securing it with a charter on March 4, 1946. There were 224 original charter members of our Post. On April 29, 1947, the VFW Auxiliary was chartered with 33 members.

The members of the Post have strived to build on four pillars:

  1. Service to Veterans
  2. Service to Youth and Families
  3. Service to our Community
  4. Patriotism
Each of these pillars represents what our Post has aimed to do, to give back to the community in which we live and help the veterans that have given so much to defend our great country. In doing this, we remember those that gave the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedoms, those who died in combat in the conflicts that our country has been in over these many years.

With the deep history in our Post, trying to summarize and include all historical events would be a monumental task to include on a single web page. In 1996, for our 50 Year Anniversary, the Woodstock VFW News, a monthly publication dating back to 1955, tried to capture the spirit and life of VFW Post 5040 through pictures and letters of members throughout the years. This 45-page edition of the VFW news included many photographs of members in activities.

Some of these activities include the following:
  • Monthly trips to the Veterans Hospital at North Chicago
  • V-J Day Parade and Pageant of Drums (1955-1974)
  • Support of the National Home in Eaton Rapids
  • World War II Honor Roll
  • Buddy Poppy Days
  • Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade on the Woodstock Square
  • Honor Guard participation in funerals and ceremonies
  • Fourth of July Festival and Carnival (1940's and 50's)
  • Helped to bring the traveling Vietnam Wall to Woodstock Square
  • 50th Anniversary memorial in Woodstock Square
  • Voice of Democracy Contest for local schools
  • Patriotic Pen Essay Contest
  • Teachers Tea
  • And the list goes on...
 
Some of the original members of our Post fought in conflicts as early as the Spanish-American war of 1898. Today, we have over 170 VFW members in our Post. Initially, a majority of the membership was made up of WW II veterans. As time passes, many of the WW II members are becoming fewer and we strive to bring in members from the Vietnam War, Korean War, and other recent conflicts. Even though the number of members at our monthly meetings totals less than 15, we still have a dedicated few that continually look after the Post and keep up the tradition of the VFW.

Events at our Post primarily raise money for helping veterans and their families. We hold raffles and sell Poppies throughout the year to benefit veterans, support local community charities, and hopefully have some money left over that will keep our Post running.

What the future holds for our VFW is yet to be seen. In the early days of the VFW, becoming a member was something that you felt good about. It helped get you involved in the community and with the many members, there was always something happening down at the Post. Today, in our fast paced world, members are hard to come by and attitudes have changed somewhat. Filling leadership positions each year is a task in itself. Active membership showing up to the Post meetings averages less than 15 members. There is a small group of people that continually take care of the Post, but they can only do so much.

As of August 31, 2023, our physical location on Throop St. will no longer be operating and we will be meeting at the Dorr Township building in Woodstock.

One thing to remember and is constant: through honorable overseas military service can a person can join the VFW. Once a member, they are pledged to defend human rights in peace and war. Now and in the future, there will be foreign war veterans. Those that participate can be assured that the Veterans of Foreign Wars will continue to be your voice in assisting veterans, calling for improved benefits, and helping those in need.

To continue to do so, we need your support. All Veterans of the Armed Forces should belong to some type of a Veterans organization chartered by Congress or recognized by the Veterans Administration for claim representation. Joining one of these organizations helps you and the thousands of other veterans by providing strength in numbers. The more veterans we have in these organizations, the more "clout" we will have in Washington and State governments. If you are eligible to join your local VFW, you become a member of a very large, national organization and will be part of an organization that helps benefit the community in which you live.