Dear Oregon Auxiliary Family,                                                                       

Happy Fall Y’all! Announcing: the second annual VFWA Dept of Oregon Patriotic Pumkin Contest!  Please see the flier attached to our website. Also added, is a 2025-2026 Patriotic Date list.  Both will be emailed to your Secretary and Presidents.

 Let’s talk about RED "Remember Everyone (who) Deployed,” Friday. For several generations, not everyone has deployed, and not all of us can.  Service comes in many forms.  RED was initiated after 911 to show military support by wearing a red shirt on Friday. Like the Buddy Poppy, the red represents the blood, the sacrifice. Additionally, it is about bringing awareness to others wondering "what’s with the RED?”

Although preferred, it doesn’t have to be a red shirt. It can be complemented or substituted by other red items. A hat, scarf, pants, jacket, pins, clips and so on. Hence one of my projects: RED Clip Friday. With the artists of Lolo Unicorn, a small women owned/product made in USA business, we have worked to fabricate unique bold red sparkle laden clips with implications of the VFW.  The design has been finalized to "a slice through a poppy,” (middle so to speak) with green mixed in.  The sale price is $14, of which after cost, proceeds will be donated to the Southern Oregon Vietnam Benefit (SOVB) Memorial Wall. The Wall replica, near close to size of that in Washington, DC, will be in Medford. Please visit: https://sovbmemorialwall.com.  Clips are a one size fits all, won’t shrink or fade, and can be worn on the bill of a hat, as a tie clip, or to the border/pocket of a top.  Please contact me for ordering.

 Thank you for reading, considering, and participating in these ideas. I look forward to receiving your much desired reports and pumpkin entries.