VFW Post 304

05/28/2025

At the 105th VFW Maryland State Convention, we are proud to say that Post 304 made All-State status and our Auxiliary made Circle of Excellence status! Thank you, to our excellent Post and Auxiliary members for all your great work!

05/28/2025

Monday, we performed as an Honor Guard for the Memorial Day Ceremony at Crownsville Veterans Cemetery. We are always proud to take part in this ceremony and honor our Veterans and our Fallen!

05/11/2025

Yesterday, Post 304 did its VFW Day of Service event, cleaning neglected Veteran graves at St. Anne's Cedar Bluff cemetery in Annapolis. This event exemplifies the tenet of "Perpetuating the memory and history of our Dead", from the VFW Congressional Charter. We had a great time and we learned something about the history of our Veterans from the Annapolis area!

I want to thank our excellent Post and Auxiliary members (and their family members) for coming out and helping with this project. I'd also like to thank Denise Robinson, whose research work with her Legacy of Honor Project was the inspiration for this project - and I'd like to thank Ginger DeLuca, the lead caretaker at the Cemetery for her warm welcome and her assistance. Finally, I'd like to thank Delegate Dylan Behler for coming out and pitching in with us - we appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to help us honor Veterans, who may not have anyone left to help care for their graves.

Did you know that there is a Medal of Honor recipient buried in Cedar Bluff? CPL Hugh Purvis (USMC) was awarded the MoH for his actions in the 1871 Korean Campaign. The Citation reads: "Under enemy fire, CPL (then Private) Purvis was the first to scale the walls of the enemy fort and he captured the Korean flag". Were you even aware we had a conflict with Korea in 1871??

04/28/2025

03/16/2025

Annapolis Student Takes Second in National VFW Competition
Smith receives the second place, $21,000 scholarship prize


WASHINGTON (March 3, 2025) – The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is proud to announce Caleb Smith, a junior at The Key School, Annapolis, Maryland, has been named the second place national winner and recipient of the $21,000 Charles Kuralt Memorial Scholarship award in its 2024-2025 Voice of Democracy scholarship program. Read his winning essay here.

The announcement was made during tonight’s Parade of Winners ceremony at the 2025 VFW Washington Conference in Washington, D.C. VFW Post 304 in Annapolis sponsored Smith.

Open to eligible high school students in ninth through 12th grades, the VFW’s annual Voice of Democracy audio-essay contest requires entrants to write and record a three- to five-minute script on a democratic, patriotic theme. This year more than 26,400 high school students from around the world reflected on the theme “Is America Today Our Forefathers’ Vision?” with 53 national finalists competing for their share of $174,500 in scholarships and awards. See the complete list of 2025 Voice of Democracy national winners.

Learn more about the Voice of Democracy program here.

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PHOTO CAPTION: VFW National Commander Al Lipphardt (right) and VFW Auxiliary President Brenda Bryant (left) present Voice of Democracy second place winner Caleb Smith (center) with his $21,000 award.

01/31/2025

Today we participated in an Honor Guard for an "Unattended Remains" ceremony at Crownsville Veterans Cemetery. These ceremonies are performed to honor and inter Veterans whose remains had not been claimed and for which no family could be located. We feel it is extremely important to take part in these ceremonies and provide Military Honors for these Veterans, as it remembers and honors their service and shows that our Veterans will not be forgotten.

Thanks to all who participated and attended today!

01/26/2025

We congratulate Caleb Smith, from the Key School in Annapolis, for being the Post 304 winner, the District 6 winner - and now the State winner of this year's Voice of Democracy Contest! We're proud of you and we hope your excellent speech will also enable you to be the National winner in March - Good luck!

01/24/2025

On Tuesday, I had the privilege of testifying in support of HB0267, in front of the Maryland House Economic Matters Committee. This bill aims to instate penalties for unaccredited entities who employ predatory practices and charge Veterans to "assist" them with their VA Claims. It is illegal to charge for processing initial VA claims and these "Claims Sharks" are exploiting a loophole in the law, to extract Millions from our Veterans' VA Disability Compensation, for their own benefit.

This bill will also be introduced on the Senate side, soon. Please contact your Delegates and Senators and ask them to support this important legislation - and ensure you are dealing with an ACCREDITED Service Officer, when processing VA Claims - DON'T FEED THE SHARKS!

Thanks to Delegate Nick Allen for sponsoring this bill. Thanks to Mike Figlioli, our VFW National Veterans Service Director for testifying - and thanks to everyone who came out in support of this Testimony!

12/30/2024

Yesterday, we participated in the Military Bowl Parade in Annapolis, with the help of Past Department Commander, Tom WIlliams and his wife Kathy. A bit of rain doesn't stop us! Also, thanks to Mike Blackwell and Cindy Sobolewski - you guys rock!

12/18/2024

Tonight, the Military Order of the Cootie and MOCA, Block Busters Pup Tent #3, had their annual Christmas visit to the Baltimore VA. We distributed gifts to all of the patients and the staff in the Wards and we also held our usual Bingo night! A "lousy" time was had by all!

12/16/2024

Yesterday, I was out with the VFW Department of Maryland doing a community engagement and recruiting event, hosted by the Travis Manion Foundation, at the Army-Navy game! We had a great time and talked with and recruited some great Veterans!

12/07/2024

Today, VFW Post 304 commemorated the 83rd Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, by laying a wreath at the Pearl Harbor Memorial in Annapolis. Thank you to everyone who took part and attended!