Mississippi Units that Make a Difference
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| Department of Mississippi |
American Legion Auxiliary
Unit 1997, Heidelberg, Hosts Party at Collins, Donates to Children's Home
Glenda Wheelis and the ladies of Unit 1997 of
Heidelberg hosted a party for the residents of the
Collins Veterans Home on Sept. 26. The ladies
made snack food and punch for the veterans and
brought along Milton Johnson to sing for them. The
Unit also invited Dept. President Angela Kilcrease to
attend. There was a good gathering of residents,
even though football was going on across the hall.
They all enjoyed sandwiches, deviled eggs, cheese
and crackers, fruit, and sugar free cookies. Milton had a wonderful voice and sang gospel
favorites and President Angela spoke to the residents about the Auxiliary.
The Unit also made a donation to the Baptist Children's Home in Laurel. They gave a couple
of the young residents school supplies, consisting of notebooks, pencils, crayons, glue, note
book paper and lots of little girl clothes, etc.
Unit 102 Hands out Fruit Baskets
Doyle Kervin Unit 102 in Soso, Miss., under the
leadership of President Martha Welborn,
prepared fruit baskets for their Thanksgiving
project. They take fruit baskets to area shut-ins
and veterans every year during the Thanksgiving
season. The baskets include fruit, cheese
crackers, snacks, cakes and many different
kinds of goodies for them to eat. All recipients of
this generous gift is very appreciative of this nice
gesture and also enjoys a visit from the ladies.
The ladies also prepare a Thanksgiving dinner for their November meeting in which the
Legionnaires are invited to eat with them. District 8 President Glenda Wheelis attend this
meeting and reported that the unit decided that rather than exchange gifts for Christmas, they
would order pocket flags and participate in the statewide project.
Pictured left to right, Martha Welborn, Carolyn Johnson, Myrtle Jefcoat, Earnestine Jefcoat,
Martha Hancock, Dolly Cooley, Jeanell Holifield, and Ophelia Ingram.
Unit 112 Donates Three New Girls State Scholarships for the 2010 Session
We were given three wonderful gifts while at the 2010 Mid-Winter Conference this year.
President Lorene Martin of Hovious-Grayson Unit 112, Jackson, made a surprise
presentation, giving two one-time $500
scholarships for the 2010 Girls State session,
in honor of Department President Angela
Kilcrease, who, by the way, was introduced to the
American Legion Auxiliary while working for USM
as our on-site coordinator to Girls State, and one
in honor of ALA National President Rita Navarette.
President Rita was our special guest at the
Conference in Vicksburg.
The third scholarship will be awarded by Unit 112 every year. This one honors the memory of
a long-time, dedicated Unit 112 member and will be called the Willie B. (Bea) Henderson
Scholarship. Mrs. Henderson is also the mother of our Dept. Secretary Nancy Sanders.
We want to thank Unit President Lorene Martin and the members of Unit 112 for their
generosity. What better way to honor a member than the gift of education. Now it is up to us
WORKER BEES to get the word out that we now have in excess or $13,000 in Scholarships
that will be awarded at the 2010 session. We also will send one application on to compete for
a one of the $20,000 scholarship given by the national organization.
Glenda Wheelis and the ladies of Unit 1997 of
Heidelberg hosted a party for the residents of the
Collins Veterans Home on Sept. 26. The ladies
made snack food and punch for the veterans and
brought along Milton Johnson to sing for them. The
Unit also invited Dept. President Angela Kilcrease to
attend. There was a good gathering of residents,
even though football was going on across the hall.
They all enjoyed sandwiches, deviled eggs, cheese
and crackers, fruit, and sugar free cookies. Milton had a wonderful voice and sang gospel
favorites and President Angela spoke to the residents about the Auxiliary.
The Unit also made a donation to the Baptist Children's Home in Laurel. They gave a couple
of the young residents school supplies, consisting of notebooks, pencils, crayons, glue, note
book paper and lots of little girl clothes, etc.
Unit 102 Hands out Fruit Baskets
Doyle Kervin Unit 102 in Soso, Miss., under the
leadership of President Martha Welborn,
prepared fruit baskets for their Thanksgiving
project. They take fruit baskets to area shut-ins
and veterans every year during the Thanksgiving
season. The baskets include fruit, cheese
crackers, snacks, cakes and many different
kinds of goodies for them to eat. All recipients of
this generous gift is very appreciative of this nice
gesture and also enjoys a visit from the ladies.
The ladies also prepare a Thanksgiving dinner for their November meeting in which the
Legionnaires are invited to eat with them. District 8 President Glenda Wheelis attend this
meeting and reported that the unit decided that rather than exchange gifts for Christmas, they
would order pocket flags and participate in the statewide project.
Pictured left to right, Martha Welborn, Carolyn Johnson, Myrtle Jefcoat, Earnestine Jefcoat,
Martha Hancock, Dolly Cooley, Jeanell Holifield, and Ophelia Ingram.
Unit 112 Donates Three New Girls State Scholarships for the 2010 Session
We were given three wonderful gifts while at the 2010 Mid-Winter Conference this year.
President Lorene Martin of Hovious-Grayson Unit 112, Jackson, made a surprise
presentation, giving two one-time $500
scholarships for the 2010 Girls State session,
in honor of Department President Angela
Kilcrease, who, by the way, was introduced to the
American Legion Auxiliary while working for USM
as our on-site coordinator to Girls State, and one
in honor of ALA National President Rita Navarette.
President Rita was our special guest at the
Conference in Vicksburg.
The third scholarship will be awarded by Unit 112 every year. This one honors the memory of
a long-time, dedicated Unit 112 member and will be called the Willie B. (Bea) Henderson
Scholarship. Mrs. Henderson is also the mother of our Dept. Secretary Nancy Sanders.
We want to thank Unit President Lorene Martin and the members of Unit 112 for their
generosity. What better way to honor a member than the gift of education. Now it is up to us
WORKER BEES to get the word out that we now have in excess or $13,000 in Scholarships
that will be awarded at the 2010 session. We also will send one application on to compete for
a one of the $20,000 scholarship given by the national organization.
Unit 28, Clarksdale, purchased
and presented two air purifiers to
the Mississippi State Veterans
Home in Oxford. Pictured from
l to r: Amanda May, Home
Administrator; Emma Lou Bailey,
Unit 28 Chaplain; and Marge
Hudson, Unit 28 President.
and presented two air purifiers to
the Mississippi State Veterans
Home in Oxford. Pictured from
l to r: Amanda May, Home
Administrator; Emma Lou Bailey,
Unit 28 Chaplain; and Marge
Hudson, Unit 28 President.
| Has your Unit made a difference in the life of a veteran or in your community? Let us know. Send us a brief narrative on your event or activity and a photo! |
Unit 152 Lakeshore Adopts a Soldier
After Hurricane Katrina, Ramsey-Loper Unit 152, Lakeshore, regrouped, and the Unit
President and Treasurer opened a marketplace called MosquitoHawk Market, in which a
section was dedicated to our veterans. Proceeds of anything sold from that area of the shop
would go to the Post building fund or the Unit general fund for veteran support.
One of the vendors renting space in the Market was the
wife of Command Sergeant Major Joseph Ramirez, our
G. I. Joe, who is currently stationed in northern Afghanistan.
We asked Pat, his wife, to find out what he needed over
there, and his response was, “I need cold medicine for
my men. They keep getting sick and cannot get over the
flu-like symptoms.” He asked nothing for himself.
So, we asked our local Wal-Mart for help. They gave us a $50 gift certificate, and we
purchased cases of Nyquil, Dayquil and cough drops. The shipping was another $50, which
we funded. Then we asked, “What else do you need?” Joe said they could really use
antibacterial cloth wipes to clean the door handles, telephones, etc. of the germs that were
just being spread again and again. So the Unit sent another two cases and added a few
personal items for Joe, such as toilet paper, liquid soap, and shampoo.
In June 2009, Joe came home on leave, and we got to meet him. What a great guy! He
surprised us with a framed display containing a United States flag and certificate stating,
“…this flag was proudly flown in the face of the enemy over the American compound, Camp
Alamo, Afghanistan….during OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, on the 1st day of April, in
the year of our Lord, Two Thousand Nine….” We are waiting for further requests from Joe so
we can continue to support this special fellow and his men. Submitted by Joan Coleman
After Hurricane Katrina, Ramsey-Loper Unit 152, Lakeshore, regrouped, and the Unit
President and Treasurer opened a marketplace called MosquitoHawk Market, in which a
section was dedicated to our veterans. Proceeds of anything sold from that area of the shop
would go to the Post building fund or the Unit general fund for veteran support.
One of the vendors renting space in the Market was the
wife of Command Sergeant Major Joseph Ramirez, our
G. I. Joe, who is currently stationed in northern Afghanistan.
We asked Pat, his wife, to find out what he needed over
there, and his response was, “I need cold medicine for
my men. They keep getting sick and cannot get over the
flu-like symptoms.” He asked nothing for himself.
So, we asked our local Wal-Mart for help. They gave us a $50 gift certificate, and we
purchased cases of Nyquil, Dayquil and cough drops. The shipping was another $50, which
we funded. Then we asked, “What else do you need?” Joe said they could really use
antibacterial cloth wipes to clean the door handles, telephones, etc. of the germs that were
just being spread again and again. So the Unit sent another two cases and added a few
personal items for Joe, such as toilet paper, liquid soap, and shampoo.
In June 2009, Joe came home on leave, and we got to meet him. What a great guy! He
surprised us with a framed display containing a United States flag and certificate stating,
“…this flag was proudly flown in the face of the enemy over the American compound, Camp
Alamo, Afghanistan….during OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, on the 1st day of April, in
the year of our Lord, Two Thousand Nine….” We are waiting for further requests from Joe so
we can continue to support this special fellow and his men. Submitted by Joan Coleman
Mississippi American Legion Auxiliary units make a difference in the lives of veterans,
their families, and communities each and every day. This page is dedicated to the good
work of these units, large and small. Ideas for service abound here!
their families, and communities each and every day. This page is dedicated to the good
work of these units, large and small. Ideas for service abound here!
Unit 28 in Clarksdale Donates to Oxford Veterans Home
New Electric Bed for the Oxford Nursing Home
Oxford Veterans Home Rep. Martha Rodgers and several units in Mississippi came together
and filled a need at that facility. Contributions from Clarksdale 28, Aberdeen 26, and Jackson
112, along with money from poppy
proceeds from the Department, made up
the $1,500 for the bed.
Dept. President Angela Kilcrease joined
Martha on May 25 in Oxford to make the
check presentation.
Thank you to all who contributed to this
need of our veterans.
Oxford Veterans Home Rep. Martha Rodgers and several units in Mississippi came together
and filled a need at that facility. Contributions from Clarksdale 28, Aberdeen 26, and Jackson
112, along with money from poppy
proceeds from the Department, made up
the $1,500 for the bed.
Dept. President Angela Kilcrease joined
Martha on May 25 in Oxford to make the
check presentation.
Thank you to all who contributed to this
need of our veterans.
Kosciusko Unit Helps with Large Birthday Party at Veterans Home
Members of Kosciusko Unit 44 joined our Kosciusko
Veterans Home Reps and Deputies to host its
monthly birthday party for residents. Special guest
included Department President Angela Kilcrease.
An abundance of refreshments were served,
including birthday cake for 21 residents celebrating
a birthday in May. Great job, ladies. Keep up the
good work.
Members of Kosciusko Unit 44 joined our Kosciusko
Veterans Home Reps and Deputies to host its
monthly birthday party for residents. Special guest
included Department President Angela Kilcrease.
An abundance of refreshments were served,
including birthday cake for 21 residents celebrating
a birthday in May. Great job, ladies. Keep up the
good work.
An article from the Oct. 19,
2011, National Membership
Newsletter, submitted by
Southern Division Membership
Chairman Angela Kilcrease:
In the spirit of the upcoming
Halloween festivities, I want to
tell you a little story about a
new small unit in Mississippi
that is making a big noise.
Arthur B. Alexander Unit 68 in
Brandon, Miss., received its
charter in March 2011 and has
hit the ground running by
assisting its Post in planning
events, ranging from outreach
to the Family Readiness
Groups (FRG) of recently
deployed military units to
participating in local parades.
The unit has partnered with a
local wounded warrior who
has “adopted” the kids of two
local Mississippi National
Guard MP companies. PFC CJ
Stewart is making sure that
EVERY child of these deployed
soldiers receives a birthday
cake and gift and is currently
planning “Operation Homefront
Christmas Party” for them.
The unit will assist in his
endeavor by using some of the
proceeds from their upcoming
Oct. 29 Monster Bash to defray
the cost of PFC Stewart’s
efforts.
The Unit has planned a fun-
filled afternoon for these very
special military children.
Working in conjunction with
the two Guard Units’ FRGs, Unit
68 will host games, a bouncy
castle, food and a costume
contest for the children. They
have contacted local Boy Scout
Troops to assist with set-up
and running the games, and
the local JROTC unit to “judge”
the costume contest.
For Unit 68, it’s all about
membership growth and being
of service to their community.
As unit president Amanda
Havlicek explains, “we have
met our 2012 membership goal
and are now focused on
recruiting new members, so
we can “share the wealth” of
this amazing organization,
dedicated to serving our
veterans and their families.”
We can all take lessons from
this small, but energized unit
who is making a difference in
their neck of the woods.
2011, National Membership
Newsletter, submitted by
Southern Division Membership
Chairman Angela Kilcrease:
In the spirit of the upcoming
Halloween festivities, I want to
tell you a little story about a
new small unit in Mississippi
that is making a big noise.
Arthur B. Alexander Unit 68 in
Brandon, Miss., received its
charter in March 2011 and has
hit the ground running by
assisting its Post in planning
events, ranging from outreach
to the Family Readiness
Groups (FRG) of recently
deployed military units to
participating in local parades.
The unit has partnered with a
local wounded warrior who
has “adopted” the kids of two
local Mississippi National
Guard MP companies. PFC CJ
Stewart is making sure that
EVERY child of these deployed
soldiers receives a birthday
cake and gift and is currently
planning “Operation Homefront
Christmas Party” for them.
The unit will assist in his
endeavor by using some of the
proceeds from their upcoming
Oct. 29 Monster Bash to defray
the cost of PFC Stewart’s
efforts.
The Unit has planned a fun-
filled afternoon for these very
special military children.
Working in conjunction with
the two Guard Units’ FRGs, Unit
68 will host games, a bouncy
castle, food and a costume
contest for the children. They
have contacted local Boy Scout
Troops to assist with set-up
and running the games, and
the local JROTC unit to “judge”
the costume contest.
For Unit 68, it’s all about
membership growth and being
of service to their community.
As unit president Amanda
Havlicek explains, “we have
met our 2012 membership goal
and are now focused on
recruiting new members, so
we can “share the wealth” of
this amazing organization,
dedicated to serving our
veterans and their families.”
We can all take lessons from
this small, but energized unit
who is making a difference in
their neck of the woods.
| WHO'S GOT A STORY TO TELL? Send your story and photo to us! |