Wiregrass VFW Auxiliary Post 3073

08/26/2026

"Ten active members standing in a line,
One disliked another, and then there were nine.
Nine ambitious members offered to work late,
One felt unheard, and then there were eight…"

This poem, slightly modified from one called What’s the Value of One Member (author unknown) is based on an old, outdated nursery rhyme perhaps best remembered as the inspiration of the Agatha Christie play “And Then There Were None.” It counts down from ten Auxiliary members as one-by-one, each becomes burnt out, discouraged or mired in disagreements with the others, until there are only two left – but “One joined a bridge club and then there was one.”

Most of the time, interpersonal issues that cause members to volunteer less, transfer Auxiliaries or quit the organization altogether are entirely fixable, if addressed early and appropriately without unnecessary escalation. This is just one situation in which it's best to follow your Chain of Command!

Learn more about Chain of Command, what this means, how it works and why it's important, in the January, 2026 edition of VFW Auxiliary Magazine, available in our archives on our website, here: https://tinyurl.com/VFWAuxChainofCommand

08/25/2026

**💍 MY PRECIOUSSS… THE CHAMPIONSHIP BELTS! 💍**

We sees them, precious…
Six pounds of metal and glory. 🏆

Three VFW Department of Alabama Championship Belts are waiting to be claimed.

But WHO will win them?

Who will recruit?
Who will compete?
Who will **MAKE IT HAPPEN?**

👀 *We wants the belts, precious…*
*We NEEDS the belts!*
*But they must be earned… yes, yes… EARNED!*

🏆 **POST LEVEL** — Recruit the most new members and claim the **GOLD BELT!**

💚 **DISTRICT LEVEL** — Lead the way in membership and claim the **GREEN BELT!**

🔴 **STATE LEVEL** — Rise above them all and claim the **CHAMPIONSHIP BELT!**

The precious will not simply come to you.

You must **RECRUIT.**
You must **BUILD.**
You must **COMPETE.**
You must **LEAD.**

And when the final numbers are counted…

**WHO WILL REIGN SUPREME?**

Will it be YOUR Post?
YOUR District?
Could it be **YOU**, precious? 👀

There is only one way to find out.

🔥 **MAKE IT HAPPEN!** 🔥

**VFW Department of Alabama
2026–2027 Membership Challenge**

*Go finds us some members, precious… the belts are waiting.* 🏆💍

08/25/2026

TERESA DRYER

Candidate for VFW National Surgeon General

2027–2028

Department of Alabama

EXPERIENCED • PROVEN • COMMITTED TO VETERANS

Teresa Dryer brings together decades of military medical experience, professional nursing and medical research experience, proven VFW leadership, and a genuine commitment to serving veterans.

From her career in the United States Army to her leadership throughout the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Teresa has dedicated her life to service, health, veterans, and community.

MILITARY SERVICE

United States Army

● Enlisted — April 1979
● MOS 71L — Administrative Specialist
● MOS 76J — Medical Supply Specialist
● MOS 91B — Medic
● MOS 91C — Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
● Retired — January 2004

Her military career provided Teresa with extensive experience in administration, logistics, medicine, nursing, and caring for service members.

PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY SERVICE

Following her military career, Teresa continued serving others through healthcare, veterans advocacy, and community involvement.

● Professional experience in Nursing and Medical Research in men’s reproductive & mental health
● Assistant Director of Local Veterans Court
● Quilts of Valor — North Alabama District Coordinator
● Personally helped recognize and honor 256 veterans nationwide with Quilts of Valor

Her work demonstrates a continuing commitment to veterans’ physical health, mental health, dignity, recognition, and overall well-being.

VFW MEMBERSHIP

● Joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars — July 2021
● Became a Legacy Life Member — July 2021
● Became a Gold Legacy Life Member — April 2022

In only a few years of VFW membership, Teresa has established a record of service and leadership at the Post, District, Department, and National levels.

POST LEADERSHIP

5 Consecutive Years

All-American & All-State Post Quartermaster

Teresa has helped provide the financial accountability, administrative leadership, and organizational support necessary for sustained success at the Post level.

DISTRICT LEADERSHIP

4 Consecutive Years

All-American & All-State District Quartermaster

Her record demonstrates not simply participation, but sustained performance and consistency across multiple levels of the organization.

DEPARTMENT OF ALABAMA LEADERSHIP

● Department of Alabama Programs Director — 3 Years
● Department of Alabama Surgeon — 2025 to Present
● Department All-American Club Quartermaster — 2 Years
● Special Aide-de-Camp — 2024–2025

As Programs Director, Teresa worked directly with VFW programs and helped support the Department’s mission throughout Alabama.

As Department Surgeon, she continues to combine her military medical background, professional healthcare experience, and VFW service to advocate for the health and welfare of veterans. And also provides blood drive during state meetings.

SUPPORTING OUR DEPARTMENT COMMANDERS

For the past three Department Commanders, Teresa has organized and operated the silent auctions benefiting each Department Commander’s Special Project.

Her willingness to work behind the scenes, organize fundraising efforts, and support the mission of successive Department leaders demonstrates that her commitment has never been about receiving recognition.

It has been about getting the job done for veterans.

A LIFETIME OF SERVICE

Teresa Dryer’s résumé represents more than positions and titles.

It represents a lifetime devoted to:

Military Service • Medicine • Nursing • Mental Health • Veterans Advocacy • VFW Programs • Leadership • Community Service

She understands veterans because she served alongside them.

She understands healthcare because she worked in it.

She understands VFW programs because she led them.

She understands organizational responsibility because she has served as a successful Post, District, Quartermaster.

And she understands service because she continues to give her time and talents wherever veterans need her.

THE EXPERIENCE TO SERVE.

THE HEART TO CARE.

THE LEADERSHIP TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

TERESA DRYER

Candidate for

VFW NATIONAL SURGEON GENERAL

2027–2028

Proudly Endorsed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Alabama.

08/23/2026

At VFW Auxiliary National Headquarters, we have received a number of questions recently about VFW and VFW Auxiliary scholarships and contests. There is some confusion about which scholarships and contests "belong" to which organization, so we've created this quick, handy guide to help keep it all straight!

VFW Auxiliary scholarships for high school students include the Young American Patriotic Art Contest and 3-Dimensional Art Contest. Find more information about these on our website, here: https://vfwauxiliary.org/what-we-do/scholarships-2/

The VFW Auxiliary Continuing Education Scholarship for members and their immediate family can be found here: https://vfwauxiliary.org/scholarships/continuing-education/

The VFW Auxiliary's Illustrating America contest is for students in grades K-8. Find more, including submission forms, here: https://vfwauxiliary.org/what-we-do/youth-activities/

While we do promote the Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Pen as part of our Scholarships Program, these are VFW scholarships. If you have questions about them, please reach out to them directly. You can find this year's theme and submission information, including a guide to finding local Posts, on their website, here: https://www.vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarships

The VFW's "Sport Clips Help a Hero Scholarship" information can also be found on their website, here: https://www.vfw.org/assistance/student-veterans-support

Learn more about the Smart-Maher Teacher of the Year contest, sponsored by the VFW, here: https://www.vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/teacher-of-the-year

We hope this helps! Thank you for promoting these incredible opportunities.

08/23/2026

At VFW Auxiliary National Headquarters, we've received a number of questions about our Scholarships and Programs, one of which keeps coming up: "Why can't I find information about Illustrating America under Scholarships in MALTA or on the VFW Auxiliary website?"

The answer is... it's not a scholarship! Illustrating America is a contest for students in grades K-8. The top three National winners in each grade category (K-2, 3-5, 6-8) are each awarded a gift card, not a scholarship, and this contest was created in 2019-2020 by the then-National Youth Activities Ambassador, therefore, information about it can be found under Youth Activities.

We admit, this can be confusing - especially because both of our art scholarships have "contest" in the name, and because the VFW's Patriot's Pen is an "annual youth essay contest," according to their description, but we report all three of those under Scholarships, along with Continuing Education and the VFW Voice of Democracy.

But it may help to remember that Illustrating America is the only one of these contests that allows kindergarten through fifth graders to enter, and, unlike their teen and tween siblings, these kiddos aren't looking all the way ahead to college yet.

Find more about Illustrating America and our other Youth Activities initiatives and activities here: https://vfwauxiliary.org/what-we-do/youth-activities/

Find all you need to know about Scholarships here: https://vfwauxiliary.org/what-we-do/scholarships-2/

We hope this helps!

08/17/2026

08/17/2026

Today is MALTA Monday!

Do you have any questions about how to use our online database and app just for members, MALTA?

Do you know where to find what you need in the Member Resources section of MALTA?

Is there a resource you would love to be able to access in MALTA, but hasn't been added yet?

Let us know!

08/17/2026

Are you interested in attending your Conference's Conference this fall? Information about each one is available on our website!

The Big 10 Conference will be held in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
The Southern Conference will be held in Mobile, Alabama.
The Eastern Conference will be held in Garmisch, Germany.
The Western Conference will be held in Phoenix (Mesa), Arizona.

(Photos are from last year's Conferences.)

We hope you will attend; each is sure to be an informative, interesting, educational and entertaining experience.

Find more on our website: https://vfwauxiliary.org/upcoming-events

08/17/2026

Did you know that 12 categories of family members (including spouses, siblings, parents, children, stepchildren, grandparents and grandchildren) are eligible under one to join this organization?

Learn more today about eligibility requirements and how you can support your veteran either by clicking on our website, here: http://vfwauxiliary.org/join-us/eligibility-information