As National President of the American Legion Auxiliary, my special project focuses on the Health and Well-Being of our Veterans, Military and Their Families. Throughout my healthcare career, and especially during my years as a burn care nurse, I witnessed first-hand the internal and external wounds and how life takes a toll not only on the patient, but also their family members as their world is turned upside down. That is no different for a veteran.

Nationally, we are working with organizations to respond to the adaptive lifestyle needs of veterans, military and their family members.

The Independence Fund founded by Sarah Verardo, a devoted military wife and caregiver to her husband Mike, a Staff Sergeant in the US Army, who has undergone 119 surgeries after being wounded in combat. A dedicated mother of 3, Sarah who wrote the children’s book entitled, Hero At Home, as a result of their oldest daughter being made fun of in her preschool class because of how her Daddy looked. We are utilizing this book across the country to understand the sense of wellbeing in their everyday lives.