New VFW Auxiliary Now Welcomes Men
HISTORIC CHANGE REFLECTS TODAY’S MILITARY AND VETERAN FAMILIES
August 21, 2015
The former Ladies Auxiliary VFW, founded in 1914, is the VFW’s highly regarded support organization and is considered its “Partner in Service.”
Under its former name, Ladies Auxiliary VFW, membership within the organization was offered exclusively to female spouses and family members of any member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The gender-specific eligibility requirement remained for more than 100 years until July 20, 2015, when delegates to the VFW’s 116th National Convention in Pittsburgh voted to amend the dated by-law to extend the same membership opportunity to eligible males and the name changed appropriately to simply VFW Auxiliary.
“It’s an exciting time to be a member of the Auxiliary,” said National President Francisca Guilford. “Women comprise nearly twenty percent of our nation’s military, and this change allows all spouses, fathers, grandfathers, sons, grandsons and brothers to serve others in honor of their veteran.”
For more information about the VFW Auxiliary, please visit www.vfwauxiliary.org.