Violet Tharp, Sidney, Lower Yellowstone Auxiliary #4099 member, participated in the 98th National Convention of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of the U.S. held Aug. 27-Sept. 1 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, TX.
The convention marked the beginning of her 2011-2012 term as National Chairman for the 15 states in the Western Conference on the Hospital & VAVS Program.
A highlight of the convention was the announcement of the Outstanding Department Presidents in the 11 Membership Groups at the National President’s Luncheon. Awards and Resolutions to the National Bylaws were announced and reviewed.
Other highlights included the opportunity for members to view the eight winning Young American Creative Patriotic Art entries and the Buddy Poppy displays in addition to attending several joint events with the VFW, such as the Joint Opening Session and the Patriotic Rally.
During the convention, the National President commended the 3,000 attendees for all their hard work in honoring veterans and supporting deployed military personnel and their families. Members have spent millions of dollars and volunteer hours helping the heroes of our country.
The national president also thanked members for volunteering 1.2 million hours in the nation’s hospitals, raising $2.4 million for the organization’s Cancer Aid & Research Fund, and donating $292,501 to VFW National Military Services, which includes Operation Uplink™ to provide long-distance calling opportunities to deployed soldiers and hospitalized veterans.
Thousands of dollars have been donated to cancer research facilities across the country. National President Barnes sent funds to the Women in Military Service to America Memorial Foundation, National Summit Training on Women Veterans, the Bataan Memorial Death March and many other events and organizations.
The election and installation of National President Gwen Rankin, Mission Santa Clara Auxiliary #3982 life member, and the other 2011-2012 National Officers were held.
To learn more about the 520,000–member organization, visit http://www.ladiesauxvfw.org.
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