Patricia Kemp attends National Auxiliary Convention

Patricia Kemp, of Orange and a member of the Orange Auxiliary #2775, participated in the 98th National Convention of Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of the U.S. held Aug. 27 to Sept. 1 at the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center in San Antonio.

The convention marked the beginning of her 2011-2012 term as National Chairman for the 14 states in the Southern Conference on the Youth Activities Program.

A highlight of the convention was the announcement of the Outstanding Department Presidents in eleven Membership Groups at the National President’s Luncheon on Monday. Awards and Resolutions to the National Bylaws were announced and reviewed during Tuesday’s Session.

Other highlights included were 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 held Tuesday evening.

During the convention, the National President commended the 3,000 attendees for all of 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 thanks members for volunteering 1.2 million hours in the nation’s hospitals, raising $2,4 million for the organization’s Canter Aid & Research fund and donating $292,501 to the VFW National Military Services, which includes Operation Uplink™ to provided 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 Foundations, 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, a Life Member of Mission Santa Clara Auxiliary #3982, and the other 2011-2012 National Officers was held on Tuesday, Sept. 1.

To learn more about the 520,000 member organization, visit http://www.ladiesauxvfw.org.