On Member Monday we highlight our members involved in their communities. Today we recognize Laurie Pekarik, an active member of MN DAV Auxiliary Unit 39 and past unit commander.  In addition to volunteering her time for fundraising events, such as the upcoming annual DAV Forget-Me-Not campaign, she served as the MN DAV Auxiliary State Commander for two terms from 2014 to 2016 and was an elected National Executive Committee member for two terms from 2017-2018 representing Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana.  For the MN DAV Auxiliary Unit 39 Pekarik has been elected to numerous offices supporting area Veterans in Anoka and surrounding counties.  She continues to serve on the Leo Luskey Annual DAV Golf Tournament, one of MN DAV Chapter 39’s largest fundraisers.

In addition to spending time with her family, her other passion is volunteering at the Fort Snelling National Cemetery for the past four years.  Serving with the Honor Society for Veteran Honor she provides assistance to family members and conducts presentations for the surviving spouse or designated family member on behalf of the Dept. of Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff.  She also represents the DAV Auxiliary one day a week bringing comfort items and quilts to in-patient Veterans at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center.  She’s the wife of Edward Pekarik, a career Army Veteran and Lifetime member of MN Chapter 39 who passed in Oct. 2011.