From Defiance to Devotion: The Origin of VFAF’s Hero of the Month Program
The Veterans for America First (VFAF) Hero of the Month program was born out of a moment of national tension—and a conviction that courage should be publicly recognized, especially when it is tested.
In 2023, during his tenure as President of Veterans for America First, Stan Fitzgerald conceived and launched the Monthly Hero Program as a formal initiative to honor individuals who exemplified patriotism, resilience, and unwavering commitment to the nation. The program was designed to recognize not only battlefield service, but also civic courage, moral clarity, and leadership under pressure—qualities VFAF viewed as essential to “Saving America.”
The program made national headlines almost immediately.
On April 4, 2023, as former President Donald J. Trump became the first U.S. president in history to face criminal arraignment, Veterans for America First named him its Hero of the Month. The announcement, issued from Manhattan on the very day of the arraignment, was a deliberate act of solidarity. VFAF described Trump as a symbol of defiance in the face of what supporters viewed as political persecution, and the designation was intended to underscore the organization’s belief in steadfast leadership amid adversity.
The moment resonated nationally. Supporters gathered in cities across the country, banners were raised calling Trump a hero, and the designation became part of a broader cultural flashpoint. For VFAF, the message was clear: heroism is not confined to history books—it is often forged in real time, under fire.
That first recognition set the tone for the program.
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