More than 500 members of the Department of Ohio Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and its Auxiliary converged on Sandusky this week for the 102nd Annual State Convention, and the main order of business will take place during the membership general business meeting Saturday afternoon, June 10.

The highlight will be a remarkable milestone for the Department of Ohio VFW. For the first time in its 103-year history, the members will elect their first female state commander.

Coleen K. Wiley, currently serving as State Senior Vice Commander of the department, is a decorated U.S. Army combat veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom. Wiley has been a Life Member of the VFW since 2004 and has held many positions in the post, district and department levels. She recently retired after 20 years of service from the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office. She resides in Van Wert, Ohio with her husband John Wiley.

The installation of all newly elected officers will take place on Sunday, June 11 beginning at 10:30 a.m. The VFW Auxiliary conducts their installation ceremony first and the VFW installation ceremony follows immediately. Both ceremonies take place in the Kalahari Ballroom A/B. A reception follows in Kalahari Ballroom C/D.