Karen Dotson
2017-2018 National Veterans & Family Support Ambassador
Thank You for Your Support of Our Veterans and Their Families
Our journey for the 2017-2018 Veterans and Family Support Program is nearing an end. However, through Spirit 365 we will continue to support our veterans and their families.
Each Department achieved the program goals set forth this year in so many unique and creative ways. I have truly been awestruck by your overwhelming support. You supported this program by donating monetary resources, providing food, clothing, personal care items, and shelter to those veterans and their families in need. Thank you to all Auxiliaries that made donation to the Disaster Relief Fund. Those donations helped to assist our veterans and their families following the hurricanes and fires that affected so many last fall.
At the 104th National Convention in New Orleans, I challenged each Department to share the many ways you utilize the “Buddy”® Poppy. Your creativity was simply outstanding. I learned so many new ways to promote the “Buddy”® Poppy, including:
- Decorating wreaths to represent the story of the “Buddy”® Poppy
- Creating valentines with “Buddy”® Poppies
- Honoring youth as “Buddy”® Poppy King and/or Queen
- Creating a “Buddy”® Poppy Picture Frame showcasing your veteran
Thank you to all of our volunteers for distributing tens of thousands of “Buddy”® Poppies this year. Congratulations to the Department first place “Buddy”® Poppy display winners. My very best wishes are extended to all of you as your displays are judged at the 105th National Convention in Kansas City. I am very excited to view all of the creative “Buddy”® Poppy displays.
Thank you to all the Auxiliaries who embraced November as Military Family Month. I appreciate the wonderful outpouring of support to our active-duty families through dinners, parties, child care, transportation, and on making this month special for these families.
Thank you to all the Auxiliaries that stepped up to provide extraordinary support to the VFW National Home for Children. You made generous donations to the Health and Happiness Fund, Homefront Heroes Program, Safety and Security Fund, and the New Education and Training Center Challenge. In addition, thank you to all those Auxiliaries for donating school supplies and supporting Santa’s Workshop. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
It has been my honor and great privilege to serve as National Ambassador for the Veterans & Family Support Program. It was through your energetic support that the program goals were met. I thank you for your tenacity to “Catch the Dream for Our Veterans.” I thank you for the extraordinary simple acts of kindness you perform each day to support our veterans, our service members, and their families. God Bless each of you and God Bless America.
