Skindrud is first female VFW commander

Lieutenant Colonel Marny Skindrud (retired) was recently sworn in as Commander of VFW Post 9511. She replaced longtime Commander Don Hartman and is the first woman to lead the local group, which is headquartered in Blue Mounds and active in the greater Mount Horeb community.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of the United States is a nonprofit veterans service organization comprised of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, guard and reserve forces.

The organization traces its roots back to 1899 when veterans of the Spanish-American War (1898) and the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service. Some of these veterans banded together and formed organizations that would eventually band together and become known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. After chapters were formed in Ohio, Colorado and Pennsylvania, the movement quickly gained momentum. The local chapter holds an array of annual events.

Skindrud currently calls Mount Horeb home after living in Iraq, Afghanistan, Norway and Oklahoma, among other places. Her military career spanned 20 years and included three tours. Skindrud served in various capacities, from transportation logistics and training to a Combined Joint Operation Center that provided firepower from a high level.  Her artillery work included things like Paladins, the primary self-propelled artillery support for the U.S. Army, which include a 155-mm howitzer, and M119 Howitzers. She has now been retired from the military for five years. She grew up on a dairy farm in rural Mount Horeb.

“I was first involved with the VFW through my dad,” she said. “He was like, ‘You’re joining, right? I signed up for life.”

Skindrud has already been active in the community flag program and other VFW work.

“It seemed like the natural thing to do,” she said.

She said becoming post commander has “been in the works for some time now,” as those at the post were looking for someone to step in and lead.

“Don Hartman always says it’s time for the younger generations to step up,” she said.

Skindrud was elected commander at the post’s June meeting. She said she doesn’t expect to make any drastic changes.

“I think we have such a good post,” she said. “I think of everything we do in the community. It’s so great, and honestly I don’t see the need for any big changes. We’ll still do steak feeds, still do the flag program, and we will work to bring in younger members.