Incoming State Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and first woman to achieve that rank, Amy Meuchel, 44, is a fifth-generation veteran in a family that dates its military heritage back to the American Revolution. She has seen four deployments following her enlistment in the Navy in 2001 after the 9/11 disaster and has served on nuclear-powered aircraft carriers USS John C. Stennis, USS Carl Vinson and USS Abraham Lincoln. Meuchel became involved with the VFW as a student at Southern Maine Community College and later rose through the ranks or what she calls, “the chairs,” to become the first female Commander at Deering Memorial Post 6859 and District 10 in 2017. To become the State Commander she was voted in by her peers on June 21, 2025.

If you recognize Meuchel from the accompanying photo, however, that may be because she is also a Gorham Fed Ex Express driver who likes to chat up her customers on the ongoing achievements of the Maine State VFW program. Meuchel says, “the VFW is a world-wide voice for veterans, with posts in Korea, Guam and Germany, to name a few, with 42 posts in Maine alone, including those in Gorham, Windham, Yarmouth, Harrison, Portland and Fryeburg.

Meuchel wants veterans to connect with the comradeship of other veterans and to know that their certified service officers will help veterans at no cost to file their VA claims. Meuchel says she wants, “the families of veterans to think of the VFW,” when their loved ones who have served need some support themselves.
Folks aren’t always up to date with these features of the newly robust VFW offerings. “No one does more for veterans than the VFW; the VFW and its auxiliary have 1.4 million members, and yet we can feel like the best-kept secret!” Aside from driving, Meuchel is an ambassador for the VFW. She points out that healthcare is available at the National Historic Landmark Togus VA Medical Center in Chelsea, ME, near Augusta, and community- based outpatient clinics in Bangor, Calais, Ft. Kent, Houlton, Lewiston, Lincoln, Portland, Presque Isle and Rumford can be researched for appointments and more information online at VA.gov.

At the other end of the age spectrum, the VFW reaches out each year to high school students, since the group sponsors a $35,000 nationwide essay competition highlighting themes related to the national spirit of Americanism. Although the history of the prize dates back to the 1940s. Charles Kuralt, the CBS news journalist, won the award as a teen, as did a former Miss America winner and former U.S. Attorney John Ashcroft. There is also a Patriot Pen essay competition for middle school students. Meuchel, a parent herself, knows what that kind of financial support can mean during the growing years. In connecting the generations, she says, the VFW has the entire family in its heart. You can find the entry forms on the VFW.org website.

Meuchel is looking forward to a productive year with her team and the members in making a positive impact. She hopes to raise money for the Commander’s Special Project: Honor Flight Maine to sponsor as many guardians as possible to accompany their veterans to Washington DC. They will spend a weekend viewing memorials created in their honor. If you have questions or interest in joining, please reach out to VFWME.org.