Washington to Washington: The VFW Washington Conference

Advocating with Discipline, Representing with One Voice

There is something fitting about traveling from Washington to Washington.

Paul Herrera attending the VFW Washington Conference – Capitol Hill

From my great state Washington to the nation’s capital. From the veterans and Posts we represent to the offices where national priorities are shaped. The VFW Washington Conference is not just another date on a calendar. It is a moment that reminds us who we are, what we stand for, and why we serve.

Every year, VFW leaders come together to advocate for veterans, service members, and their families. We meet with Members of Congress and their staffs to advance priorities that have been adopted through the proper channels of our organization. Those priorities are not improvised moments. They are the result of a thoughtful, deliberate process. They reflect the voices of Posts, Departments, and the membership at large. That consistency matters. It earns credibility. It earns access. And it earns results.

Advocacy at this level is not about personalities or presence. If we want to be heard in Washington, D.C., we must be prepared. Delegations train before they travel. Talking points are coordinated. Roles are understood. Meetings are structured for updates, respectful dialogue, and clear communication. Stories that reflect real veteran experiences are offered to support policy, but we do not let stories replace the discipline of sticking to the issues that the VFW has agreed to advance.

Preparation, in many ways, is a form of respect. Respect for the institution. Respect for the Members of Congress we meet with. And respect for the veterans we represent. We are not there to fill time. We are there to do work.

Why the VFW Washington Conference Matters

My role as one of two of the National Legislative Representatives for the Department of Washington is grounded in that mindset. It is grounded in steady service, clear preparation, and representing veterans with integrity. When we walk into a congressional office, we are not speaking only for one Department or one region. We carry the concerns and priorities of VFW members from Posts across the country. We carry a unified voice.

That unity is not accidental. It is the product of structure, discipline, and participation from members at every level. When we advocate together on Capitol Hill, we show that the VFW has more than presence. We have consistency and commitment.

This conference is a reminder that the work of advocacy is part of the VFW mission. It is part of how we honor those who served and continue to serve. And it reflects the depth of our organization’s credibility in national conversations.

Preparation builds credibility. Credibility builds access. Access builds results.

That principle applies far beyond a single conference. It applies to how the organization is led at every level. It applies to how Posts engage with membership issues. It applies to how we support one another in service and in leadership roles. Stability and trust are not abstract ideals. They are fundamentals that allow the VFW to operate as one organization, whether on Capitol Hill or in a local meeting room.

From Washington State to Washington, D.C., the mission is the same. Represent veterans with seriousness. Advance priorities with clarity. Leave every meeting knowing we conducted ourselves in a way that strengthens the organization.

That is what Washington to Washington represents.

And it is why this conference matters not just for those in attendance, but for every member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.