The media team got the privilege to speak with American
Legion Auxiliary President, Cheryl Vap.
Many things were discussed and many things were learned. It was an honor to discuss further into who
the president is as a person, president, mother and wife.
In the beginning, Cheryl Vap was born on a farm in Kearney,
Nebraska and attended high school there all her life. She was married 42 years
ago in October and that is why she didn’t attend college. Like many wives of the time period, she had
to decline the option of college due to her loved one being drafted into the
Vietnam War. At the time, she already had
a little boy.
“It was easy being alone because I was used to being away from my husband for seven months when he was at basic training,” Vap said.
“It was easy being alone because I was used to being away from my husband for seven months when he was at basic training,” Vap said.
It was having a husband in the war that made Vap so
passionate about the American Legion Auxiliary. She began by becoming involved in her unit and from there she got active
and became the unit president. That wasn’t
enough for Vap; she wanted to do more by becoming district president.
The department president then asked her to become a chairman president. The chairman president deals with leadership, children and youth and public relations. Vap mentioned that children and youth was her favorite work.
“The children and youth is a very important project so we try to be involved with it a lot,” Vap explained.
Her favorite part of being president of the American Legion Auxiliary is getting to see the veterans come home.
“What makes my heart sing is to make sure everyone is treated equally, finally they are getting to come home and see their families.”
Vap wants youth to get involved in their auxiliary and she advises to get involved in your unit where everything starts.
The department president then asked her to become a chairman president. The chairman president deals with leadership, children and youth and public relations. Vap mentioned that children and youth was her favorite work.
“The children and youth is a very important project so we try to be involved with it a lot,” Vap explained.
Her favorite part of being president of the American Legion Auxiliary is getting to see the veterans come home.
“What makes my heart sing is to make sure everyone is treated equally, finally they are getting to come home and see their families.”
Vap wants youth to get involved in their auxiliary and she advises to get involved in your unit where everything starts.
Other than being a full-time employee for 35 years for the
University of Nebraska--Lincoln at the Animal Research Center, she enjoys coming
to Cornhusker Girls State every summer.
“To me, Girls State is important because it sets these ladies apart from the rest of their class,” Vap mentioned.
“To me, Girls State is important because it sets these ladies apart from the rest of their class,” Vap mentioned.
Vap is incredibly busy, but finds time for her favorites things: quilting and her grandchildren. She has three children (one currently active
duty), ten grandchildren (one currently active duty) and one great
grand-daughter.
“On Sundays, my husband and I get in the car and just drive to see our families, we drop in and visit for the day because life is too short," Vap said.
This not-enough-time feeling that Vap has is from her battle with cancer. Vap was diagnosed with leukemia four years ago. Although in remission, she still struggles everyday.
“When you have a life-threatening something, you don’t wait, do it now,” she notes.
Yet, she doesn’t let her challenge that cancer gives her stop her.
“I’ll always be in the auxiliary. My next goal is to try for a chairmanship on the national level.”
“On Sundays, my husband and I get in the car and just drive to see our families, we drop in and visit for the day because life is too short," Vap said.
This not-enough-time feeling that Vap has is from her battle with cancer. Vap was diagnosed with leukemia four years ago. Although in remission, she still struggles everyday.
“When you have a life-threatening something, you don’t wait, do it now,” she notes.
Yet, she doesn’t let her challenge that cancer gives her stop her.
“I’ll always be in the auxiliary. My next goal is to try for a chairmanship on the national level.”
by Deidre Stevens and Maddie Tschauner
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