Sonja became a life member of AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary # 22, Vermilion, Ohio in November, 1996. She held numerous offices and chairmanships on the local level, as well as two terms as auxiliary president. At the conclusion of each of her terms as president, Auxiliary # 22 was the recipient of the Gavaliers Award for the most outstanding auxiliary in the Department of Ohio.  Sonja received the Evelyn Thomas Leadership Award as outstanding Auxiliary President for her membership group at the end of her second term as local president, and at the conclusion of her term as  13th District President in June, 2006, she was presented the Linda Johnston Leadership Award as Outstanding District President. Sonja has served the Department of Ohio as PRO, Hospital, Americanism, 3rd V. Pres, 2nd V. Pres., 1st V. Pres., and was elected Department President at the June, 2011 Convention in Columbus, Ohio. She has served on many National Committees, and is currently a Deputy V.A.V.S. Representative for the Ladies Auxiliary at the Ohio Veteran’s Home in Sandusky, Ohio. As the daughter, wife, mother, and mother in law of military

veterans, she, along with her husband, Don actively supports federal and state legislation and programs which help provide benefits for veterans, as well as a better quality of life for our nation’s Armed Forces men and women and their families.

Sonja’s theme for the year is: “ An Army of One.” This theme has a special personal meaning to her, and she believes the Ladies Auxiliaries are as “one” in that they all share a common goal of service to others, much as our veterans shared a comradeship and dedication to each other during their military service. Her special project this year is “Bobby’s Books,” a program of Hospice in Ohio. This  project was developed to help  children who have a parent or other  family member with a terminal illness cope with the grief of losing a loved one. She became acquainted with the program during a tour of the Hospice unit at the Dayton VAMC, and her goal is to see “Bobby’s Books” in all of Ohio’s VAMC  Hospice Units.

Sonja is a retired bookkeeper who currently resides in Ashville, Ohio with her husband Don. She has  two sons, Bryan  and Donald Kuhn, both of Ashville, and a stepdaughter, Mary Jo Brennan of Delaware, Ohio. She and Don share the joy of nine wonderful grandchildren.

Chaplain - Scholarship Chairman—Susan Weyrick
Theme:  “Our Scholars are our future . . . We need your dollars for our scholars
Project:  Scholarship”
Chairman’s Award:   To the Auxiliary performing the most outstanding work for scholarship

PRO/Historian —Eileen Martin  
Theme: “Books Can Make a Smile -- Bobby’s Books Make Children Smile”
Project:  Putting Lost of Smiles in the President’s History Book
Chairman’s Award:  Award to the person or Auxiliary that can provide
me with the most material for the President’s History Book