​We recently wrapped up the 14th annual National Home Junior Vice Orientation and boy was it fun! The weather was absolutely beautiful on Friday as VFW Department Jr. Vice Commanders and VFW Auxiliary Department Jr. Vice Presidents gathered at the VFW National Home for Children to spend a weekend learning about our programs, meeting some of our families and alumni, and enjoying being together. This year we had almost 100 people in attendance including VFW National Jr. Vice Commander-In-Chief, William “Doc” Schmitz, and VFW Auxiliary National Jr. Vice President, Peggy Haake. During the day on Friday, attendees were able to get a behind-the-scenes look at what we do here at the National Home. They were taken on tours of our campus, including a trip to the Montana Farmstead to learn about our 4H program. They were also able to visit the site of our new museum and watch a special video of archived footage from historical events at the National Home. One Jr. Vice attendee noted the passion of the National Home staff. “I’m now just as passionate,” said Department of Utah Jr. Vice Commander, Darryl Root. “I’m amazed how many miracles happen on a daily basis here. I love the fact that it’s done by donations. That we each have a hand in putting smiles on the faces of those families we met. I told my quartermaster we NEED to make sure there is a budget each year to send our Jr. Vice Commanders to this awesome, glorious place to continue to spread the word and become advocates for a better life for so many of our brothers and sisters in arms and their families.”

On Saturday, Jr’s experienced a real Michigan spring day which started a little cooler and drizzly. During the morning they were treated to musical performances by some of our younger residents.

The weather cleared up just in time for them to tour the beautiful homes on campus and have a nice lunch together before making the long journeys back to their home states.

Thank you Jr’s for spending the weekend with us! We hope you had a wonderful time and have all taken home with you a passion for the National Home and what we do! To see more photos of this event, visit our Flickr Album.