Shirley Houck of Ladson, a member of the T-Sgt. Walter Fulda Auxiliary #3433, participated in the 97th National Convention of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of the U.S. held Aug. 21-26 at the Indianapolis Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The convention marked the beginning of her 2010-11 term as National Chairman for the 14 states in the Southern Conference on the Voice of Democracy/Patriots Pen 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.
Highlights included the display of Young American Creative Patriotic Art entries and the Buddy Poppy displays, joint events with the VFW including the Joint Opening Session and the Patriotic Rally.
During the convention the National President Jan Tittle 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 the U.S.
The National President also thanked members for volunteering 1.2 million hours in the nation’s hospitals, raising $2.3 million for the organizations; Cancer Aid & Research Fund, and donating $296,920 to VFW National Military Services, which includes Operation Uplink to provided long-distance calling opportunities to deployed soldiers and hospitalized victims
Thousands of dollars have been donated to cancer research facilities across the country. Tittle sent funds to the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund for repairs and to The Three Servicemen statue, the Hospitalized Veterans Writing Project and many other organizations.
The election and installation of National President Corina Barnes, a Life Member of Woodbridge Auxiliary #9755 in Washington, D.C. and the other 2010-2011 National Officers took place on Aug. 26. For more information, go to www.ladiesauxvfw.org.