VFW Auxiliary Post 12235 - Salado, TX

10/05/2026

A HUGE shout out to our friends at the Home Depot in Killeen! They generously donated some much needed items for our Turkey Trot coming up next month. Thank you to the managers - especially Mark Bolieu (far right), who had a key role in supporting our organization and our fundraising efforts!

09/27/2026

Our Post Commander and Auxiliary President at District 14 Conference on September 19 at Killeen Post # 9191. Texas Department Auxiliary President Shawn Terry attended.

09/27/2026

On Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day, we pause to honor the families who have lost a loved one in service to our nation. We remember their sacrifice and reaffirm they will never be forgotten.

09/26/2026

09/04/2026

Grab the family (humans & 🐾K-9s) and come join us for some fun! Walk or run the scenic Nolan Creek Hike & Bike Trails in Liberty Park in Belton. Enjoy a piece of pumpkin pie after the race!https://runsignup.com/Race/TX/Belton/SaladoVFWAuxiliaryTurkeyTrotFunRun

08/24/2026

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

Our Post Commander was in San Antonio this past weekend taking part in TAPS…what a wonderful program!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Bi5zDNfp1/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Service does not end when we take off the uniform. Sometimes, it continues through the simple but powerful act of showing up for others. 💙

This weekend, I had the honor of returning to the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) in San Antonio. I have served as a volunteer mentor since 2019, a journey that never would have begun without my Army sister, Andy Pratt. She introduced me to TAPS, and every opportunity to return and serve is both a blessing and an honor.

TAPS provides compassionate care and connection to the families of America’s fallen military heroes. As volunteer mentors, we help create a safe and understanding space for children grieving the death of a military loved one. This weekend, we were there for young children affected by su***de loss—listening, encouraging, and reminding them that they are not alone.

The weekend also showed me the lasting impact of mentorship. I reconnected with a former mentee whom I had not seen in four years. I also reunited with a young woman Andy once mentored who is now an adult attending college. The last time I saw her was in 2019. Seeing how much these young people have grown was an experience I will never forget.

We volunteer believing we are there to make a difference in their lives, but they also make a profound difference in ours. Their courage, trust, laughter, and resilience stay with us long after the weekend ends.

I am grateful to Andy for bringing TAPS into my life and to founder Bonnie Carroll for building an organization that continues to support surviving military families across the country.

As members of the VFW, we understand the importance of service, connection, and never leaving anyone behind. I would love to see more veterans learn about the opportunity to serve as TAPS mentors and continue their legacy of service in the lives of grieving military children.

To learn more about volunteering with or supporting TAPS, visit www.taps.org.

Together, we can ensure that the families of our fallen know they are remembered, supported, and never alone.

08/09/2026

Saturday, August 8, 2026

Our Auxiliary President Mandy Pierce and Treasurer Gwynne Pelton attended District #14 Auxiliary Training. The training was held at the Belton VFW Post # 4008. These training opportunities are not limited to officers and our members are encouraged to participate. We learned a lot and met our new District President and District Leadership, and brothers and sisters from all the Auxiliaries in District 14.

08/08/2026

Did you know the VFW Auxiliary offers contests and scholarships for our youth? Check out the post below or contact us directly for more information.