VFW auxiliary honors state presidents

MIAMI -- The national midyear conference of the Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars was held April 1-6 aboard the Carnival Imagination cruise ship.
A highlight of the event was the presentation of medallions to 47 state presidents who achieved the goal of 85 percent membership.
Donna Russo of Youngstown, president of the Department of Ohio Auxiliary to the VFW and a member of Transportation Auxiliary 3307 of Youngstown, was among those receiving awards, which were presented by Sandy Germany of Elberta, Ala., national president.
More than 300 members from throughout the country attended the conference. Discussion centered around the midyear progress of the 12 community service programs sponsored by the auxiliary. Among the programs are the Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest and the Hospital and Veteran's Administration Voluntary Service Program. For the 18th consecutive year, members will attempt to raise $3 million for the Auxiliary's Cancer Aid and Research Program.
The auxiliary was founded in 1914 and is composed of 616,439 female relatives of men who served overseas during a war.
Shipping care packages every four to six weeks and sending free long-distance telephone cards are two of the ways the organization supports America's active-duty military personnel.
For information on how to help the troops or how to apply for VFW Auxiliary youth scholarships and cancer research grants, visit http://www.ladiesauxvfw.com.