Comrades Then. Comrades Still.

Traveling to the Department Conventions in Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, and Oregon has reminded me that campaigning is only a small part of this journey.

Before I share one of the moments that made this journey so memorable, I want to extend my sincere thanks to the members of the Departments of Kansas and Oregon for placing their confidence in me through endorsements from the floor of your State Conventions. I do not take that privilege lightly. To me, an endorsement made openly by the delegates reflects the very best of our organization. It demonstrates thoughtful consideration, confidence earned through conversation, and a commitment to transparency throughout the process. Whether or not we always agree, our members deserve to see leadership decisions made openly, respectfully, and with the best interests of the VFW at heart. For your trust and confidence, I am truly grateful.

Every convention provides an opportunity to share ideas, learn from fellow Comrades, and strengthen the bonds that make the Veterans of Foreign Wars unlike any other organization. While I am grateful for every opportunity to speak about my vision for our future, the moments I will remember most happen after the speeches end.

They happen in the conversations.

They happen in the handshakes.

They happen in the unexpected reunions that remind us why we continue to wear the VFW cap with pride.

One of those moments happened at the Department of Oregon Convention.

After I finished speaking, an Auxiliary member stood up and walked directly toward me with a smile that seemed familiar. Before long, we realized why.

It was Denise Cody.

The last time we had seen one another was more than twenty-two years ago while serving together in Iraq.

Like so many veterans, we completed our service, returned home, and life took us in different directions. Careers changed. Families grew. Time passed. Neither of us ever expected our paths to cross again.

Yet there we stood, in the middle of a VFW State Convention, reunited because of this remarkable organization.

Some friendships don't need years of catching up.

They simply pick up where they left off.

That moment reminded me that while our military service may end, the relationships built through that service never truly do. Sometimes all they need is an opportunity to be rediscovered.

Every Department I visited had its own personality, traditions, and way of doing things.

What never changed was the people.

Whether I was in Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, or Kansas, I found Comrades who care deeply about veterans, their communities, and each other. I found leaders willing to share ideas, celebrate successes, and openly discuss the challenges we all face.

Those conversations are invaluable.

Every Department has something to teach. Every Post has ideas worth sharing. Every Comrade has experiences that can help another leader become better.

That's one of the greatest strengths of the VFW.

When we travel beyond our own Department, we don't just represent where we come from. We return home with new ideas, new perspectives, and new friendships that make us all stronger.

The best conversations rarely happen behind a podium.

They happen over a cup of coffee before the meeting begins.

They happen walking down the hallway between sessions.

They happen around a dinner table after the business of the day has concluded.

Those are the moments where ideas are exchanged, friendships are formed, and laughter reminds us that service is about people first.

Long after the convention agendas are forgotten, those conversations remain.

Campaigns often focus on destinations.

I've discovered that this journey is really about the people along the way.

Every handshake represents a story.

Every conversation offers a lesson.

Every reunion reminds us that we are part of something much bigger than ourselves.

The VFW is not simply an organization that holds meetings and conventions.

It is a community built on shared sacrifice, continued service, and lifelong friendships.

Campaigns eventually come to an end.

Elections are won and lost.

Titles are temporary.

The friendships we build through military service—and continue to strengthen through the VFW—last a lifetime.

My reunion with Denise reminded me that you never know when the VFW will bring an old friend back into your life or introduce you to someone who will become one.

That is why every mile traveled is worth it.

Not because of the campaign.

Because of the Comrades.