MEMBERSPOTLIGHT


For Kansas District Americanism Chairman Donna Dornes, just a couple of words led to a windfall of resources and information. She shares what she found


– innovative ideas for easy- to-complete projects – with Auxiliaries so they can fulfi ll their goal of 100% participation in Americanism. Dornes is a Life Member of


Sgt. Jeffrey Mersman Memorial Auxiliary 6397 in Garnett, Kansas.


“I Googled Americanism and Patriotism


and started following links, ending up sometimes far from where I started,” she said. “It was astounding the amount of information available. I wanted to provide the Auxiliaries with programs that were short, fun and educational so something could be presented at every meeting. Several of our Auxiliaries do not


MYVETERAN


Navy during the Vietnam War. Her son, Michael, followed in his father’s footsteps, retiring from the U.S. Navy with 20 years of service. Patrick, who served aboard the USS


Sanctuary from 1966 to 1967, tended to the wounded soldiers who were fl own to his ship for treatment. He was also a Life Member of VFW Post 10005 until he passed away in 2010. Michael recently retired from the Navy as


Patrick O’Keefe (left) and Michael O’Keefe (right). Mary O’Keefe of VFW Auxiliary 10005


in Bullhead City, Arizona, has not one, but two generations of veterans very close to her heart – her late husband, Patrick, was a hospital corpsman (HM3) in the U.S.


6 | VFW Auxiliary Magazine


a petty offi cer fi rst class (PO1). One of the aircraft carriers he was on was involved in the capture of Osama bin Laden. “I want to thank (Michael) so much


for dedicating 20 years of his life for the freedom of our country,” Mary said. “These are two special people to me who served their country well. A very special thank you to all of our veterans for their service and sacrifi ces.”


have anyone with Internet access, and I wanted them to all be able to participate at meetings.” She said, “I just turned on the printer


and printed away!” Among her discoveries and Internet-


idea adaptations are: • Poems on Americanism • American humor • A template for veteran interview questions


• Past Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen winning entries


• A sample U.S. citizenship test • Many, many interesting articles at usfl ag.org, including one about how many U.S. Presidents served under more than one Flag


Dornes joined the Auxiliary in 2007


under the eligibility of her husband, Greg, a Vietnam veteran.


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