jwv of the usa 120 Years of Patriotic Service

Joseph H. Stiner 1928 -1929 1933 was named 1900 -1912 1917 chairman at the first meeting Jews who served in the Span- Five years later, HUVA joined with several civic JWV presented a charter On March 23, of the Hebrew Union Veterans ish-American war organized the and religious Jewish agencies to form the Jewish to its National Auxiliary 1933, JWV was Association. Hebrew Veterans of the War Welfare Board ( JWB). In January 1918, JWB was as a subsidiary organiza- the first organi- with Spain. President Theodore designated as the agency responsible for endorsing tion in 1928. Posts were zation to launch Roosevelt, who had a Jewish rabbis to serve as military chaplains and provide staff encouraged to establish a boycott of 1896 contingent among his Rough at military recreation centers at home and abroad. local auxiliary units. German goods Riders, was named an honorary in the United For over 100 years, JWV has proven member. The Hebrew Union 1924 In 1929, the organization States. More than 4,000 veterans marched that Jews are an integral component Veterans and Hebrew Veterans of adopted the name which on City Hall in New York where they in the defense and the maintenance the War with Spain arranged for In 1924, the organization changed its name to the it has retained to date, the were welcomed by political leaders. In of American security, and have made joint operations while retaining Jewish War Veterans of the Wars of the Republic. Jewish War Veterans of the July, the national commander went to priceless contributions and differenc- separate identities. In 1912, the The following year, JWV published the first issue of United States of America. Amsterdam to join in an international es in America’s growth as a RS OF F federation to promote the anti-Nazi organizations officially combined a national magazine, “The Jewish Veteran,” which DE RE N E nation. In the years after the Civil E D becoming the Hebrew Union was mailed to all members. It has been published F O boycott and JWV representatives met in E M D War, there were cries that Jews had Washington, D.C. with Congressional Veterans Association (HUVA), continuously ever since. Three years later, JWV

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not risen up to come to America’s which succeeded in securing successfully secured passage of legislation requiring A leaders to secure admission to the United W

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defense. To counter this, 63 Jewish I U States of German refugees fleeing passage of legislation removing the American Battlefield Monuments Commission S H E Civil War veterans came together on restrictions against Jews serving to place Star of David markers on the graves of W H Nazism. JWV assembled volunteers T A March 15, 1896, in New York City in the New York State National Jewish soldiers buried in war cemeteries in France. R F fluent in German to help resettle the V S O to form the Hebrew Union Veterans. Guard. ETERAN arriving immigrants.

1938-1939 1954 1996 2002 Starting with 30 Posts at the beginning of the In the mid-1950s, JWV moved its national In honor of its Centen- On April 15, 2002, in decade, JWV expanded in ten years to 277 headquarters to a building it purchased nial, “Jewish War Veterans Washington, D.C., JWV Posts in 1939. In 1936, JWV formed a second in Washington, D.C. The building also of the USA Celebrate participated in the largest US subsidiary organization, the Sons of JWV, for housed the JWV National Memorial One Hundred Years: rally ever on behalf of Israel. teenagers. By 1939, more than 10,000 members 1948 which sponsored a museum and archives to 1896-1996” opened in the Over 100,000 friends of were recruited. Many were given the opportunity preserve military records and achievements NMAJMH, with more Israel were present that day. to attend summer camps sponsored by JWV in On January 1, 1948, the Jewish Welfare of Jewish service personnel – now known as than 400 people attend- 1938 and 1939. Approximately one hundred Board transferred to JWV, with the the National Museum of American Jewish ing the opening reception. PRESENT Posts provided instruments and uniforms for approval of the Veterans Administration Military History (NMAJMH). The exhibit highlighted the Sons of JWV drum and bugle corps. (VA), responsibility to process claims for the influential role JWV Throughout the last decade, veterans and assist in securing benefits due 1963 has played in shaping JWV has continued to thrive 1941 them and their families under governmen- major historical events of with over 400 Posts located tal regulations. On April 4, JWV staged JWV was the only veterans organization the twentieth century. around the country. Members When World War II began, JWV leapt into the largest parade in Jewish history. More to join with the Rev. Martin Luther King, participate in a wide variety action. Meeting ten days after Pearl Harbor, than 250,000 veterans, accompanied by Jr.’s civil rights march at the Washington of philanthropic activities the National Executive Committee promulgated 90 bands, marched down Fifth Avenue in Monument in our nation’s capital in 1963. to help veterans, Jewish and its ‘Emergency Program for Victory,’ which New York City to support the establish- non-Jewish alike. These in- called for a comprehensive civilian program to ment of a Jewish state in Palestine. After Over the next thirty years, JWV clude holding holiday parties, support the war effort. JWV and its National five Arab nations invaded the newly continued to work closely with Israel and providing gifts for veterans Ladies Auxiliary sold war bonds exceeding $250 formed state of Israel in May, JWV alerted to assist Soviet Jewry during the Cold in VA hospitals and homes, million, and purchased seven fighter planes. The its units to collect uniforms to be shipped War, including large participation in ‘The donating gently used clothing first plane was named ‘The Jewish War Veteran’ to Israel. More than one million garments March for Soviet Jewry’ in Washington, and other goods, and fighting and the second, ‘The Star of David.’ were sent within six months. D.C. in 1987. veteran homelessness.

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