SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Peggy Ganey, of Spanish Fort, a member of Kichler-Pippen Auxiliary No. 5658, participated in the 95th National Convention of the Ladies Auxilary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. held Aug. 16 through 21 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

The convention marked the beginning of her 2008-09 term as National Chairman for the 14 states in the Southern Conference on the Americanism/Patriotic Instructor Program.

A highlight of the convention will be the announcement of the outstanding department presidents in the 11 membership groups at the National President’s Luncheon Monday followed that afternoon by the presentation of the Ladies Auxiliary’s national award and scholarship winners.

Christine Barry from Prospect, Conn., will receive the National Junior Girls $10,000 scholarship; Jesse Phlanukorn of Oceanport, N.J., the Outstanding Young Volunteer of the Year Award and a $5,000 U.S. savings bond; and Timmy von Behren of Falls City, Neb., the National Young American Creative Patriotic art first-place $10,000 scholarship.

Other highlights include the opportunity for members to view the five winning patriotic art entries as well as the Buddy Poppy displays throughout the week-long convention in addition to attending several join events with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, such as the Patriotic Rally Tuesday evening.

During the convention, the national president will commend the 3,500 attendees for all their hard work in honoring veterans and supporting deployed military personnel and their families. Members have spend millions of dollars and volunteer hours helping the heroes of our country.

The national president also will thank members for volunteering 1.5 million hour in the nation’s hospitals, raising $2,731,318 for the organization’s Cancer Aid and Research Fun, and donating $428,179 for Operation Uplink to provide long-distance telephone cards to troops and hospitalized veterans.

Thousands of dollars have been donated to cancer research facilities across the country. National President Virginia Carman send funds to the Wheelchair Games, Project Protect, Puget Sound VA Fisher House, Honor Flight and The Highground.

The election and installation of National President Dixie Hild, a member of Herman Godbersen Auxiliary No. 8334 in Millard, Neb., and the other 2008-09 national officers on Aug. 21 will conclude the convention and bring Carman’s term to an end.

To learn more about the 562,892-member organization, visit their Web site at www.ladiesauxvfw.org.