Who Are the Cooties?

We’re the Military Order of the Cootie (MOC)—the fun-loving, service-driven bunch proudly known as "The Honor Degree of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).” Think of us as the VFW’s mischief-makers with a mission! Our members are the movers, shakers, and doers of the VFW—the ones who’ve gone above and beyond in service to veterans and their families.

Back in World War II, when morale needed a boost, the Cooties rolled up their sleeves (and maybe a pant leg) and got to work. We saw that hospitalized troops and veterans needed more than medicine—they needed laughter, smiles, and a good dose of Cootie camaraderie. That’s how our motto was born:

"Keep ’em Smiling in Beds of White!”

Today, we’re still at it—volunteering thousands of hours every year in VA hospitals and domiciliaries. Our efforts are worth over ten million dollars annually, but the smiles we earn? Priceless.