Amvets post 911

AMVETS History

Key Events in AMVETS History
1944

American Veterans of World War II founded in Kansas City
1945

First national convention held in Chicago/World War II ends
1946

National Ladies Auxiliary formed in Pittsburgh
1947

AMVETS charter legislation signed/Sad Sacks hold first scrimmage
1948

National Service Foundation becomes corporate subsidiary
1949

First memorial carillon dedicated at Arlington National Cemetery
1950

Charter amended to accept Korean War veterans as members
1951

Elliot Newcomb assumes top post in World Veterans Federation
1952

First headquarters dedicated on Rhode Island Ave. in Washington, DC
1953

Economy plan goes to Congress/Korean War Armistice signed
1954

First Silver Helmet award presented to Gen. George C. Marshall
1955

Action spurred on reburial of W.W.II unknown at Arlington Cemetery
1956

National Veterans Day Program hosted at Arlington Cemetery
1957

National Safety Program initiated
1958

First science scholarship presented
1959

Scholarships added for physical education study
1960

Harold Russell elected to third term as national commander
1961

Civil Defense assigned to DOD after nationwide awareness campaign
1962

USS Arizona Memorial and AMVETS Memorial Wall dedicated
1963

Final respects paid to President John F. Kennedy
1964

JFK Memorial Sports Fund honors late president
1965

Ground broken for new headquarters on Rhode Island Ave.
1966

Headquarters dedicated/Vietnam veterans accepted as members
1967

Drivers Excellence Program started
1968

First Gold Helmet Award present to President Lyndon B. Johnson
1969

AMVETS 25th Anniversary
1970

NEC meets in Berlin — seeks support for POW effort
1971

First thrift store open opens on Georgia Ave. in Washington, DC
1972

Ladies Auxiliary hosts Women's Forum on National Security
1973

The National AMVET resumes monthly publication as tabloid
1974

Ladies Auxiliary adopts John Tracy Clinic as national program
1975

Vietnam era ends/Amnesty-for-draft evaders legislation defeated
1976

Rep. Corrine C. Boggs receives First Auxiliary Humanitarian Award
1977

Stand taken in support of Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee
1978

New carillon dedicated at Arlington Cemetery
1979

Ground broken for new headquarters on Forbes Blvd. in Lanham, Md.
1980

Appeals made to elevate VA/Third headquarters dedicated
1981

Gramm-Latta Amendment endorsed
1982

Because We Care Day started/Vietnam Veterans Memorial dedicated
1983

Assistance provided families of marines wounded in Lebanon
1984

New memorial wall dedicated/Active military accepted as members
1985

AMVETS National Memorial Carillon dedicated
1986

Statue of Liberty restored/AMVETS contributes $100,000 to project
1987

First Independent Budget produced/first overseas carillon dedicated
1988

VA achieves cabinet-level status as Department of Veterans Affairs
1989

AMVETS Against Drug and Alcohol Abuse Program started
1990

National guardsmen and reservists accepted as members
1991

Arizona Memorial Room dedicated at headquarters/Gulf War ends
1992

Massive veterans’ protest stops VA rural healthcare initiative
1993

AMVETS-Toyota Safe Driving Challenge launched
1994

AMVETS 50th Anniversary
1995

Korean War Veterans Memorial dedicated
1996

VAVS 50th Anniversary/Site of World War II Memorial dedicated
1997

New logo adopted
1998

Town meetings conducted nationwide on VA budget crisis
1999

National Headquarters renovated/Largest flying flag dedicated
2000

National magazine changes name to AMERICAN VETERAN
2001

Terrorists attack US/Veterans Day National Commemoration hosted
2002

Albert Geremia, last surviving founder, dies
*Information above courtesy of AMVETS Naional*


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