Big Changes for the Ladies Auxiliary
Resolution 302 was approved at the National VFW Convention in July. The Resolution reads as follows:
EQUALITY FOR ALL VETERANS’ SPOUSES AND FAMILY MEMBERS
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Veterans of Foreign Wars goes on record supporting the transformation of our national association, known as the Ladies Auxiliary, to make suitable accommodations for the male spouses and male family members of all eligible service members; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Adjutant General and the Ladies Auxiliary National Secretary be directed to work in concert, developing suitable language for by-law amendments, to be presented at their respective conventions in the year 2015; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the VFW supports any additional efforts by the Ladies Auxiliary to create an association name and protocols that are gender neutral.
As you can see, there is at least a year of planning before the Ladies Auxiliary becomes The Auxiliary. There are cries being heard that the sky is falling but hopefully that isn’t the case, and Auxiliary will only become stronger with the inclusion of spouses and sons of our female comrades.
The VFW also passed Resolution 301 which changed the Congressional Charter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars making it gender neutral by replacing “men” with “veterans”. Our organization includes a number of women who have served in combat and National feels they deserve the same consideration as their male counterparts.