"Working Together, Making A Difference"

By Rosemary Ayers

President 10132 LAVFW, Hobe Sound, FL

772-349-0619

It all started with an email from Captain Colleen Reiss, 20 th Engineer Brigade stationed in Iraq. The Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of 10132 in Hobe Sound, Florida had been in touch with Captain Reiss to see what supplies from home her squad needed. When Captain Reiss told the ladies she wanted school supplies for the Iraqi children and nothing for her brigade the Ladies Auxiliary was glad to assist her in anyway they could.

Captain Reiss explained that, " The Iraqi government is still "learning" how to be a functional government from the level of moving funding from the national, to provincial, to local levels. Just imagine, under Saddam, everything was managed by the Baath party. As a result, there is a great lack of civil servants, the critical links that keep our government running smoothly. The other reason we encourage Americans to send things for Iraqis, and not for troops, is because it reminds Americans that Iraq is an interesting and diverse nation, as opposed to merely discussing U.S. troops."

In a combined effort with the VFW members, the Men's Auxiliary, the MOCCA Cooties, and friends of the Auxiliary, the LAVFW was able to collect over $5000 to buy, pack, and mail care boxes of school supplies to Iraq. With the help of many sales from Staples, Dollar General, and Walmart, President Rosemary Ayers and Historian Jan Jarrell were able to prepare 150 bags of supplies to send to Captain Reiss.

"Helping our troops stationed in foreign countries is a primary goal of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars," said President Ayers. "The marines have helped to refurbish schools and are trying to increase the quality of life for the children of Iraq. Getting them back in school out of the horrors of war is a primary goal of Captain Reiss and her brigade and a goal of ours, too. Helping her and the troops stationed in Iraq is our main concern."