A hopeful Sunday membership report puts the Department of Europe just 48 members from 100 percent. This milestone is not just about numbers; it reflects discipline, continuity, and unity across the Veterans of Foreign Wars, from the smallest to the largest Departments. When Europe crosses the line, we celebrate as one organization with a shared mission and leadership responsibility.

Mid-Winter season brings members, leaders, candidates, and past leaders into shared spaces where leadership is seen, not scripted. Representing the National Commander-in-Chief is a serious responsibility, one that keeps the focus on mission and service. These gatherings also offer the chance to see continuity in action, as past experience, current leadership, and future leaders move through the same rooms together.

Leadership is not defined by how much we already know, but by our willingness to keep learning and to mentor those who come after us. From seasoned leaders to our Voice of Democracy winners, the Mid-Winter Conference reinforced a simple truth: growth never stops, and neither does our responsibility to prepare the next generation to lead.