Betty Peer, VFW Auxiliary Sun Lakes

The VFW Auxiliary has a variety of programs to help veterans and promote patriotism. One of those programs is called Youth Activities.

The Sun Lakes VFW Auxiliary, through its youth activities program, has for several years adopted a second grade class at Mesa Arts Academy, a charter school of the Boys and Girls Club of the East Valley. Each year, auxiliary members visit the class four times a year to share information about patriotism and educate the students about veterans.

Vets from the VFW have visited the class and talked about their experiences and answered student questions. Auxiliary members have shared the folding of the American flag and what each fold and color means.

The last two years the auxiliary, with the approval of school administration, have purchased red t-shirts for each class member. The back of the shirt says, “Remember Everyone Deployed.” Students are allowed to wear the shirts every Friday in honor of our troops.

At the most recent visit from the auxiliary, each student had prepared a thank you card with the American flag as the background. The students wrote their personal thanks to veterans. Those thank you flags were taken back to the VFW members who truly appreciated the thoughts of these second grade students.

Youth Activities is just one of the projects of the Sun Lakes VFW Auxiliary.

Some of the other programs include Veterans and Family Support, Americanism, Legislative issues for Vets, Hospital and Scholarship. If you have an interest in becoming a member of this active group which supports or veterans, please contact President Janice Cournoyer at 480-802-0348 or [email protected].