Supporting veterans: New ladies auxiliary chartered at AMVETS Post 90

Jean Henning of DeKalb has been involved with AMVETS Post 90 since 1991. As a female veteran, Henning has often been around men, while serving in the military and as acting as the post’s first vice commander.

Wanting to encourage more women to support veterans, Henning helped create and is one of the 35 charter members of AMVETS Post 90 Ladies Auxiliary, which was founded on Feb. 13. The group meets at 7 p.m. the second Monday of every month at AMVETS Post 90, 421 Oak St. in DeKalb.

“Veterans and spouses of veterans working together is a no-brainer,” Henning said. “There are very few organizations that women veterans can join.

It’s comforting to be in the company of other women.”

AMVETS Post 90 and the Ladies Auxiliary will host a Memorial Day celebration after DeKalb’s Memorial Day parade at 9 a.m. Monday, May 30. Members of AMVETS, the Ladies Auxiliary, veterans, nonveterans and the community are invited to attend the celebration, which will include food and music.

AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary is a group for female veterans and female relatives of veterans or deceased veterans. Wives, mothers, grandmothers and widows can join the group regardless of age. Daughters, stepdaughters, sisters and granddaughters must be age 18 or older. Members pay a $16 annual fee or a $240 life membership fee.

“I know about AMVETS because my husband is involved,” said Pat Furry of Sycamore, the group’s secretary. “The men have been very supportive. It’s important to have the support of the VFW and AMVET posts. Together, we can support veterans and the community.”

The group focuses on veteran and community assistance and plans activities and events ranging from local social functions to fundraisers and veteran support in DeKalb County. The group also is involved with VA hospitals, drug and health education, disaster relief, patriotic programs, ecology, athletic programs, scholarship, senior citizens, scouting and other community awareness and assistance programs.

AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary helped DeKalb VFW Post 2287 with its annual Easter egg hunt, participated in the Cortland garage sales and sold poppies for disabled war veterans in front of Walmart. The group plans on creating a scholarship fund and raising money for the Fisher House Foundation, which provides a house where families of veterans at Hines VA Hospital can stay for free.

“I come from a long line of vets, and I wanted to benefit the community and support the veterans in the community,” said Liz Peerboom of DeKalb, the group’s treasurer. “So far, it’s been a lot of fun and we’re enthusiastic. We have a lot of plans for the future.”

Henning’s daughter, Cydney Park, is the AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary president. Park said the reason she joined the group is to support her mother and grandparents who served.

“I really support the idea of a women’s auxiliary group,” Park said.

“It’s important to support veterans. I’ve never been in the military, but now I can serve the community and help in some way.”