Sean C. Morgan
Ron Wilson will lead Sweet Home’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3437 beginning June 16, and Carolyn Croxford will continue as VFW Auxiliary president.
VFW State Cmdr. Rick Higgins and Auxiliary Junior Vice President Debra Wright installed new and returning officers for the organizations Saturday, May 18, at the Vets Club.
Marty Lovik will complete his term of service as post commander next month.
Also installed in the VFW Auxiliay were Denise Lovik, senior vice president; Ileda Hopper, junior vice president; Kristy Brady, conductress; Cathy Lindsay, treasurer; Dennis Lindsay, chaplain; Chere Ferebee, guard; Sylvia Smith, trustee; Kristy Brady, trustee; Brenda Shank, trustee; and Rose-Marie Allyn, secretary.
Cathy Lindsay is the state auxiliary president.
Installed in the VFW were Marty Lovik, senior vice commander; Kurt Begley, junior vice commander; Ryan Mattson, quartermaster; Marian Fritz, chaplain; Wayne Tucker, judge advocate; Allen Shedell, trustee; Vern Holdridge, trustee; Howard Ruby, trustee; and Stan Gray, adjutant and service officer.
Croxford has been president of the auxiliary for a year and a half. She completed a partial term her first year.
“I fully believe in this organization,” said Croxford, who has been a member for three years. “I believe in everything we’re trying to do, everything from teaching kids to taking care of veterans.”
The organization has a lot of good people involved in it, she said.
Wilson has been a member of the VFW in Sweet Home for 11 years. He served in the Marine Corps for 12 years, seven years in Afghanistan and Iraq. He served two years in the infantry, three years as a helicopter mechanic and two years as a Blackhawk crew chief.
Wilson grew up in Newberg and Alaska and moved to Sweet Home in 2008.
“There’s a lot going on here,” Wilson said. “We’ve got a really good community, a lot of good people in this club.”
As commander, he hopes to improve communication among groups and to encourage younger veterans to join the club.
“I want to find a way to attract the new generation into this organization,” Wilson said. “There’s hundreds of vets in their 20s, and they’ve never been in here.”
For more information about the VFW and its auxiliary, call the post at (541) 367-4435 or stop by 580 Main St.