EDDINGTON – Maine’s VFW President, Lana McAllister of Eddington, a member of Gauvin-Fowler-Tupper-Stairs Auxiliary 3381, was honored during the national midyear conference of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. The conference was held April 1-6.

McAllister is one of 47 state presidents who achieved the goal of 85 percent membership. At a special reception, National President Sandy Germany of Elberta, Ala., honored each woman with a medallion recognizing her leadership.

The event took place aboard the cruise ship Imagination with more than 300 members from throughout the United States attending.

The purpose of the conference was to discuss the mid-year progress of the 12 Ladies Auxiliary community service efforts such as the Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest and the Hospital and VA Voluntary Service program.

Members of the auxiliary nationwide are striving to raise more than $3 million, for the 18th year in a row, for its Cancer Aid and Research program.

The 616,439 members of the auxiliary nationwide are wives, mothers, daughters and other female relatives of those who have served overseas during a war. The organization was established in 1914 during World War I, and serving veterans continues to be its goal.

The auxiliary supports active duty military personnel in many ways, including shipping care packages every four to six weeks, and by sending free, long-distance phone cards.

To learn about the organization, or to apply for its scholarships and cancer research grants, visit www.ladiesauxvfw.com.