VFW Ladies Auxiliary History 

While continuing to support the VFW  and its causes, the Ladies Auxiliary has developed several of their own causes over the years. With the goal of helping families in distress, its members perform community service, fund cancer research, fight drug abuse and illiteracy, advocate for the rights of the elderly, and support the VFW National Home, and other worthy causes.

Membership has been broadened to include not only wives of VFW members, but also their mothers, widows, sisters, half-sisters, daughters, grandmothers, and granddaughters. Foster mothers and foster daughters are also eligible, provided their relationship with the VFW member predates his military service.

Please visit our membership page, to learn more about becoming a member. 

Important dates in the Auxiliary History

1898~ Spanish-American War begins

1899~ Returning War Veterans organize, laying groundwork for Veterans of Foreign Wars

1914~ Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars organizes in Pittsburgh

1920~ Auxiliary expands its eligibility to include wives, mothers, sisters, and daughters of veterans with foreign service.  Signing of the Auxiliary Carter as organization's official trial period ended.

1924~ VFW Auxiliary Messenger becomes first official publication.

1925~ Auxiliary organizes state Departments.  The Messenger is discontinued

1927~Grace Davis becomes National Secretary.  VFW National Home becomes the Auxiliary's first national program.

1928~ Volunteer hospital work becomes a national program.

1930~ Grace Davis becomes first National Secretary-Treasurer

1931~ Americanization becomes the third national service program. (In 1934, the program is renamed Americanism.)  "The Star-Spangled Banner" becomes national anthem.

1932~Auxiliary moves to its Kansas City National Headquarters.

1934~Welfare becomes the Auxiliary's fourth national program.  (In 1936, the program is renamed Rehabilitation.)

1935~ Daughters of the VFW units are organized. (1942 Changed name to Junior Girls.)

1936~ Auxiliary holds its first birthday party for the Statue of Liberty on October 28

1938~ Auxiliary and VFW sponsor "Keep America Out of War" petitions.

1941~ National Auxiliary Bulletin is established.

1942~ VAVS-Veterans Administration Voluntary Service (later renamed Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service)-is organized.

1947~ Cancer Aid and Research and Youth Activities become national programs

1949~ Retired U.S. Navy Commander Eleanor Grant Rigby becomes National Secretary-Treasurer

1950~ Community Service becomes national program.

1951~ Auxiliary Membership exceeds 300,000.

1952~ Cancer Aid and Research program, expands providing grants to members for medical treatment.

1954~ Past National President Sally Cannon becomes National Secretary-Treasurer.

1961~ Auxiliary adopts cancer insurance program for its members.

1963~ Auxiliary's Golden Jubilee Year begins.

1965~ The Auxiliary Co-sponsors Voice of Democracy contest with the VFW.  First Unsung Heroine Award presented.

1968~ Auxiliary membership exceeds 400,000.  Safety becomes a national program, co-sponsored with the VFW.

1970~ First Better World Award is presented to astronaut Frank Borman.  The Bulletin is renamed VFW Auxiliary. Past National President Erline Mayberry becomes National Secretary-Treasurer.

1973~ First Junior Girls scholarship is presented

1979~ First Young American Creative Patriotic Art awards given.  VFW forms a Political Action Committee. Past National President Glenn Grossman becomes National Secretary-Treasurer.

1984~ Auxiliary membership surpassed 700,000.

1986~Statue of Liberty is 100 years old: Auxiliary contributes $221,000 to the statue's restoration and holds 50th annual Birthday Celebration at the base of the statue

1988~ Auxiliary embarks on its 75th year of service to veterans.

1989~ Yearly total of monies raised tops, $3,000,000 for Cancer Aid and Research Fund.  National President's Special Project raised $84,732 for Special Olympics.

1990~ Auxiliary becomes a Silver Medal sponsor for the 10th Annual National Veterans Wheelchair Games by contributing $6,000.

1991~ Special Project with the VFW assists those who served in Operation Desert Storm.  100,000 personal gift packages are sent, a hotline helps families, and rallies are planned to welcome troops home.  Past National President Rosemary Mazer becomes National Secretary-Treasurer.

1992~ National President's special project results in $55,000 for the Women in Military Service to America Memorial Foundation.

1993~ National President's special project provides $33,577 to develop educational materials to bring the "Ellis Island Experience" to children through out the country.

1994~ National President's special project raised $22,279 to establish an Auxiliary Museum to the National Headquarters.

1995~ Special project provides $24,474 for the Museum, and Auxiliary increases its support for the Wheelchair Games to Gold Medal status with $12,000.

1996~ Auxiliary and VFW give prepaid long-distance telephone cards to active duty military personnel serving overseas and hospitalized veterans.  Special project raised $862,933 to help homeless veterans.  Margaret Bergeron becomes National Secretary-Treasurer.

1997~ National President adopts prepaid telephone cards, now called, "Operation Uplink," as her Special Project.  Members donate over $100,000.  In the fall of 1997 the Auxiliary goes live with its Web site: 5,000 hits in the first three weeks.

1998~First "Women of Capitol Hill" event is held in Washington, D.C.  Credit cards are accepted for the purchase of Life Memberships. Members donate $25,000 and the National Council of Administration matches it for the National President's Special Project, The World War II Memorial.

1999~ Via the Web Site, members register using credit cards for the National Convention and track daily membership statistics.  Organizations donates $20,000 for a Millennium Project to establish a virtual reality climb to the top of the Statue of Liberty, which disabled citizens may use on site.  Celia Davis becomes National Secretary-Treasurer.

2000~ First National VFW & Auxiliary Community Service Conference held:  Department Presidents join Commanders in escorting scholarship winners in the Parade of Winners: Auxiliary sponsors special tour of Washington, D.C. for student winners.                   

To Contact the Ladies Auxiliary Post #2621

Send a E-mail to:  PRESIDENT@LADIESAUXPOST2621.COM