In 1923 the first Wisconsin post of the Polish Legion of American Veterans, Woodrow Wilson Post #11, was founded on Milwaukee's South Side. The purposes of the PLAV were patriotic and anti-communist in nature, as well as fraternal, civic, and social. Two years later, in 1925, Post #11 formed a ladies' auxiliary, which eventually became the nucleus for the Wisconsin State Department Ladies' Auxiliary. The first national officer, Laura Gorski, with Anna Kucharczyk Heleniak and others, organized additional posts in conjunction with PLAV chapters. On October 27, 1937 the first meeting of the State Department was held, to guide the work of the individual posts.
In 1979 there was eleven PLAV Ladies' auxiliary posts, and a Gold Star Mothers Chapter in Wisconsin, dedicated “to work for the disabled veteran.” Among the projects undertaken by the posts were volunteer work at veterans' hospitals, fund-raising for gifts and small purchases for patients at hospitals both in and out of state, sponsorship of annual essay contests for eighth-graders and queen competitions, and promotion of the welfare of children. Social events also form a portion of the activities of each post.
