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“Serve. And finally—serve. If we communicate better, advocate stronger, recruit more,
and educate ourselves, then we will be better equipped to serve veterans and their
families. Service is the heartbeat of the DAV Auxiliary. It is why we gather. It is why we
volunteer. It is why we advocate. It is why we keep showing up, even when the work is
hard, even when the days are long, even when no one is watching.

So today, I challenge each of you:
leave this convention ready
to put C.A.R.E.S. into action.

Communicate with purpose.
Advocate with courage.
Recruit with enthusiasm.
Educate with commitment.
Serve with heart.

Thank you again for this amazing opportunity to serve as your DAV Auxiliary National
Commander. I am honored. I am humbled.

And I am ready to work beside you—not just this year, but beyond.

Together, with two voices and one mission, we can make a difference in the lives of
veterans and their families across this nation. Together, we can prove through our
actions that DAV Auxiliary C.A.R.E.S. And together, we will carry this mission
forward—with strength, with unity, and with heart. Thank you.”

— Auxiliary National Commander Kathleen Wenthe, 2026–27

Service is where everything comes together. Whether volunteering at a VA facility, helping a veteran family, participating in community service, supporting caregivers, assisting with Auxiliary programs, or simply checking on someone who needs encouragement, every act of service matters. Our purpose remains simple and powerful: making a difference in the lives of disabled veterans and their families.

Melissa Pierce, PNC - At the National HQ Veterans Stand Down

Here are 10 easy, low-barrier ways members can serve both the Auxiliary and veterans:

Make a Phone Call – Check in on a veteran, caregiver, or fellow member who may appreciate hearing from someone.
Send a Card – Mail a birthday, get-well, thank-you, or thinking-of-you card to a veteran or family member.
Bring a Friend – Invite someone to a meeting, service project, conference, or community event.
Help at an Event – Volunteer for setup, registration, greeting guests, serving food, or cleanup.
Share a Resource – Pass along helpful information about benefits, transportation, healthcare, food assistance, or community programs.
Visit a Veteran – Spend time with a veteran in a hospital, nursing home, assisted living facility, or at home.
Donate Needed Items – Collect hygiene products, socks, blankets, snacks, school supplies, or other items requested by local veteran programs.
Support a Caregiver – Offer a meal, a ride, a friendly conversation, or simply check in with someone caring for a veteran.
Help Your Unit – Volunteer to make calls, take photos, help with social media, prepare materials, welcome new members, or assist an officer.
Show Up – Attend meetings, trainings, Fall Conference, Mid-Winter, and National Convention. Being present, learning, and bringing that knowledge back home is also service.

Service does not always have to be big. Small acts, done with intention and together, can be making a difference in the lives of disabled veterans and their families.

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