News : VFW Dept. of IA President & Post 8884 President Completes 1st Year of Service

Jeanette Henry-VFW Auxiliary President 2021-2022 has completed her one-year term as President of VFW Auxiliary of Iowa.  Throughout the year Jeanette attended Auxiliary meetings, District meetings, and Department conventions across Iowa.She drove over 35,000 miles throughout the State. She attended many other events, too. On June 2-5,2022 in Des Moines, Iowa she attended The VFW and VFW Auxiliary Department Convention. Her VFW Department Commander Michael Braman had a wonderful year working with the State of Iowa VFW and VFW Auxiliaries.  Jeanette's theme was "Your Heart Speaks Loudest when your hands comfort Veterans.". VFW  The Department Commander Braman's theme was, "Deeds Not Words."Saturday evening there was a Sock Hop.  The VFW served hamburgers, hotdogs, french fries, ice cream for the meal. Sunday, our 2022-2023 new officers were installed. On July 15-21,2022 the Iowa VFW and VFW Auxiliary members attended the VFW & Auxiliary National convention in Kansas City, Missouri.Saturday evening Jeanette Henry received the "Circle of Excellence Award." This is a National Award that Department Presidents can work for through the year.  All of the 50 State Presidents can work toward this top award from the National VFW Auxiliary.Each year, the Department Auxiliaries report their activities to the National Department.  When Auxiliaries turned in their year end reports, the Department President totaled all the points from each Department Chairman.  Jeanette was responsible to email the results to the National VFW Auxiliary.  The winners were announced on Saturday afternoon when National VFW Auxiliary President Jean Hamil held a banquet for all of the Department Presidents.  After photos were taken, all of the Department Presidents who were announced walked over to the convention center and walked across the stage where the National President, Jean Hamil placed the Circle of Excellence Award medal around the necks of the recipients.The Department Presidents also received a Circle of Excellence pin, scarf, and a 2021-2022 iron on patch to put on the ribbon which hangs on our Department of Iowa Auxiliary flag.  This is the third year in a row that the Iowa VFW Auxiliary has received this award. In 2019-2020 Kathy McDonald was the President and in 2020-2021 Sandy Weldon President also received this award.  37 Department VFW Auxiliary Presidents received this award in 2022, the most states to receive it in many years. The National VFW Auxiliary also received 100% membership for 2021-2022. Thursday, July 21st,2022 Jeanette had the honor of being the Honorary Assistant Guard at National Convention.  Our Department Presidents were invited by the National VFW Auxiliary President Jean Hamil if they would like to do this. The group agreed to do this honor.  We stood at the door to the convention to assist the National Guard watch the door allowing only those eligible to be at the meeting to enter. Then we headed home to Iowa.  There was a great time had by all.  In 2022-2023 Jeanette Henry will be Department VFW Auxiliary Historian & Media Relations chairman and also continue to be local VFW Auxiliary Post 8884 President.  Jeanette loves serving Veterans and their families along with her Auxiliary members of Post 8884 in Vinton and Department Auxiliaries in Iowa.