and looked up, and they were not laughing,” she said.
A constant force in Gwen’s life was the nurturing commitment of her parents, pictured here on their 50th wedding anniversary.
District President and Department President, all the while focusing on a special interest in the VFW National Home and hospital work. Hospital volunteering has been her most rewarding service, Gwen said. “I always feel 10 feet tall, even today, when I come out of visiting a VA patient.” Gwen’s term as Department
President had been a “wonderful year” when someone suggested she run for National Guard during National President Sandy Germany’s Mid-Year Conference in San Jose. “Everybody was on a high,” she remembered. “I started to laugh. I said, ‘You’ve got to be kidding.’ I came up from laughing
6 LADIES AUXILIARY VFW MAGAZINE
She spent the next four days deliberating with Rick over the opportunity and responsibility of such a role before deciding to run. “We left there and things started to happen.” She remembers thousands of fabric leis made by volunteers for her to give away at the National Convention in Reno that year. It was a close race, and she was shocked to be elected. “I like to talk, I’m Portuguese, we’re known for being talkative people, and I was just stunned. It was a whirlwind that day.” Over the past five years meeting members as a National Line Officer, Gwen has been repeatedly amazed at the accomplishments of the membership. “I’m just astonished at the work these ladies will do at the drop of a hat, at a mere suggestion.” Whether it’s writing letters to legislators, helping homeless veterans at StandDowns or caring for each other, “they are willing to do whatever is needed,” she said.
And that willingness is the key to the Auxiliary’s vitality, as expressed in her theme this year: Step Up ~ Leave No Veteran Behind. “Step up if you have never done it,” she said. “Step up and work the programs.
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