HI! My name is Desireé Cota, 2024-25 Department Guard, Legislative Chairman, Auxiliary 7286 President AND District 9 President!

In 2012 I joined the now defunct Belle Chasse Memorial Post Auxiliary 6706, being eligible with my husband, 2014-15 VFW Past State Commander, Mitchell Cota's 30+ years in the United States Air Force, having served on deployment during the Global War on Terrorism campaign. In 2016, I became a Life Member in Arnaudville, Louisiana's Post Auxiliary 5153 and in 2024, moved to Ivan Huval 7286 in Covington. Mitch and I met in August of 2005, three weeks before Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. During those three weeks we speed dated! We met on a Friday and then he was off on a two-week TDY in Mississippi. We talked on the phone at night when it was the only unlimited talk time. We did a year's worth of dating in just 2 weeks! By July we were married, combining our girls from our previous marriage. 3 weddings and 8 grandchildren later, we are now spread out across the country. Our oldest and her family have been all across the country compliments of the US Air Force. Currently they are back in Maryland after having worked their way to California . Our middle child and her family are also on the east coast in PA. Leaving our last family on the west coast in AZ.

During the early years of my membership, I held the positions of Secretary, Treasurer and President at the Post level (none at the same time). However, in 2014, I received a promotion at work that required a lot of my time, causing me to step away from the Auxiliary for a while. In June of 2021, I retired! Now I'm back, having chaired the state's Outstanding Auxiliary Award for Past State President Mary Johnson and Legislative Chairman for Jr. PSP Lisa Delaney. This year has also brought a lot of VFW involvement for me, President of my current Auxiliary – Ivan Huval 7286, District 9 President, AND Department Guard. Busy! Busy!

My career of choice was in Early Childhood Education. I taught grades Pre-k, Kindergarten, and First before becoming an administrator with Head Start, working first as the Education  Coordinator and then moving to Director in 2014. As both a teacher and administrator I was an advocate for children, looking out for what was best for them.

Now that I'm retired, I look forward to advocating for veterans, service members and their families, learning all I can about the VFW Priority Goals and current legislation, and helping our Auxiliaries have a successful year.