Cortina Barnes, newly elected National President of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, will visit Oak Harbor Thursday, Sept. 2.

She will appear at the Whitehead-Muzzall V.F.W. Post 7392. After a day of whale-watching, she will attend a no-host reception beginning at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m. The theme Barnes has chosen this year is, “United by Love for Our Veterans and Country.” She plans to focus attention on the Auxiliary’s core programs for veterans and their families. She also hopes to lead members in topping donations to the Cancer Aid & Research Fund at more than $3 million to assist members with cancer and fund important research to fight this disease.

A life member of Woodbridge Auxiliary 9755 in Washington, D.C., she is eligible through her father, Benjamin F. Willis, who served in the United States Army from 1944-1946 in the European Theater.

Since joining in 1987, she has served in several capacities for the organization. She’s married to Vietnam veteran Gerald C. Barnes Sr., who is a Native American, gives lectures and demonstrations on the traditional Native American culture and the art of basket-making in addition to weaving traditional Native American baskets. Gerald is a Life Member of the VFW and a Past All-American District Commander.

Whitehead-Muzzall Post 7392 welcomes VFW members and the community to join them for this very special event. Dinner reservations are available by calling Kathi Naff at 279-8731. Tickets are $17 and reservations must be made right away.

The Whitehead-Muzzall Post is located at 3037 N. Goldie Road, Oak Harbor. For more information, contact the post at 675-4048.