The Catholic War Veterans of the United States of America, Inc. was founded in 1935 and has been supporting our nation’s military veterans for 89 years
The Department of Ohio was chartered in 1945 and continues to take care of our state’s veterans – for almost 80 years.
May 15, 1935 – Msgr. (then Father) Edward J. Higgins, Pastor of the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Astoria, New York, with permission of the Most Reverend Thomas E. Molloy of the Diocese of Brooklyn, gathered together parishioners from his parish who had served in World War I, and organized the first Post of the Catholic War Veterans, Astoria Post #1.
The Catholic War Veterans received the Apostolic Blessing of Pope Pius XI, when Fr. Higgins traveled to Rome, shortly after the organization’s formation. President Ronald Reagan signed legislation granting our Congressional Charter in 1984. We are only one of three (3) Veterans Service Organizations chartered by Congress whose membership is decidedly religious.
The CWV is not just “another religious charity”. We provide charitable programs and services within our communities and are focused on promoting the social welfare of ALL military veterans and their families regardless of religious affiliation. We’re the ones who fill the service-gap between secular-based veterans organizations and general religious charities.
The first Ladies Auxiliary, Jamaica CWV Auxiliary #7, New York, received its charter in December 1935.
The Department of Ohio Auxiliary was chartered in 1952 and has helped the Ohio CWV to care for our state’s veterans for over 70 years.
Between 1936 and 1948 the organization progressed rapidly, organizing Posts and Auxiliaries throughout the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Wisconsin and Ohio. An Auxiliary could not be organized without sponsorship from a CWV Post sponsorship.
The Catholic War Veterans Auxiliary continued to grow throughout the years. Our Auxiliary was the first auxiliary of a major veterans organization to open its membership to men and is no longer referred to as a Ladies Auxiliary.