Paso Robles VFW Honors The Past, Builds For The Future

By Paso Robles Press · Sun Oct 12 2025

By Leo Castillo VFW Post 10965 Commander

In 1899, in Columbus, Ohio 13 veterans of the Spanish- American War came together with a shared vision: to create an organization that would support veterans and their families. From that moment, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) was born. Today, it has grown into the largest organization dedicated solely to serving those who have served our nation.

You may be wondering, “How does someone actually become part of the VFW?” The truth is, not many can. Only about 1% of Americans ever raise their right hand to serve — and of those, only those who deploy to a conflict zone and return home safely earn the honor of joining the VFW. It is a small but proud group, bonded by sacrifice and service.

As Post Commander of the Paso Robles VFW, I’ve learned firsthand that the mission of our organization extends far beyond veterans alone. We support their families, we strengthen our community, and we ensure the sacrifices of service are never forgotten.

Our goal has always been clear: to stand beside our local veterans. But times change, and with each new generation, the challenge becomes not only to support veterans but also to help the public, especially young people — understand who veterans are and why their service matters. Why does the VFW raise money? Why do we go to Congress twice a year? Simply put, we exist to care for veterans, advocate for their needs, and safeguard the freedoms all of us enjoy.

Thanks to Paso Magazine, we now have a wonderful platform to share our story. Here, we’ll provide legislative updates that impact veterans, celebrate local veterans who are doing amazing things, and honor those who have passed. We’ll also highlight the contributions of our members, keep you informed about community events, and share the important work we do advocating in Washington, D.C., on behalf of all veterans.

This year, the VFW celebrated its 125th anniversary. As part of that milestone, Paso Robles VFW Post 10965 — co-located with American Legion Post 50 at the Veterans Memorial Hall — took on several community initiatives. One of our proudest accomplishments was successfully petitioning the city to rename the surrounding 10-acre Oak Creek Park to Veterans Park. After following the full process and earning a unanimous vote, we now have a community space that honors the service and sacrifice of veterans for generations to come.

Looking ahead, we are excited to announce that in the coming months the Paso Robles VFW will begin a capital campaign to build an artistic memorial at Veterans Park, located just behind the Veterans Hall. We have partnered with local artist Max Randolph to design a space that will not only honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice but also serve as a place of reflection, connection, and community. This memorial will be both an interactive and artistic enduring symbol that pays tribute to the past while inspiring future generations.

This was a tremendous victory — not just for our post, but for the entire Paso Robles community. And we are far from finished. We look forward to continuing our mission of service, connection, and support.

From me personally — as both Post Commander and a proud member of the VFW — thank you, Paso Robles, for standing with us. I encourage you to join us at our events, ask questions, send veterans our way if they need support, and, most importantly, continue to treat one another with kindness and respect. Together, let’s celebrate the freedoms we are all fortunate to share.

Paso Robles VFW Post 10965 is located at 240 Scott St. in Paso Robles. For more information, visit vfwpost10965.org

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