Vermont Veterans Posts

About Veterans Organizations in Vermont

A deep look at the history, oldest posts, membership process, and notable veterans connected to Vermont.

History of Veterans Organizations in Vermont

Vermont's military heritage stretches back to before the state's 1791 admission to the Union, with the Green Mountain Boys under Ethan Allen capturing Fort Ticonderoga in May 1775 and Vermont militia playing pivotal roles in the Battle of Bennington and the broader Revolutionary War campaigns of the northern theater. This independent militia tradition, embedded in the Vermont Constitution and the state's fierce sense of self-reliance, shaped how Vermont organized its veterans community throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. By the time the American Legion was chartered by Congress in September 1919, Vermont had supplied substantial numbers of doughboys to the American Expeditionary Force despite its small population, and the Vermont Department of the American Legion organized rapidly during 1919 and 1920. The state's rural character and small towns meant that Vermont Legion posts often served entire counties as the singular veterans organization, hosting Memorial Day parades, Independence Day ceremonies, and Veterans Day commemorations that drew the entire community.

World War II expanded Vermont Legion membership substantially, with returning veterans from the European and Pacific theaters establishing new posts in towns that had not previously had organized veterans presence. The Vermont Army National Guard's 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, descended from the original 86th Mountain Infantry that trained at Camp Hale in Colorado during World War II for mountain warfare, has maintained an active role in modern conflicts including deployments to Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The Korean War and Vietnam eras saw Vermont posts continue their steady community service, and the post-9/11 generation has filled leadership roles in posts across the state. Vermont's lack of a major active duty military installation, distinguishing it from most other New England states, has shaped its veterans community as one composed primarily of National Guard members, reservists, and veterans who served elsewhere before returning home or relocating to Vermont in retirement.

The state's beauty, rural character, and strong veteran benefits have attracted significant numbers of out-of-state veterans to retire in Vermont, particularly in the Champlain Valley and the Mad River Valley.

Oldest and Most Historic Posts in Vermont

Vermont American Legion posts established in 1919 and 1920 reflect the state's small-town character, with charter posts in Burlington, Montpelier, Rutland, Brattleboro, and Bennington forming the initial network. Burlington Post 2, located in the state's largest city along Lake Champlain, has operated continuously since the immediate post-World War I period and remains one of the most active posts in Vermont. Montpelier Post 3, serving the state capital and Washington County, is similarly historic and has hosted countless Vermont Legion conventions and Memorial Day events. Rutland Post in the marble-quarrying city of central Vermont organized substantial membership from the working-class veterans who returned to the quarries and railroads after World War I.

Bennington Post, in the southwestern corner of the state and adjacent to the historic Bennington Battle Monument, takes particular pride in its connection to Revolutionary War heritage. Brattleboro Post in Windham County serves southern Vermont along the Connecticut River. Smaller posts in St. Johnsbury, Newport, Middlebury, St.

Albans, Springfield, and Bellows Falls all trace their origins to the 1919 to 1925 period and continue operating today. The Barre Post served the granite-quarrying community in Washington County, while the White River Junction Post in Hartford served the railroad town that developed at the Vermont-New Hampshire border. Many of these older posts maintain wood-frame post homes that have served as community gathering centers for nearly a century, hosting weddings, funerals, town meetings, and patriotic events alongside regular Legion business.

VFW Posts in Vermont: A Closer Look

The Vermont VFW Department organized in the years following World War I to serve veterans who had served overseas in France, and the organization has maintained a steady presence throughout Vermont's modern history. Burlington, Rutland, and Brattleboro have hosted the largest VFW posts, with smaller posts scattered across the state's fourteen counties. The Vermont VFW Department coordinates statewide programs including youth scholarship competitions, support for the Vermont Veterans Home in Bennington, and legislative advocacy at the Vermont Statehouse in Montpelier. The Korean War and Vietnam generations contributed significant membership to Vermont VFW posts, and the post-9/11 generation including many Vermont National Guard members deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan has revitalized several smaller posts.

The Vermont VFW operates buddy poppy distribution campaigns each year that fund veterans charitable activities and partners with other Vermont veterans organizations on outreach to rural counties. The Northeast Kingdom region of Vermont, encompassing Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans counties, maintains particularly strong VFW presence given the high per-capita military service rate of these rural communities.

AMVETS, DAV, and Other Veterans Organizations in Vermont

AMVETS established a presence in Vermont during the late 1940s with World War II veterans, though the state organization remained smaller than in larger states. AMVETS posts in Burlington, Rutland, and a few other communities serve the core membership. The Vermont AMVETS Department focuses on legislative advocacy and direct service to veterans. The Disabled American Veterans organization maintains a more substantial presence in Vermont relative to AMVETS, with chapters in major Vermont cities and an active state department.

The Vermont DAV operates a transportation program that moves disabled veterans to the White River Junction VA Medical Center, the largest VA facility serving Vermont and parts of New Hampshire. DAV service officers in Vermont assist veterans with disability claims and benefits questions, and the organization coordinates with the Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs on outreach programs.

Vermont Veterans Posts by the Numbers

Vermont is home to approximately 40,000 veterans according to recent VA estimates, one of the smaller veteran populations among American states reflecting Vermont's small overall population. The Vermont Department of the American Legion maintains roughly 50 active posts spread across the state's fourteen counties, with combined membership estimated near 5,500. The Vermont VFW Department operates approximately 25 active posts with membership around 3,000, while AMVETS maintains roughly 5 posts. The Vermont DAV maintains over 10 chapters.

Veterans represent approximately 8 percent of Vermont's adult population, a higher percentage than many states reflecting the steady stream of veterans who have settled in Vermont after service elsewhere.

How to Join a Veterans Post in Vermont

Joining a Vermont American Legion, VFW, AMVETS, or DAV organization begins with locating the nearest post through the appropriate state department. American Legion membership requires honorable service during a congressionally designated war era, with current eligibility extending continuously from World War I forward. Vermont posts welcome DD-214 documentation and process applications during regular meetings. Annual dues in Vermont posts typically range from 30 to 45 dollars.

VFW membership requires foreign service or campaign medal qualification. AMVETS welcomes any honorably discharged veteran. Many Vermont posts maintain auxiliary units for spouses and family members, and the Sons of the American Legion squadrons and Legion Riders chapters operate at several posts. The Vermont Department's annual convention rotates among different Vermont communities and serves as the major leadership and policy event.

Vermont posts often maintain modest but well-loved post homes that double as community centers, and the strong tradition of town meeting democracy in Vermont extends naturally into Legion post governance where members vote on local programs and community service activities.

Notable Vermont Veterans in History

Vermont has produced numerous distinguished military veterans throughout its history. President Calvin Coolidge, born in Plymouth Notch, Vermont, served as a member of the Massachusetts State Guard during World War I and remained involved with veterans causes during and after his presidency. Admiral George Dewey, the Montpelier native who commanded the U.S. Asiatic Squadron at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War, became one of the most celebrated naval heroes in American history.

Senator Patrick Leahy, while not a combat veteran, served Vermont in the Senate for nearly fifty years and championed numerous veterans causes. The 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Vermont National Guard has produced numerous decorated soldiers across deployments to Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Olympic skier and Vermont native Dick Durrance trained with the 10th Mountain Division during World War II. Brigadier General Stephen Thomas served Vermont in the Civil War and rose to high rank.

Congressman Ernest Gibson Jr. served in World War II as a National Guard officer and later became governor of Vermont. The Vermont Army National Guard has consistently maintained one of the highest deployment rates per capita of any state National Guard organization since 2001.

Frequently Asked Questions: Vermont Veterans Posts

Sources & Further Reading

• https://www.legion.org
• https://www.vermontlegion.org
• https://www.vfw.org
• https://www.amvets.org
• https://www.va.gov
• https://veterans.vermont.gov
• https://www.dav.org