Southwest Region was formed in 1948, 65 years ago, just three years after Gold Star Wives of America formed in New York City April 5, 1945. Denver Colorado Chapter formed in 1958. First Chapters formed were Los Angeles, San Francisco, Long Beach and San Diego between 1949-51. Over the years some chapters have disbanded and others have began. Today we have 793 MAL (Member - At - Large) Members and 835 Members in the eleven Chapters listed below. SW Region has one annual Conference every year in March or April. GSW has one annual National Convention every year in July.
SouthWest Regional Officers for 2013-2014
SW Region has four Elected National Board Members and two National Officers
The Southwest Region has eleven chapters:
CASTLE CHAPTER - Chartered 1997
CHANNEL ISLANDS CHAPTER - Chartered 1996
CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN CHAPTER - Chartered 2012
DENVER AREA CHAPTER - Chartered 1958
THE GOLDEN STATE CHAPTER - Chartered 1996
THE GREATER SACRAMENTO AREA CHAPTER - Chartered 1990
INLAND EMPIRE CHAPTER - Chartered 1996
LAS VEGAS VALLEY CHAPTER - Chartered 2011
PHOENIX CHAPTER - Chartered 1982
SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - Chartered 1984
TUCSON CHAPTER - Chartered 1983
Our Community
Members at Large and Chapter members are active in their own communities in many ways. Some of these are: State and Federal Legislation, Homeless Veterans (Standdown), Snowball Express,Veterans Day Parades, Pearl Harbor Day, Gold Star Wives Day, Vietnamese-Vietnam Day, Color the Hill Gold, Memorial Day Events, which includes our National Cemeteries, Wreaths Across America, 50th Anniversary of Vietnam Commemoration Certificates for Surviving Spouses and Children, Iwo Jima Remembrance in Sacaton, AZ and First Vietnam National Memorial in Angel Fire.
Our Members work with Army Survivor Outreach Services in all of our eight States and Guam. The main Fundraiser for SW Region is a Bakeless Bake Sale in the Spring.
