The Reno-Sparks Convention Center plays host to the largest Veterans of Foreign Wars convention of the year this week.
The 127th VFW National Convention brings veterans from across the nation to the Biggest Little City to discuss the future of the organization and hear from prominent people in the veteran community.
It gives many veterans, like Ana Contreras, the chance to connect and learn more about VFW leadership.
“I'm also the house committee chair for my post,” she says, “so I am in charge of VFW operations. And so, I've learned a lot. I continue to have the camaraderie that we have with other veterans here."
Conteras is a Marine Corps veteran, and a member of VFW Post 4228 in Titusville, Florida.
Bruce Distler served in the air force for 22 years, and lives in Fernley. On Sunday, he says he just happened to bump into someone from the same small town his wife worked in while he was stationed in North Carolina.
“When I was stationed at Pope Air Force Base, my wife dispatched for the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office out of Lillington,” Distler says. “And he goes, ‘Oh, I'm a deputy at Harnett County, or was.’ And so, we're going to get together for dinner later."
On top of networking opportunities and seminars, veterans can visit the expo hall to connect with various veterans’ services and organizations, including Wreaths Across America.
“We love Reno,” says Chris Stout, Assistant Director for Corporate Partnerships, Wreaths Across America. “We have an incredible amount of support here. Specifically, I think there's seven locations here. And of all the seven participating locations, we're about half covered. It means we only need about 600 to 800 more wreaths to cover every single veteran in the area.”
At its Sunday awards banquet at the Reno Ballroom, the VFW honored Wreaths Across America with the 2026 Better World award, honoring their outstanding contributions to veterans.
“We're forever grateful to VFW auxiliary president Lois Callahan for the award honoring Karen and Morrill [Worcester] for the work and standing beside us as we do it."
Karen Worcester is the executive director of Wreaths Across America, and Morrill Worcester founded the organization.
The expo hall is open until Tuesday, July 28, at noon, and the convention wraps up on Wednesday, July 29.
