Amazing Moms: 'One True Heart'

In honor of Mother's Day, Wisconsin Patch is running a story about an "Amazing Mom" once a day this week. Our next Amazing Mom comes from Ann Glende from Oak Creek. Have an Amazing Mom? E-Mail Scott.Anderson@patch.comand tell us your story!

Seventeen years ago, Patty Davis of Oak Creek suffered a double dose of tragedy that would change the course of her life. Late in the year, her husband passed away, and then 23 hours later her brother-in-law passed away. Here is her story as told by daughter Ann Glende:

My father passed away and we were referred to the Disabled American Veteran's Auxiliary to assist us since he was in the military. Mom was hesitant to join because she didn't want to be active and had two young children to raise. In 1994 she attended her first convention of the DAV and DAV Auxiliary, and immediately sprang into action to help.

She started with the DAV in 1997 as the HSC thanks to a good friend of her, Clyde, who was a Past State Commander for DAV and a Veteran. By 1999 she was serving her term as State Commander. She instilled those values in us as we grew up. Actually, so much so that I served as DAVA State Commander from 2007-2008, and am serving my 10th year as State Treasurer.

She has been a Hospital Service Coordinator (HSC) for 21 years, helping veterans get to and from the VA Medical Center for medical treatment free of charge using a fleet of DAV Transportation Vans. She oversees the program and helps co-manage the entire program for the state of Wisconsin.

She is also an active member of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary (DAV Auxiliary), serving as State Adjutant for the past 11 years. She is also a Past State Commander and truly dedicates her heart to these organizations. She also volunteers with the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Auxiliary and the Military Order of the Cooties (MOC) Auxiliary.

In 2014 I accepted a position with the DAV Auxiliary national headquarters and moved to Kentucky. To say these organizations run in our blood is an understatement. She met her husband, my step-father, at the VA - he was a volunteer driver for many years before he became too ill to drive.

She is a gift to so many people, and is always willing to give the shirt off her back for everyone else. She is the proud grandmother of Morgyn, who attends Deerfield Elementary School.

Submitted Photo, Published With Permission