VFW Ladies Auxiliary celebrates 25th anniversary

This year, the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 7288 in Calabash celebrated its 25th anniversary with a dinner/dance at the post on Aug. 14. Chartered on Aug. 4, 1985, the auxiliary started with 45 charter members and now has a membership of 166, with 52 of them life members.

The auxiliary has had steady growth since 1985 and members have loyally contributed their time, talents and heart to provide assistance to the veterans and their families and to aid active duty troops and their families.

Since 2000, the members of the Ladies Auxiliary to VFW Post 7288 have volunteered more than 144,000 hours and almost $100,000 in support of programs such as Veterans and Family Support, which include national military services, the Buddy Poppy Program, the VFW National Home for Children, etc.; hospital/VA volunteer services, Americanism, scholarships, youth activities and community service. 

Since 1914, the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of the United States has worked to ensure America’s veterans will not be forgotten and those who need assistance will get it. With more than 550,000 auxiliary members in the United States, Guam, Germany and Panama, the Ladies Auxiliary, with its services and donations, makes life better for active duty personnel, veterans, their families and the communities they live in.

Eligibility requirements for membership in the Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW are that nominees must be at least 16 years old and a citizen of the United States and must be related to a person eligible for membership in the VFW. The family relationship is limited to wives, widows, mothers, foster and stepmothers (who have performed the duties of parent), grandmothers, daughters, granddaughters, foster and stepdaughters (who attained that status prior to age 16 and for whom the duties of parent were performed), sisters, half sisters, and foster and stepsisters (who attained that status prior to age 16). 

If interested in joining the Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW, contact President Fran Redfield of the Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW Post 7288 in Calabash at 287-7527 or visit www.ladiesauxiliaryvfw.org.