Rain or shine, our friends from Indiana know how to show up for the VFW National Home, and Indiana State Day 2026 was no exception.
Despite another rainy State Day weekend, our campus was filled with smiling faces, laughter, new friendships, and plenty of Hoosier spirit. This year was especially exciting as we welcomed more first-time Indiana State Day guests than ever before, giving us the opportunity to introduce even more members of the VFW Department of Indiana and its Auxiliary to the place and people their generosity supports.
There is something special about seeing the National Home for the first time. Our supporters hear about the mission, fund projects, and advocate for our veterans and families from hundreds of miles away. But going through campus and seeing the homes, programs, and community firsthand brings that mission to life in a whole new way.
Building Bears and Making Memories
One of the sweetest moments of the day came courtesy of Chris Martin at Thrivent, who generously donated supplies so the children could have their very own Build-A-Bear experience.
Kids got to build a new stuffed friend to take home with them, creating plenty of smiles along the way. More than just another activity, it gave our kids something special that was theirs to keep, and created some pretty adorable memories in the process. We are incredibly grateful to Chris and Thrivent for helping make the experience possible.
The fun continued with another returning State Day favorite: the petting zoo from Chamberlin Pony Rides. Our families and guests had the chance to get up close with the animals, making the petting zoo a highlight despite the less-than-cooperative weather.
Welcome to the “Muffin Brigade”
Of course, you can’t talk about Indiana State Day without mentioning the Muffin Brigade.
Indiana State Commander Dave Hammons, affectionately known as “Muffin,” brought a little extra Indiana flair to campus with his Muffin Brigade. And no brigade is complete without a proper uniform.
During the festivities, Commander Hammons officially welcomed Executive Director Dr. Jerred Johnson, Chief Operating Officer Dave Lewis, and 2026–2027 Buddy Poppy Child Noelani into the fun, crowning each of them with their very own “muffin hat.”
It was one of those lighthearted moments that perfectly captures what State Days are all about. Yes, these weekends give us an opportunity to share updates about our mission and thank our supporters, but they’re also about friendship, laughter, and the relationships that have grown between the National Home and our VFW and Auxiliary family across the country. And we have to admit, the newest members of the Muffin Brigade wore their hats pretty well.
A Little Rain Couldn’t Stop Indiana
Mother Nature may not have received the State Day agenda, but we weren’t going to let a little rain stop the fun. Campus tours moved onto the bus, allowing guests to stay warm and dry while exploring the National Home and learning more about the programs, services, and resources available to veterans and their families.
We also moved more of the fun indoors, transforming the Community Center Auditorium with lawn games and activities where families, visitors, and staff could spend time together.
The weather may have changed the plans, but it certainly didn’t change the spirit of the day.
In fact, that spirit is one of the things we appreciate most about our friends from Indiana. Their love for the National Home is evident in the enthusiasm they bring to campus. Whether the sun is shining or the rain is coming down, they arrive ready to learn, laugh, reconnect, and remind our families that there is an entire community standing behind them.
“Indiana brings an energy to the National Home that you can feel when they arrive on campus,” said Dr. Jerred Johnson, VFW National Home Executive Director. “What means so much to us is their willingness to be present, not only through their generous support, but by coming here, meeting our families and taking the time to understand the work happening every day. Seeing so many new faces this year was especially exciting because it means even more people are becoming part of the National Home family.”
A Partnership That Continues to Grow
Under the leadership of State Commander Dave Hammons and Auxiliary President Carolyn Patch, Indiana once again demonstrated what it means to stand behind veterans and their families.
The support we receive from Indiana goes far beyond a single State Day. It is a partnership built through years of generosity, friendship, advocacy, and a shared commitment to making sure veterans and their families know they do not have to navigate difficult seasons alone. And seeing so many first-time visitors this year makes us even more excited about what comes next.
Every new person who visits campus has the opportunity to become another ambassador for the National Home, to return to their Post, Auxiliary, community, or family and share what they experienced here. That growing network of supporters helps us continue providing a place where kids can be kids and families can heal, and where veterans and families can build new beginnings.
To Commander Hammons, President Patch, the VFW Department of Indiana, its Auxiliary, Chris Martin and Thrivent, Chamberlin Pony Rides, and every person who made the trip to Eaton Rapids, thank you!
Thank you for showing up. Thank you for bringing your enthusiasm. Thank you for welcoming our families with open arms. And thank you for continuing to believe in the mission of the VFW National Home.
We hope all of our first-time visitors left knowing one thing for certain you are always welcome back.
And to Mother Nature, we’d really appreciate some sunshine next year.
