With headquarters in Kansas City, MO, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is a nationwide organization of U.S. veterans. It was created in 1914 through the merger of three organizations of veterans of the Spanish-American War and was chartered by Congress in 1936. Membership is open to men who have served overseas in any branch of the military. A ladies auxiliary is open to female relatives of veterans and to women who have served overseas in the armed forces. The VFW sponsors community service and youth activity programs through its 10,000 local posts and it maintains the VFW National Home for the children of deceased or disabled members in Eaton Rapids, MI.