Sean C. Morgan
The Veterans of Foreign Wars has installed Bill Allyn as post commander and the VFW Auxiliary has installed his wife, Annette Allyn, as president.
They succeeded Lorenzo Pike and DawnMarie Rogers this month.
They are the first couple to move through all of the offices of each organization together, although Bill’s parents, Jim and RoseMarie Allyn served as post commander and president together. Jim has served as commander three times.
“It’s very rare you actually have a husband-wife team that actually went through the ranks together,” Bill said.
Both plan to reach out to younger veterans and their spouses during their year leading the VFW and auxiliary.
“I’ve been a member since 1990 because my grandpa signed me up,” said Bill, 43. He served in the Navy during Desert Shield and Desert Storm and then again in the Oregon National Guard during Iraqi Freedom in 2009-10.
He and Annette, 46, became life members in 1994.
The club’s work on behalf of the community and veterans have driven their involvement for the past two decades.
“It’s just the amount of dedication and what the post and members have done for the community and other veterans,” Bill said.
The post and auxiliary have helped supply schools, including Foster and Hawthorne, and they are among the organizations that provide Thanksgiving baskets to those who need them. They also help current service members.
“Not too many people know this, but the VFW actually adopted Alpha Troop over in Lebanon when they went to Iraq,” Bill said. He is a member of the Alpha Troop, and Annette worked as the Alpha Troop’s family coordinator.
Over the years, Bill said, he’s noticed the membership has grown more slowly, with fewer new members signing up and coming to meetings. When he was younger, the veterans packed the meeting room.
“Now with a new group of officers and younger post commander, maybe we can try to get the people back here to the club,” Bill said. He is the second post-Vietnam veteran to serve as post commander. Marty Lovik, who also served during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, was the first.
Bill was the youngest to become a life member.
“I am trying to get the younger veterans in,” Bill said. “I work with a few of them, and I drill with a lot of them. It’s sort of get back to the basics, get membership up and come down to the club.”
“There’s just a select few who come down and cook and get baskets ready,” Annette said. “The people that are here now are getting older.”
It’s the younger generations’ turn to step up and go to work, she said, and her goal is “to be able to get more people involved.”
Many veterans Bill’s age aren’t aware that there is an auxiliary for spouses of veterans, he said.
The two are looking forward to working together, although it’s nothing new really.
“It’ll be fun,” Annette said. “We’ve worked together for 24 years in August.”
Other VFW officer installations included Dave McMurtry, senior vice commander; Stan Gray, junior vice commander; Howard Ruby, chaplain; Harry Smith, quartermaster; Jack Schmidt, sergeant at arms; and Chris Trice, adjutant.
VFW Auxiliary installations also included DawnMarie Rogers, senior vice president; Bev Fredericks, junior vice president; Lea Davis, chaplain, Sylvia Smith, patriotic instructor; RoseMarie Allyn, secretary; Cathy Lindsay, treasurer; Judy Schmidt, guard; Francine Johnson, conductress.
For more information about the VFW and its auxiliary and other veterans organizations, call the Vet’s Club at (541) 367-4435.