Sea Isle City Police Officer Trent Markley (holding plaque) and Sea Isle Mayor Leonard Desiderio (holding jacket) are shown with several of VFW Post 1963 Auxiliary’s officers while being honored during the Auxilary’s February meeting. Missing from the photo is Officer Grace Rutter. (Photo courtesy of Sea Isle City Public Relations)
The members of VFW Post 1963’s Auxiliary recently honored Sea Isle City Mayor Leonard Desiderio and two local police officers for the support they have given to the VFW and its patriotic efforts.
During the Auxiliary’s February meeting, Sea Isle Officers Trent Markley and Grace Rutter were both honored for their assistance during the Auxiliary’s annual “Christmas Caravan.”
The two officers safely escorted a procession of vehicles to the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home in Vineland, where the Auxiliary members showered the facility’s residents with truckloads of gifts and plenty of holiday cheer.
Next, the group presented Mayor Desiderio with an embroidered VFW Auxiliary jacket. Post 1963 Auxiliary President Peggy Moore said the jacket was given to the mayor “to thank him for his unwavering support for the Auxiliary and Post 1963.”
“Needless to say, it is more than my pleasure to give any and all assistance I can to the veterans of our local VFW – and the members and their amazing Auxiliary,” Desiderio said in a news release. “I want to extend my sincerest gratitude to everyone at Post 1963’s Auxiliary for their continual kindness to me and for all of the work they perform year after year in support of our nation’s veterans and active-duty military members.”
Post 1963’s Auxiliary is the largest VFW Auxiliary in the state of New Jersey, with 745 members. Their mission is to support projects and organizations that benefit the nation’s veterans, active-duty service members and their families.
“We could not do what we do without community support,” Moore said. “Thanks to the growth of our Auxiliary, we are getting more and more support. We are also seeing greater attendance at our meetings, and our members are continually stepping up to volunteer.”
Each year, members of Post 1963’s Auxiliary host several events to help them complete their mission, including their annual “Dollar Dog Day” fundraiser and several gift basket raffles.
The Auxiliary also collects gifts for their yearly Christmas Caravan and Adopt-a-Troop events. Additionally, the organization hosts an annual POW-MIA Recognition Day Ceremony.
The Auxiliary members are familiar faces at other community events throughout the year, including Sea Isle’s Veterans Day, 9-11 and Memorial Day ceremonies.
To learn more about VFW Post 1963’s Auxiliary – or to make a donation that will help support their efforts to assist veterans and America’s military personnel – call 609-922-3383 or visit https://vfwauxiliary1963.com/.
