The brick building at 465 Riverside Ave. is home to what may be one of Westport’s most under-celebrated organizations: the Joseph J. Clinton Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 399. The organization, named for veteran Private Joseph J. Clinton, who was killed in France during World War I, provides countless services to local veterans, including free monthly luncheons, jazz nights with Grammy-nominated musicians, and held monthly Red Cross Blood Drives for past 66 straight months. “We support all veterans,” explains Phil Delgado, VFW Post 399’s Quartermaster and a retired Lieutenant Commander with the U.S. Navy. The VFW serves nearly 300 members, as Fairfield County has the third-largest concentration of veterans in the state.
Their programming is designed to help local vets live better lives. “At the luncheon, I invite different veterans service officers through the VA and come and talk to our vets about things like how to register in the VA system, how to file for disability, information about veteran cemeteries here in Connecticut, those types of thing,” says Phil.
As we head into 2026, the VFW is able to continue their programming thanks to support from the Westport Woman’s Club, who bestowed their prestigious Ruegg Grant on the VFW at the end of last year. The grant gives $10,000 in “one-time funding to support a high-profile project that creates lasting impact in our community.” “Thanks to the help of the Woman’s Club, we’re going to be able to continue our veterans benefit luncheons,” says Phil. “I never dreamed so many people would come [to these lunches]. It’s helping out a lot of folks.”
While the grant is a big help, the organization would love support from fellow members of the Westport community. “We’re here for all veterans, and we want to be a resource,” says Phil. “We’ve been around for 105 years, and we plan to be around for 100 more.”
For more information or to make a donation, visit vfw399ct.org