Laughter ringing down the halls, coffee in hand and old friends catching up: The 2026 DAV Auxiliary Fall Conference in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, kicked off with the kind of comfortable warmth that makes hard work look easy. Beneath the easygoing atmosphere was the quiet strength that comes from a true community. The Auxiliary knows how to share a laugh, but when it comes to advocating for our nation’s veterans, everyone gets straight to work.

“When we come together, whether across a conference table or across the country, we’re family, plain and simple,” said Auxiliary National Commander Kathleen Wenthe. “This weekend is really the heart of what we do. We dive into our programs, share ideas, and make sure everyone leaves equipped to support our veterans and their families back home. The better educated we are, the more impact we make in our communities.”

Since 1922, the Auxiliary has shared a mission of service alongside DAV. Today, its members drive impact through community service, youth leadership, legislative advocacy and voluntary service with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Translating that mission into local impact requires preparation—and a lot of fun. The Auxiliary delivers training through friendly competition, interactive skits, and a relaxed and welcoming style.

For Lucy Garza and Becky Roberts of Unit 14 in Sierra Vista, Arizona, that lighthearted energy is the magic formula.

“We keep coming back because of the knowledge we gain,” said Garza, noting how smoothly material lands when presented through lively speakers and engaging skits.

DAV National Commander John Donovan praised the vibrant partnership between both arms of the organization.

“We aren’t just two separate organizations that happen to share a name,” Donovan said. “We are one team, one family, driven by the shared sacred responsibility to fulfill the promises made to those who served and to the families who served alongside them. DAV may often be on the front lines, but the Auxiliary is our absolute bedrock. You are the engine that keeps us moving forward.”

That spirit was immediately clear to first-time attendees Dorothy Judson and Leela Malone from Unit 39 in Bristol, Tennessee. Back home, their unit channels that energy into food pantries, backpack drives and a growing Junior Auxiliary program.

“We have teenagers getting excited about working with veterans and understanding what it’s all about,” Judson shared. “To us, it’s not about numbers—it’s about building relationships and keeping this mission alive.”

Will Judson and Malone return for 2027?

“Absolutely,” Judson said, laughing. “We’ll do a bake sale or wash cars—whatever it takes to get back here.”

To learn more or to join the mission, visit mydav.org/aux-membership.