SMETHPORT – Sonja Covert of Smethport, whoðhas been awarded the
2004-05 American Legion Auxiliary “Woman Veteran of the Vietnam War
Era” for her work as a female service member, was honored Saturday
at a dinner at the Bucktail Post #138, Smethport American
Legion.
Sandi Dutton, president of the American Legion Auxiliary,
presented the award at the organization’s convention this summer in
Honolulu, Hawaii.
Five women veterans were honored by the Past Presidents Parley
Committee of the American Legion Auxiliary.ðOne woman is honored
from each of the six service periods including World War II, Korea,
Vietnam, Grenada/Lebanon, Panama and the Persian Gulf, or she is
still serving.
The winners were chosen on the basis of a narrative entitled
“What the Military Means to Me” and being nominated by a local
auxiliary unit.
Covert won the state competition and went on to become the first
woman from Pennsylvania to receive the honor.
Covert is a native of Smethport.ðAs a member of the U.S. Air
Force from 1963-65,ðshe wasða hospital nurse assigned to Wheelis
Air Force Base in Tripoli, Libya, and attained the rank of first
lieutenant.
Covert has been active inðAmerican Legion and American Legion
Auxiliary activities for many years. She is the immediate
past-commander of Post #138 and president of the localðLegion
Auxiliary Unit, and has held the posts of Westernðvice-president
and president of the auxiliary’s Pennsylvania department, and
department historian and chaplain. She is the current unit
president of the auxiliary and is vice chairman of the public
relations committee at the state level.
She is also a member of the Smethport Garden Club and
McKeanðCounty Historical Society.
Quoting from her essay, Covert said, “Military life may be
described in many different words and phrases.ðTo me, it means that
you are a representative of the great United States and that
beloved symbol, our American flag, which stands for honor, truth,
loyalty and unity.
“You then make it a part of your life-long job to defend it
against those who wish to desecrate or destroy it, whether it beðon
foreign soil or in our native land.
“It meansðwhen you return to civilian life that you continue by
helping those who are currently serving our country and those
veteransðand families who are at need in our communities.”
The American Legion Auxiliary is the largest patriotic women’s
service organization in the world, with nearly 1 million
members.ðAffiliated with the American Legion, the auxiliaryðhas
members in almost 10,100 communities.ðIt sponsors volunteer
programsðfor veterans, young people and the community at the local
and national levels.ð
