EDISON — Gloria Corno, of Edison, a member of Leonard Sexton Memorial Auxiliary No. 6590 and president of the state delegation of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, represented the state delegation at the 104th National Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The convention was held from July 22-26 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
As leading representative of the state, Corno voiced the delegates’ votes during the election of National Officers and played a key role in deciding the direction of the national organization for the 2017-18 year.
A highlight of the convention was the first annual Circle of Excellence Ceremony, where 35 Department (state) presidents were honored for their leadership during the 2016-17 year.
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 Colette Bishop 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 one million hours in the nation’s hospitals, and donating $300,000 to VFW Veterans and Military Support Programs, which includes Operation Uplink TM to provide long-distance calling opportunities to deployed soldiers and hospitalized veterans.
Funds have also been given to two major cancer research centers, including MD Anderson Cancer Center and the Veterans Voices Writing Project.
The election and installation of new National President Dee Guillory, a Life Member of Wilkins-Edwards Auxiliary No. 176 in Newport News, Virginia, and the other 2017-18 National Officers concluded the convention.
For more information visit www.vfwauxiliary.org.
