VFW Celebration of Life Dinner, Dance, and Auction

Have you ever wanted to drive a tank? What if you could get to drive a tank and help cancer victims at the same time?

The chance to drive an army tank at the opening of the American Wartime Museum in Dale City was one item available at the silent auction hosted by the Ladies Auxiliary to  Saturday. The auction was complete with a formal dinner, dance, and red carpet welcome.

All proceeds of the event went towards cancer research, distributed by the VFW’s national organization to help combat a list of angry cancers, including ovarian cancer and breast cancer. In 2010, the Ladies Auxiliary VFW raised $2.3 million to support research, and provided $1.4 million in grants to assist 3,174 members. In addition to postdoctoral cancer research, money is also returned to each state for local cancer research.

Everything was circa 1940s, from the dish-wear to the entertainment. Doc Scantlin and his Imperial Palms Orchestra performed songs from Cole Porters’ “Night and Day” to Glen Miller’s masterpiece “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” songs hot for their time, and still brilliantly fun to dance to. Besides the tank-driving experience, auction items included hand-made quilts and blankets, a football signed by the Redskins, several forms of fanciful china, collectible items, paintings, coupons, and the list goes on.

The guests included James Lovette, a 30-year army veteran who retired in 1975, who had been present for WW2, Korea, and Vietnam, a pretty intense track record. Recalling seemingly unthinkable times, when segregation was acceptable and blacks were treated like second-class citizens, Mr. Lovette said “It was considered segregation so much as it was about fighting for your country."

Other guests included Sgt. 1st Class Ruth McLendon of the 846th Transportation Company, who’s currently fighting lung cancer, and Mike Lowe, previous base commander of the Marine Corps Base Quantico. Post 1503 believes this fundraiser to be the biggest turnout in any charitable event they have hosted.

Though this fundraiser is to benefit cancer victims, the .  Pouring thousands of dollars each month into the Dale City area, the VFW responds to local children’s sports teams looking for sponsorship and better equipment, local military veterans in need of medical supplies or household renovations, and the men and women overseas who send them requests for food, clothes, memorabilia—anything. Perhaps one of the most moving programs sponsored by the VFW is their National Home for Children.

“If your family is in the military, and you and your spouse are killed, we’ll take your child in, give them a good education, teach them to be model citizens, and give them a good life. We look out after our own however we can,” Mike Lowe said.

If you’re related to someone within your immediate family who’s experienced combat or received combat related injuries, you’re likely eligible to join the men’s or women’s auxiliary.