The Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary (DAVA) was founded in 1922 by women who saw a need for assistance to the families, widows and
orphans of disabled veterans, as well as the disabled veterans themselves. With membership open to family members of disabled or deceased
veterans, 2,000 DAV Auxiliary units continue to serve disabled veterans, with particular emphasis on the families of those veterans The national
Auxiliary programs are not funded by the United States government, but depend totally on dues and contributions of its membership.
At the 2004 DAVA National Convention, the delegates adopted a change to the constitution that would allow for males to join the auxiliary. A
ballot was sent out to all units by National Auxiliary Headquarters asking the unit to vote on the change. A ratification of three-fourths of the
units chartered was needed in order to put this change into effect. On February 15, 2005, the votes were counted and it was confirmed that the
required percentage of units had voted to allow men to join the Auxiliary, if eligible. This change immediately became effective on the date of
ratification.
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