Serving the Sonora Area

     The personal battles of those disabled in war only begin when the guns fall silent. These men and women must struggle and at each step, they need help to help themselves. That aid has come from the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), a non-profit organization of more than one million disabled veterans.

     Formed in 1920 and chartered by Congress in 1932, the DAV is the official voice of America's service-connected disabled veterans, their families, and survivors. Its nationwide network of services — free of charge to veterans and their families — is supported by membership dues and contributions from the American public. Not a government agency, the DAV's national organization receives no government funds.

     Fifty-two DAV state departments and nearly two thousand chapters augment the service programs of the national organization on a local level and provide the essential framework for the fraternal activities of the DAV’s members.

     DAV’s national programs are administered by its professional staff under the leadership of National Adjutant Arthur H. Wilson, who is himself a disabled veteran of the Vietnam War. Mr. Wilson is the Chief Executive Officer of the national organization and serves as Secretary of DAV’s Board of Directors.

     The fraternal activities of DAV are an essential part of its mission of service to disabled veterans. The National Commander, the official spokesperson of DAV, is elected each year at its National Convention. The National Commander chairs the National Executive Committee, the body that coordinates the fraternal activities of DAV.

     Chapter 119 of the Disabled American Veterans meets the second Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. at the Vietnam Veterans Hall at 9 North Washington Street, Sonora, California. At each meeting, a name is pulled from the hat to win a door prize of $25. The member must be present at the meeting to win.