Local VFW leaders attend national convention
Delaware President Buttercup Baker of Rehoboth Beach, a member of Rehoboth Beach VFW Auxiliary 7447, led the state delegation of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary at the 103rd National Convention July 23-27 in Charlotte, N.C. As the leading representative of the state, she voiced the delegates’ votes during the election of national officers and played a key role in deciding the direction of the national organization for 2016-17.
For Frances Turner of Seaford, also a member of Rehoboth Beach Auxiliary 7447, the convention marked the beginning of her 2016-17 term as national chairman for the 12 states in the Eastern Conference on the Legislative Program.
A highlight of the convention was the announcement of the Outstanding Departments in the 11 Membership Groups at the National President's Dinner. Many guests visited the delegation, and resolutions to the bylaws were reviewed and voted on.
Other highlights included the opportunity for members to view all 48 entries of the 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 Celebration.
During the convention, National President Francisca Guilford commended the 2,000 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 country.
The national president also thanked members for volunteering nearly 1 million hours in the nation's hospitals, and donating $300,000 to VFW Veterans and Military Support Programs, which includes Operation Uplink to provide long-distance calling opportunities to deployed soldiers and hospitalized veterans.
Guilford has also given funds to two major cancer research centers including MD Anderson Cancer Center, as well as to the Veterans Voices Writing Project and many other worthy causes.
The election and installation of new National President Colette Bishop, a Life Member of Gustaf C. Lannoo Auxiliary 1303 in Rock Island, Ill., and the other 2016-17 national officers July 27 concluded the convention and brought Guilford's term to an end. For more information, go to www.vfwauxiliary.org.
