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Our Story

More than 100 years of stability, support, and new beginnings for veterans and their families.

A Commitment That Endures

For more than a century, the VFW National Home has been a place where veterans and their families find stability, support, and a fresh start—but our mission today is just as urgent as it was at the beginning.

At its core, the National Home is about hope—helping veterans and their families build a stronger tomorrow, together.

The Beginning

Founded in 1925, the National Home was created to fulfill the VFW promise to “honor the dead by helping the living.” That promise began with a simple but powerful idea: no veteran’s family should be left without help in a time of need. When local cattleman Corey Spencer donated 472 acres of land near Eaton Rapids, Michigan, that vision became a reality. Soon after, the Home welcomed its first resident family—a widowed mother and her six children who had suddenly lost their primary source of support.

What started as one farmhouse has grown into a vibrant, supportive community designed to meet the real-life challenges facing veterans and their families today.

Our Mission Today

The VFW National Home exists to help veterans, service members, and their families thrive—not just survive. We provide a safe, stable place to live while offering the resources families need to rebuild, heal, and move forward together.

Today, our campus includes single-family homes, playgrounds and green spaces, a childcare facility, community center and gym, and support services that focus on the whole family. Just as importantly, we offer something less tangible but deeply meaningful: a sense of belonging among others who understand military life.

Families come to the National Home during moments of transition. Here, they find time, tools, and encouragement to regain independence and confidence.