VFW Post 10225, located in Garner, North Carolina, serves Southern Wake County and the surrounding community. Our local Canteen is open to the public and serves cold beer and seltzers, as well as a wide selection of spirits, at the most affordable prices you’ll find in the Triangle area.
We’re headquartered at 1706 W. Garner Rd., and our Canteen is open daily from afternoon until close.
Elected Officers (2024-2025)
| Commander | Ben Hernandez III |
| Sr. Vice Commander | Mike Plocar |
| Jr. Vice Commander | Chris Vilano |
| Quartermaster | Terry Chatfield |
| Adjutant | Terry Chatfield |
| Chaplain | Bob Carter |
| Judge Advocate | Jeff Hicks |
| Surgeon | Ann Simpson |
| Service Officer | Jesse Mendoza |
| Trustees | Chandler Smith, Kevin Plewniak (2Yr), Ann Simpson (3Yr) |
| House Committee Members | Bob Carter, Matt Cross (Chairman), OPEN |
| Veteran Advisory Committee Representative Member | Bob Carter |
Our History
Chartered on Aug. 7, 1977, VFW Post 10225 and its Auxiliary have been an active part of the Garner community for more than 40 years. Post 10225 was founded with 64 members, mostly through the effort of the late Joseph Wesley Carr, who served as our first Commander. Six months later, the local Auxiliary chapter was chartered with 25 members, with Annette Vadase serving as the first President.
Our Post’s first few meetings were held at the VFW State Headquarters building in Raleigh, before we moved into our first permanent home — above a store in downtown Garner, at 135 West Main St. From there, we moved into a building at 3713 Old Garner Rd., across from the Army Reserve Center, but only stayed a couple of years. In 1981, our Post moved to 1706 West Garner Rd. — where we’ve remained ever since.
Over the years, the Post home has hosted many area meetings of veterans service organizations, and has entertained National officers from the VFW and Ladies Auxiliary and even hosted the VFW state Golf Tournament in 1993.
Throughout their history, the Garner VFW Post and its Auxiliary have participated in all types of charitable activities in our community, including fundraising for the Garner Veterans Memorial, raising flags at local events, participating in town parades, speaking at schools, awarding scholarships, raising funds for cancer research, assisting sick and needy veterans, and visiting veterans at area nursing homes and the Durham VA Medical Center. We contribute as much as we can to help make Garner a great place to be for veterans — and all of its citizens.
What is the VFW?
The VFW is a 501(c)(19) federally chartered, nonprofit, charitable organization. Our motto is “to honor the dead, by helping the living.”
The objectives of the VFW and its Auxiliary are fraternal, patriotic, historical and educational.
We are not a club. We are a part of a Fraternal Organization, baptized with the blood of heroes, and entrusted with a solemn commitment to care for America’s veterans, widows and children.
The Cross of Malta
The Cross of Malta, which dates back to the 11th century, was adopted as the official emblem of the VFW.
The Buddy Poppy
Based on the poem In Flanders Field, written by Lt. Col. John McCrae, MD, in WWI, the Buddy Poppy is a small silk flower. Made by hospitalized veterans in VA Medical Centers throughout the nation, sales of the Buddy Poppy have raised millions of dollars for veterans and their families.
History of the VFW
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of the United States traces it roots back to 1899. That year, Veterans of the Spanish-American War (1898) and the Philippine Insurrection (1898-1902) founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service. In Columbus, Ohio, they founded the American Veterans of Foreign Service. In Denver, Colorado, they organized the Colorado Society, Army of the Philippines. In 1901, Philippines Veterans in Altoona Supreme District Jr. Vice. 2000-02 and Pittsburgh, PA., started the Philippine War Veterans. The following year, Philadelphia, PA became the home of the American Veterans of the Philippine and China Wars. In 1905, these three groups merged with the American Veterans of Foreign Service.
In 1913, the American Veterans of Foreign Service was amalgamated with the Colorado Society, Army of the Philippines and became the Army of the Philippine-Cuba and Puerto Rico, then changed their name to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
VFW Auxiliary
The Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW was founded in 1914 by women relatives of the Spanish-American War veterans. Early members saw their first responsibility as service to the veteran and his family. In an era when the government did little to assist its veterans, Auxiliary members ministered to the wounded in hospital and raised funds for needy veterans and their dependents.
At the 2015 National Convention, the VFW changed their Bylaws to change the Ladies Auxiliary to the Auxiliary, accepting male members into the organization. This doubles the potential of the organization, allowing more members to help supporting our veterans.
Veterans of Foreign Wars: Post 10225 