The history of VFW Post 3282 starts in 1973. Several Veterans, soon-to-be members, came together to petition the VFW National for Charter of a new Post. At that time there was a general concept among Veterans that returning Servicemen from the Vietnam Era would dramatically increase the membership rolls of Service organizations. These three-dozen-plus organizers felt other Posts with newer concepts would more readily accept new members from this undesignated war. On November 5th, 1973, our Post was authorized. The Charter was signed by 39 founding Veterans, virtually everyone that was associated with this endeavor. It is on display at our Post. Two and one-half years later, February 18th, 1976, the Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW Post 3282 was authorized. Our Post is named after John E. Mealy, an honorably serving World War II Veteran. John was a Volusia County resident and Corporal in the US Army. The original Post was located...

The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, with its Auxiliaries, includes 2.4 million members in approximately 9,000 Posts worldwide.

Its mission is to "honor the dead by helping the living" through veterans' service, community service, national security and a strong national defense.

The VFW traces its roots back to 1899 when veterans of the Spanish-American War (1898) and the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service: Many arrived home wounded or sick. There was no medical care or veterans' pension for them, and they were left to care for themselves.

In their misery, some of these veterans banded together and formed organizations with what would become known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. After chapters were formed in Ohio, Colorado and Pennsylvania, the movement quickly gained momentum.

By 1915, membership...