Bryan Stalder
Contributor

The story of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) begins more than a century ago, when soliders who had returned from distant battlefields banded together to support one another. Veterans of the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection came home with wounds, sickness, and few options for care. Out of necessity, they formed local groups to fight for recognition and assistance — small sparks that grew into what became the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Today, with more than 1.4 million members, the VFW is one of the country’s most enduring advocates for veterans and their families.

Kansas City holds a special place in that story. In 1930, the VFW moved into what was then called the Porter Building, a 12-story office tower at Broadway and Linwood boulevards. Sixteen years later, they purchased the building outright, turning it into their permanent national headquarters. For nearly a century, the building’s rooftop VFW sign has glowed as part of the Kansas City skyline, a reminder that the city is home base for the nation’s oldest combat veterans’ organization. Just outside the headquarters, Centennial Plaza stands with a bronze sculpture known as The Citizen-Soldier, honoring the transition from military to civilian life and the shared commitment of veterans to look after one another.

That commitment lives on, not only in the national organization, but in neighborhood posts scattered across the country. In Kansas City’s Northeast, Post 9997 is one of those places where the VFW’s mission comes down to earth. From the outside, it looks like a modest hall, but inside it’s a gathering spot where veterans and neighbors share stories, meals, and camaraderie. Regulars describe it as a welcoming space — a place with no drama, friendly faces, and some of the best drink prices in town. On Wednesdays, Bingo night packs the room, complete with low-cost dinners and prizes, and on game days, the TVs glow while members cheer side by side.

Like the national headquarters, Post 9997 has evolved with the times, but its purpose remains the same: serving veterans and their community. Whether through fundraising, fellowship, or simply making sure no one sits alone at the bar, the post embodies the VFW’s motto — that no one does more for veterans. And in a city with such deep ties to the organization, Post 9997 carries forward a tradition of service that began on distant battlefields but continues right here, in the heart of Kansas City.