Plains VFW Auxiliary honors its own
The Plains community helped the VFW Post 3596 Auxiliary plant flags next to gravemarkers of former members. From left, front row are Becky Powley, Cindy Gray and Ed Foste. From left, back row, ar️e Katie Gonce and daughter Lexie, Kim Foust, Marie Evans, Karol Williamson, Sherryl Wachob, Kathy Warrington and Tom Wachob. Others not pictured whom helped are Sue Bartholomeu, Carol Harris and granddaughters Layla and Ceci, and Rick Williamson. VFW Auxiliary members included Powley, Gray, Harris, Bartholomeu and Warrington. (Submitted photo)
Members of the Plains VFW 3596 Auxiliary have been planting flags since 1938 when the chapter received its charter. (Scott Shindledecker/Valley Press)
There is no questioning the commitment of the Plains VFW Post 3596 Auxiliary.
Since 1938 when it received its charter, members of the Auxiliary have made sure there were Post 3596 flags next to the grave markers at the Plains Cemetery of past members who had made a difference in the community.
Thursday, a group of nearly 20 people were at the cemetery to place the flags.
Becky Powley, the Junior Vice President and Patriotic Instructor for the Auxiliary, said she was pleasantly surprised at the turnout on the windy and cloudy day.
“We usually have about half a dozen or so of us, but this was great! she said. “We were especially pleased to see some young people, too.”
Powley said 50 flags were placed “for our sisters who have passed.”
One of the deceased was Margaret R. French, who died Dec. 16, 2018 at the age of 90.
“She was just a sweetie,” Powley said. “She ran our blood drives for a long time and handed out egg salad sandwiches to the donors. She was loved by everyone.”
French and her husband, Henry, moved to Plains in 1956 and it was home to them.
VFW 3596 Auxiliary is active in the community, organizing blood drives, sending care packages to military members away from home, spaghetti dinners where veterans eat for free, hosting POW/MIA ceremonies and many other events and activities.
According to its website, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Auxiliary was established in 1914. Its members set out to serve the veterans of this country and our communities in honor of the sacrifices and commitment of every man and woman who has served in uniform.
The VFW Auxiliary is one of the nation’s oldest veterans’ service organizations and its members are the relatives of those who have served in overseas combat. More than 475,000 members in nearly 3,900 auxiliaries nationwide who volunteer millions of hours and fundraise millions of dollars for charitable projects that benefit veterans, military service personnel and their families.
The VFW Auxiliary has been fulfilling its original objectives by supporting the Veterans of Foreign Wars, serving veterans, active-duty service members and their families, and spreading patriotism nationwide.
Through its national programs, it works with the VFW to pass or block legislation that impacts veterans and their families, provide nearly a million volunteer hours in the VA medical system, conduct patriotic programs with thousands of students and offer hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships for the nation’s youth.
Its members have volunteered millions of hours, donated millions of dollars and honored hundreds of thousands of veterans.
Auxiliary members across America serve veterans, active-duty service members and their families, and their communities with a variety of programs, including for suicide awarenes, baby nurseries and many others.
Post 3596 Auxiliary meets the second Monday of the month at 3 p.m.
Those interested in joining the Auxiliary or the VFW, members must be citizens of the United States or a United States National and at least 16 years old.
Those eligible are husband/wife, widower/widow, father/mother, grandfathers/grandmothers, sons/daughters, grandsons/granddaughters, brothers/sisters of persons who were or are eligible for membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
Those eligible for membership in the VFW are those that have received a campaign medal for overseas service; have served 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days in Korea; or have ever received hostile fire or imminent danger pay.
Step- and adopted parents, children, siblings (and half-siblings), grandparents and grandchildren are considered the same as biological parents, children, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren and may join the VFW Auxiliary under their VFW-eligible veteran.
Proof of service is required for eligibility and must be obtained by the applicant.
