2025-2026 Newly Elected State Officers & District

During the 94th Annual State Convention the officers for the 2025-2026 year were elected and installed under the leadership of State Commander, James Prestenback! One Team, One Fight!

List of Officers

Department Training

The Council of Administration Meeting and Department Training Sessions will be held August 22-24, 2025 at the Bentley Inn Alexandria, LA. All newly elected Post Officers are encouraged to attend!

More Information

126th National Convention

Every year, thousands of VFW and Auxiliary delegates gather to represent the organization’s total membership of more than 1.5 million at the weeklong VFW National Convention. While there, our mission is to approve new national priorities to guide our organization as we lobby Congress on issues important to the nation’s veterans, service members and their families. Convention delegates also elect new leadership, as well as recognize prominent individuals and organizations for their support of veterans and military personnel. Scheduled for August 9-14, 2025, the 126th VFW National Convention will be held in Columbus, Ohio!

Click here for more information Tentative Agenda

Southern Conference

November 7-9, 2025 Nashville, TN

RegisterHotel

Youth Scholarships

Voice of Democracy is for high school students in grades 9th-12th. Patriot's Pen is for students in grades 6th-8th. Both essays give students a unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-theme chosen for the year. For more information please visit www.vfw.org/community

VODPatriot's Pen

BECOME A MEMBER TODAY!

Are you interested in becoming a Member of our Organization? We would love to have you join!

Member BenefitsFind a VFW Post near you

Monthly Mail Call

Are you signed up to receive our Monthly Mail Call newsletter?

Sign UpClick here to view this month's Mail Call!

LDVA Guide To Veterans Benefits

Want to know more about LDVA? Check out the latest edition of our LDVA Veteran Services Guidebook by clicking the link below! In the guidebook find an overview of the programs and services the LDVA offers Louisiana’s 283,000 veterans and their families. If you would like a hard copy, please email veteran@la.gov.

LDVA Guidebook

VFW FACT SHEET

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ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS

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WELCOME TO VFW DEPARTMENT OF LOUISIANA

Teamwork ~ Leadership ~ Commitment

Statewide News

News & Info from your department

2024 Council of Administration & School of Instruction

Calling all newly elected Post Officers.

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93rd State Convention

We invite all VFW and VFW Auxiliary Members to our 93rd Annual State Convention June 27-30, 2024 in Alexandria, LA!

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National News

Important info from National VFW

VFW Celebrates 249 Years of Freedom

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - This Independence Day, as we celebrate 249 years of freedom, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) calls upon all ...

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VFW Action Alert: Vote YES to Keep Veterans in their Homes

On May 1, the Department of Veterans Affairs ended the Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase (VASP) program, which offered veterans a "last-resort" o...

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Announcements

2024-2025 COUNCIL OF ADMINISTRATION
 
On June 30, 2024 the following members of the Council of Administration were installed during the Joint Installation Ceremony.

STATE COMMANDER– DEBBIE MCELHANNON
STATE SR. VICE– JAMES PRESTENBACK
STATE JR. VICE– SHAREE ARENDS
STATE ADJUTANT– CARL KARNISH
STATE QUARTERMASTER– ELVIN R. BASS
STATE JUDGE ADVOCATE– AARON LAWRENCE
STATE CHAPLAIN– DAVID FIELD
STATE SURGEON– LAWRENCE "LARRY” KOONS
STATE INSPECTOR– PHIL GALLET
CHIEF OF STAFF– FEDERICO MAX ARENDS III
JR. PAST STATE COMMANDER– RON DELANEY

DIST 2– LANCE ELLIS 
DIST 3– MURDOCK GILMORE
DIST 4– DON REBER
DIST 5– ERNEST MITCHELL 
DIST 7– DENNIS HART
DIST 8 - ROBERT REISZ
DIST 9– MITCHELL COTA
DIST 10– JAMES RABALAIS
DIST 11– PHILIP LAWRENCE
DIST 12 - WALTER KORB 

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Join us as brothers and sisters of America to preserve the rights of veterans and support each other as only those who share in the camaraderie forged by conflict can.