The Rehoboth Beach VFW Post 7447 Home has an interesting History. It was originally the Lewes Life Saving Station, the fourth station to be established in 1884 on the Delaware Coast.  It proved its usefulness almost immediately when the brave surfman responded to one of the most ferocious storms of the 19th century - the Great Blizzard of 1888. The men from Lewes station were joined by the crews of Cape Henlopen and Indian River and began the life-threatening job of saving as many sailors as they could. The Mid Atlantic Life Saving Stations eventually became known as the US Life Saving Station.

As sail gave way to steam, fewer and fewer ship wrecks occurred along Delaware's shore. In 1915, the USLSS was merged with the Revenue Cutter Service forming the modern US Coast Guard.

The old 1915 Lewes Coast Guard Station, embarked on a new career after 55 years of housing the Lewes Life Saving crew and Coast Guard at the Delaware Breakwater. It was relocated 3 miles east to the isolated beach and dunes on Cape Henlopen. The former LLSS property is now the location of the Cape May Lewes Ferry. In 1940 the old LLSS building’s interior was modernized as the Belhaven Surf Club, a men’s club. The exterior remained the same as when it was a Coast Guard Life Boat Station. The Belhaven Surf Club located within Fort Miles Reservation was taken over December 1, 1941 by the government and once more became government property and serve the 'brass' of Fort Miles, as Army and Navy Officers Headquarters. The old Lewes Coast Guard Station building was donated by the US Coast Guard and relocated in CIRCA 1949 to where it stands today as the Post home of Rehoboth Beach VFW Post 7447 (Charter Dated May 19^th, 1946).

Lewes Life Saving Station

Location of the Lewes Life Saving Station showing Boat House (on shore) and later, off-shore boat house. Former station was moved to Cape Henlopen and served as a lodge for a number of years before being moved to Rehoboth to serve as the VFW home. Note Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal had not yet been built. This photograph was taken circa 1941.Delaware Breakwater West End Lighthouse in 1891. Note adjacent Philadelphia Maritime Exchange. Photograph courtesy U.S. Coast Guard

Delaware Breakwater West End Lighthouse in 1891. Note adjacent Philadelphia Maritime Exchange. Photograph courtesy U.S. Coast Guard

References: The Lewes Historical Society www.historiclewes.org and Cape Gazette blog by Harrison Howeth May 22, 2019 “Belhaven Surf Club

1940-1941” www.capegazette.com/blog-entry/belhaven-surf-club/181344

www.capegazette.com/blog-entry/belhaven-surf-club/181344

VFW - Our Mission: To foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts. To serve our veterans, the military and our communities. To advocate on behalf of all veterans. 

Our Vision: Ensure that veterans are respected for their service, always receive their earned entitlements, and are recognized for the sacrifices they and their loved ones have made on behalf of this great country.

Who We Are 

The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a nonprofit veterans’ service organization comprised of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, guard and reserve forces.

We trace our roots back to 1899 when veterans of the Spanish-American War (1898) and the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service. Many arrived home wounded or sick. There was no medical care or veterans' pension for them, and they were left to care for themselves. 

In their misery, some of these veterans banded together and formed organizations that would eventually band together and become known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. After chapters were formed in Ohio, Colorado and Pennsylvania, the movement quickly gained momentum. Today, membership stands at more than 1.6 million members of the VFW and its Auxiliary.

Our voice was instrumental in establishing the Veterans Administration, development of the national cemetery system, in the fight for compensation for Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange and for veterans diagnosed with Gulf War Syndrome. In 2008, we won a long-fought victory with the passing of a GI Bill for the 21st Century, giving expanded educational benefits to America's active duty service members, and members of the guard and reserves, fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. We were the driving force behind the Veterans Access and Accountability Act of 2014, and continually fight for improved VA medical centers services for women veterans.

Besides helping fund the creation of the Vietnam, Korean War, World War II and Women in Military Service memorials, in 2005 the VFW became the first veterans' organization to contribute to building the new Disabled Veterans for Life Memorial, which opened in November 2010. And in 2015, we became the first supporter of the National Desert Storm War Memorial which is planned for construction at our nation's capital.

We have many programs and services that work to support veterans, service members and their families, as well as communities worldwide.  No One Does More For Veterans.

Our Core Values:

• Always put the interests of our members first

• Treat donors as partners in our cause

• Promote patriotism

• Honor military service

• Ensure the care of veterans and their families

• Serve our communities

• Promote a positive image of the VFW

• Respect the diversity of veteran opinions

VFW Community Achievements

The VFW takes great pride in its history of service to its communities, both stateside and abroad.

Annually, VFW and Auxiliary members donate nearly nine million hours to community service projects, relief efforts and local VA facilities each year.

VFW  Eligibility

There are three qualifiers for membership in the VFW, as set out in our By-Laws. An individual must meet all three in order to become a member. They are as follows:

1: Citizenship – must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. National.

2: Honorable Service – must have served in the Armed Forces of the United States and either received a discharge of Honorable or General (Under Honorable Conditions) or be currently serving.

3: Service in a war, campaign, or expedition on foreign soil or in hostile waters*. This can be proven by any of the following:

- An authorized campaign medal (see a full list of qualifying medals and badges)
- Receipt of Hostile Fire Pay or Imminent Danger Pay (verified by a military pay statement)
- Service in Korea for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days

*This information is usually available through a veteran’s DD-214. If other information is needed or if a veteran’s DD-214 is not complete, they can contact the National Personnel Records Center online or at 314-801-0800 to request more information. 

Eligibility Requirements for VFW Auxiliary Membership:

Members must be citizens of the United States or a United States National, and at least 16 years old.

Those eligible are:

• Husband/Wife

• Widower/Widow

• Father/Mother

• Grandfathers/Grandmothers

• Sons/Daughters

• Grandsons/Granddaughters

• Brothers/Sisters

Of persons who were or are eligible for membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

Those eligible for membership in the VFW are those that have received a campaign medal for overseas service; have served 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days in Korea; or have ever received hostile fire or imminent danger pay. Click here for more information.

Step- and adopted parents, children, siblings (and half-siblings), grandparents and grandchildren are considered the same as biological parents, children, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren and may join the VFW Auxiliary under their VFW-eligible veteran.

Proof of service is required for eligibility and must be obtained by the applicant.

Information on a veteran’s service record can be obtained by contacting:
National Archives and Records Administration
Phone: 1-866-272-6272
Online:

• Veterans Service Records: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/

• 4-Step Veteran Request Process: https://vetrecs.archives.gov/VeteranRequest/home.html

• Military Records Request Using Standard Form 180 (SF-180): http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/standard-form-180.html