WARREN — For the past 100 years, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1090 Auxiliary has honored veterans and will celebrate that milestone this month.
The actual anniversary is Friday, but the public celebration will be 1 to 4 p.m. Feb. 22 with a program, displays, membership drive and refreshments.
The 168 members say the camaraderie, hard work and dedication of the members is the secret to success for the auxiliary making the milestone.
Chris Tobin of Lordstown, auxiliary president and 15-year member, said the auxiliary honors deceased members by preparing funeral meals.
“The auxiliary is very active in the community,’’ she said. “Our purpose is to support the veterans and their families. We support the children of veterans with Christmas and Easter parties.”
Debbie Davis of Warren, trustee and chaplain, said the auxiliary stays busy visiting veterans at nursing homes, taking part in downtown Warren’s rose ceremony, assisting in the local Veterans Stand Down event, and leading Memorial Day ceremonies at Oakwood Cemetery.
Davis, a 24-year member, said she enjoys visiting veterans at nursing homes and being part of the Memorial Day and Veterans Day events.
“Anything where we can get together with the veterans I enjoy,” she said.
Tami Ginn of Leavittsburg, who is treasurer and an 18-year member, said she enjoys how well the auxiliary works together with its VFW Post 1090 counterpart.
Kathy Tobin of Warren, a trustee and member for 20 years, said she enjoys being able to provide service to the community, noting her daughter is a veteran.
Ginn said the auxiliary was involved when the Vietnam veterans Wall That Heals came to Packard Park in Warren in August 2018. It is returning to Warren the week of Memorial Day this year.
Tobin said the auxiliary teaches patriotism and flag etiquette, and offers scholarships to area high school students.
Ginn, who is scholarship chairwoman, said there is the Patriot’s Pen scholarship for grades six to eight and a Voices of Democracy scholarship for grades ninth to 12th. The Patriot’s Pen is a written essay and the Voices of Democracy a voice essay done on a flashdrive. There also are art scholarships for grades kindergarten to fifth called Young American Creative Patriotic Art scholarship. There is a scholarship banquet in the spring when the scholarships are awarded.
Ginn said they sell poppies to help raise funds for veterans and also host basket and raffle auctions.
Tobin said to ensure the future of the auxiliary, younger members must join and get involved. She said more auxiliary members work and raise families, including grandchildren, so it is becoming more difficult to attract new members. The members meet at the VFW Post on High Street, which has seen additions over the years.
“I got involved once I retired because I had the time,” she said.
Tobin said most of the auxiliary members also are members of the Warren City Federation of Women’s Clubs.
Tobin said the auxiliary helped the VFW Post 1090 celebrate its 100th anniversary two years ago.
“It was very important that we helped with that anniversary for the post and its members,” she said.
She said the auxiliary is open to women and men who are at least 16. Tobin said the auxiliary is also active with veterans legislation at both the state and national level, such as veterans health and retirement issues.
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