Welcome all VFW Chaplains
What is a Chaplain?
Chaplains are our nation's comrade veterans who minister to our nation's sons and daughters, and their families. Like any chaplain or minister, they must provide a dynamic and genuine ministry with a shepherd's heart. Whether leading worship, visiting a hospital, conducting a final farewell to our comrades, or even answering a phone call just to talk, Chaplains are always at the frontline of our veterans' lives.
Chaplains serve both God and country by bringing their unique gifts with which they are endowed by God, to the veterans of our nation in the broad, challenging, diverse, and ever changing environment.
Courtesy of Reverend Tom Darling (Past VFW National Chaplain)
BEING A CHAPLAIN
You were elected or appointed to the office of Post/District Chaplain.
You have an important responsibility to your Post/District.
Whether you have been selected for your religious training or past VFW experiences, you are expected to be the spiritual advisor to your organization and its members.
You are not expected to know everything but are expected to search for the answer and get back to the individual. Do not be afraid to ask questions when necessary. There are many ministers of faiths/denominations and chaplains that are willing to assist you. As you meet them, create a contact list and offer veteran/VFW/chaplain assistance when they need it. All will benefit from the experience.
Courtesy of Deborah Halter (Past VFW National Chaplain)
Click on one of the tabs below to navigate the content.
by Reverend Peter R. Hook, National Chaplain
Clergy vs: Chaplain...Is there a difference?
Credibility of Chaplains and Leadership
Dealing with Suicide as a Chaplain
Exercising Wisdom When Helping People in Need
Organizational Structure of the VFW Chaplaincy
Our National Motto: IN GOD WE TRUST
Public occasions put the Chaplain on center stage
When a crisis happens remember A-B-C
by Chaplain Dale A. Iannello, B.Th., M.B.S.
Chaplains and Mandatory Reporting
Have you checked on your Chaplain lately?
The Heart and Soul of Service: Understanding the Role of VFW Chaplains
DUTIES
1. In a non-sectarian manner, you should be prepared to listen to your fellow comrades/sisters and provide aid and spiritual comfort in times of stress, sickness, or bereavement.
2. Work with your Service Officer to aid members and their families in time of need.
3. Your Post Commander or Officers may come to you in confidence. Remember the privileged communication you are having is for your ears only. Uphold the high ideals of the organization in any advice you offer. Remember it is a privilege – respect it.
4. You should be prepared to offer the ritual prayers at each meeting of the Post. You will also be called upon to offer appropriate prayers at the initiation of new members; installation of officers; the dedication of a building, monument or colors; or at the memorial service of a comrade.
Note: All such services are commemorated by use of the VFW or Ladies Auxiliary ritual.
5. Being a member of the Post’s Memorial Team will provide an opportunity for contact with the grieving family and thus provides a caring ministry to them. The Memorial Team is an important part of the honors offered to a veteran.
6. Use the persuasion of your office to promote harmony and unity in the Post/District/State.
Additional Duties & Responsibilities
- A person of moral and intellectual qualities
- A member of the Executive Committee
- Your Post’s official representative at Religious and Civic affairs in the great community
- A pastoral caregiver
- Conduct and/or participate in Memorial, and Funeral Services when called upon
- Send cards to sick and bereaved
- Visit sick, bereaved and hospitalized
- Participation in Parades, 9/11 Memorial Services, Veterans Day Programs/Services, and POW/MIA Services
- Presenting Memorial Bibles to deceased members’ Family
- Generate respect for the office of Chaplain
VFW Chaplain Statement of Ethics and Guiding Principles
1. Chaplains will demonstrate utmost personal and professional integrity: truthfulness, honesty, and compassion to those who they minister to.
2. Chaplains will provide an objective, appropriate, holistic support and a comforting presence.
3. Chaplains will not proselytize. Those who are cared for will be provided freedom from unwanted gifts of religious literature or symbols, evangelistic and sermonizing speech, or forced acceptance of specific moral values and traditions.
4. Chaplains will demonstrate sensitivity to all faith traditions and provide appropriate and sensitive spiritual care to all persons in need, irrespective of their religious or nonreligious identity.
5. Chaplains will not discriminate, with regards to their care, based on sex, age, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disabilities, socioeconomic status, or any other factors that would hamper a person’s ability to receive spiritual care.
6. Chaplains will, whenever possible, attempt to locate a spiritual leader within the faith tradition of an affected person, if needed.
7. Out of respect for those who are served, Chaplains will maintain confidentiality.
8. Chaplains recognize their personal and professional limits, know their boundaries and make referrals to professionals with appropriate expertise.
9. Chaplains will do no harm.
ATTN: All chaplain reports are now to be filed on the
Department Dashboard under/along with community
service report.
Chaplain of the Year Award requirements
VETERAN RESOURCES
Defense Suicide Prevention Office The Defense Suicide Prevention Office does not provide crisis services. If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the Veteran/Military Crisis Line for immediate assistance.
Veterans Crisis Conversation Handout This handout gives helpful information on helping a veteran in crisis.
Suicide Prevention Resource Center
6 Ways to Begin a Conversation about Veteran Suicide
Warriors Journey Warriors helping Warriors. (There is a Chaplain section).
VFW Chaplain Department Websites
VFW California Chaplain's Page (Chaplain Frank Correa, State Chaplain)
VFW Colorado Chaplain's Page (Chaplain Kevin Reinhold, State Chaplain)
VFW Missouri Chaplain's Page (Chaplain Deborah Halter, Past VFW National Chaplain)
VFW Pennsylvania Chaplain's Page (Chaplain Peter Hook, Past VFW National Chaplain)
VFW Washington Chaplain's Page (Chaplain Uschi Graeff
VFW Chaplain Occasion Cards
State Chaplain Get Well
State Chaplain Sympathy
State Chaplain Just a Note
State Chaplain Thinking of You
District Chaplain Get Well
District Chaplain Sympathy
District Chaplain Just a Note
District Chaplain Thinking of You
Post Chaplain Get Well
Post Chaplain Sympathy
Post Chaplain Just a Note
Post Chaplain Thinking of You
Chaplaincy Training Resources
Christian Leaders Institute (CLI), Introduction to Chaplaincy training https://christianleaders.org/course/view.php?id=607
CLI Informational PDF CLI Informational slideshow
VFW Chaplain POC’s (Points of Contact)
Peter Hook (VFW National Chaplain) PeterHook@verizon.net
David Frei (PastVFW National Chaplain) vfwdfrei@gmail.com
Deborah Halter (Past VFW National Chaplain) dihalter@gmail.com
Jim Jenkins (Past VFW National Chaplain) kschaplain@att.net
Frank Correa (Western Conference Chaplain) fcorreavfw@gmail.com
Dale Iannello “Chappy” (“I.T.” Chaplain) chaplaindale@gmail.com
VFW National Level Memorial
Memorial Service National Script (PDF)
VFW Conference Level Memorial
Eastern Conference Memorial Bulletin Cover
Eastern Conference Memorial Bulletin Inside
VFW Department Level Memorial
Department Memorial Bulletin
Department Memorial Script
VFW District Level Memorial
District Memorial Service Template (PDF)
District Memorial Service Template (Word)
District Memorial Service Index Cards
VFW Post Level Memorial
Funeral Services
Draping of the VFW Charter by Reverend Peter R. Hook, Chaplain, Department of Pennsylvania
Funeral Planning for the Veteran
Memorial Service Template
Memorial Checklist and Planning Worksheet
VFW Chaplain Meeting Prayers (VFW 2023 Ritual)
The-Public-Reading-of-Ritual-Prayers
by Reverend Peter R. Hook, Chaplain, Department of Pennsylvania
Prayer for Support by Reverend Peter R. Hook, Chaplain, Department of Pennsylvania
PRAYERS ON THE GO
Whether a Chaplain is on the go ministering to Comrades or their families, visiting a post, or is in need of meeting prayers, these "prayers on the go" will be helpful.
These prayers can be viewed on mobile devices: vfw_prayers_mobile
OTHER RELIGION REFERENCE
Christian
Net Bible Online Bible with different versions.
E-Sword Bible study suite that is downloadable.
Jewish
Sefaria Living library of Jewish sacred texts online.
Islam
Holy Quran Online Islamic resources.
Buddhism
Buddhist Society Online resources for Buddhists
Hinduism
Hindu Online Resources for Hindus.
Shinto
Shinto Portal Resources for the Shinto religion.
Taoism
Taoism Online resources about Taoism.
Zoom Training
IMPORTANT NOTE: All Zoom training links will be shared via email. When participants log into a Zoom training session, the screen name must be formatted as: First and last name with the state. For example: Dale Iannello (WA). This will help us know who is on, enabling us to count attendance by state.
Next training session: MARCH 20, 2025.
TIME ZONES:
5:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
6:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
7:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
8:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Scan this QR code to sign up for
VFW Chaplain Zoom Training.
Past Training Sessions
MARCH 2025
Subject: Hospital or Care Facility Ministry Guidelines
Main Presenters: National Chaplain Peter R. Hook and Western Conference Chaplain Frank Correa
Clich HERE to view the training session (Zoom).
(Class Documents) Hospital or Care Facility Ministry Guidelines and Hospital Ministry, Click HERE
Hospital Ministry, Click HERE
Chaplain Hook’s Recent Article Hospice Care Companies and Veterans, Click HERE
JANUARY 2025 Knowing when to refer
Presented by Past National Chaplain Jim Jenkins
Click HERE to view the PowerPoint slideshow.
Supplementary PDF Knowing when and how to refer someone in need or in trouble.
Click HERE
Supplementary PDF Crisis Resources, Bonner Springs.
Click HERE
NOVEMBER 2024 Personality traits and stress levels presented by Chaplain
Peter Hook.
World Religions presented by Chaplain Deborah Halter
and Chaplain Frank Correa.
Click HERE to view the YouTube video.
OCTOBER 2024 Dashboard Reporting for Chaplains review (Presented by Chaplain Frank Correa). Click HERE to view the PDF version.
JULY 2024 National Chaplain Workshop in Louisville, KY. Click HERE to view the slideshow. (Presented by Chaplain
Frank Correa).
Click HERE to download the Chaplain resource page handout.
Click HERE to download the Chaplain Zoom sign up handout.
Click HERE to download the "In a Crisis Remember A-B-C. (Presented by Past National Chaplain Deborah Halter).
MAY 2024 Dashbord Reporting (Presented by Chaplain Frank Correa) Click HERE to view the training session. (YouTube).
Click HERE to download the PowerPoint presentation.
APR 2024 Memorial Services (Presented by Chaplain Peter Hook) click HERE to download the PowerPoint presentation.
MAR 2024 Ethics (Presented by Chaplain Frank Correa) and VFW Ritual (Presented by Chaplain Peter Hook).
click HERE to view the training session. (YouTube).
FEB 2024 Suicide Prevention Training II, click HERE! (PDF) or HERE! (PowerPoint) host Chaplain Ron Ringo Jr.
Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) information, click HERE! host Chaplain Ron Ringo Jr.
JAN 2024 Suicide Prevention Training, click HERE! (YouTube) host Chaplain Ron Ringo Jr.
NOV 2023 VFW National Home introduction training session, click HERE! (YouTube).
OCT 2023 Chaplain Workshop with host Past National Chaplain Jim Jenkins, click HERE! (YouTube).
Other Training Material
Funerals/Memorials
Presented by Chaplain Peter Hook
Funeral Planning for the Veteran (15 MAR 23)
Memorial Service Template (15 MAR 23)
Hospital Visitation
Presented by Chaplain Frank Correa
Hospital, Nursing Home, Private Home, Hospice & Spiritual Care Workshop (19 APR 23)
Hospital, Nursing Home, Private Home, Hospice & Spiritual Care Workshop Slideshow (19 APR 23)
Based on the training material above test your knowledge by taking the following test. There is a test and an answer sheet.
Hospital Visitation Test
Hospital Visitation Answer Sheet
Ethics
After reading the information under the "Ethics" tab, test your knowledge by taking the following test. There is the test and an answer sheet.
Ethics Test
Ethics Answer Sheet
S.A.V.E.
A brief overview of the SAVE suicide prevention training program.
January News
NEW Issue! The VFW Chaplain Service Dispatch magazine.
Click Here to see the January 2025 Issue.
Past issues: 2024 SEP, 2024 OCT
Click Here to read the latest article about our national motto "The Weight of Personal Loss" by Reverend Peter Hook.
Are you a Chaplain? Have you signed up for Zoom training? If not, scan the QR Code below to be a part of the training program.
