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Unit 213 President Gladys Bingham and some of her junior members wish the Legion a Happy 91st Birthday.

March was filled with American Legion birthday bashes across the state.  I first attended a dinner on March 9 at Post 24 in Hattiesburg.  There was a great crowd and wonderful food.  And, the entertainment was very entertaining.  On Friday,March 12 at Post 139 in Bay St. Louis.  Again, another great meal, and the Post awarded its members with continuous membership pins.  On Sunday, March 14, Jack and I went to Vicksburg Post 213.  Another great crowd of Legion family.  There was young man who sang who was very impressive and the juniors helped cut the cake and sang Happy Birthday to the Legion.

On Thursday, March 18, we traveled to Kosciusko Post 44 for the celebration.  Meeting at A Place for Fish restaurant, the food was delicious as usual.  We then heard a presentation from the directors of the Kosciusko Veterans Nursing Home on their activities.  Very informative on the great work they are doing there.  On Saturday evening, March 20, Jack and I got to visit Greenville Post 32 for the first time.  The Post and Unit had a great spread of appetizers and then served fried fish (no wonder we have to watch our diets all the time!).  They, too, had a nice program and a great view of the river at their back door.

Unit 50 President Martha Rodgers, me, State Commander Don Cabrol and Alt. NEC Robert Gosa cut cake at Post 50 in Calhoun City

On Monday night, March 22, we visited Forest Post and Unit 9 for our third time this year for their Legion Birthday Party.  Good to see old friends and enjoyed the dinner and program.  I wrapped up the birthday trail with my own Post in Tylertown on Thursday, March 26.  The Unit provided a special cake in honor of the occasion.

Happy 91st Birthday to The American Legion!  Wishing you many more to come!

State Commander Don Cabrol and I at Senator Wicker's Office

Dept. NEC Nancy Sanders and I traveled to Washington D.C. Feb. 27-March 3 and enjoyed a very informative, but very cold, National meeting.  Our hotel was experiencing some major lobby renovation, so we had dry wall dust in our noses the entire week.  However, we enjoyed good company with our fellow Auxiliary members across the country and with our Legion Department delegation, led by Alt. NEC Robert Gosa and State Commander Don Cabrol. 

We had the opportunity to visit “The Hill” and meet with the Mississippi Congressional officials.  I particularly enjoyed our meeting with Sen. Roger Wicker.  His staff was excellent and very attentive to our needs.  We also met, briefly, Congressman Greg Harper.  He was rushing out the door to a meeting, but did take the time to greet us. 

National President Rita Navarette accepts Mississippi's check for the Veterans Creative Arts Festival.

The most exciting thing for me was to see several nationally recognized Senators, particularly John Kerry, Lindsey Graham, and  Steny Hoyer.  The highlight was to see John McCain.  We all saw him at the same time and waved to him.  He graciously walked over to our Mississippi delegation and shook our hands and spoke with us.  How nice!  We were so surprised, we forgot to take a picture…darn it!

Anyway, I look forward to next year’s meeting, but hope it’s not so cold and windy.  It keeps us Southerners inside where it’s warmer.

Waveland Queen and King

I had the pleasure of attending two Carnival Balls on the Gulf Coast in February.  The first was a lovely event presented by Unit 77 in Waveland.  Using my “gardening” theme, the ball was themed as “The Secret Garden.”  It was so nice, and I was pleasantly surprised to see a very dedicated Unit member, Elsie Otnott, crowned as Queen.  Had a wonderful time with these ladies and other Department Officers and guests.  Great job, Unit 77, and thanks for a wonderful evening. 

Queen Lillian "Poochie" Wall

The next weekend, I was invited to Pascagoula 160’s Carnival Ball.  Themed as “All that Jazz,” the room was  beautifully decorated in black and gold!  It was gorgeous!  Equally gorgeous was the new Queen, Unit President Lillian “Poochie” Wall.  Congrats to the ladies of Unit 160 for a wonderful job in presenting a successful event.  Thanks to you, too, for inviting me and other Department Officers.  We appreciate your efforts.

On March 2nd, Department Chaplain and PDP Lou Wilkerson traveled to Morton to talk to members of the American Legion Post about forming a new unit.  I hear that it was a good meeting and the Legionnaires seemed interested. I thank Rose and Lou for making the trip and representing us well!  Keep your fingers crossed that good comes out of the meeting. 

National Commander and me with Unit 165 (Cleveland) Little Miss Poppy

We just finished “touring” Mississippi with the National Commander of The American Legion Clarence Hill, along with State Commander Don Cabrol. What a wonderful trip…although not without its surprises! Monday morning, Nancy (Sanders, Dept. Secretary/NEC) and I woke to a blanket of fallen snow in the Tunica area…driving to Horn Lake was an adventure, to say the least. But, it was very nice to visit that Post for the first time. Then on to New Albany, which had a good crowd awaiting us, including the senior citizens who at lunch there. Equally good to see the Unit members, who showed us their new meeting room and the pocket flags that they were beginning to fold. On to Tupelo, another good crowd. Joyce Pitts and members were active in preparing food and making us feel welcome. Then, back across the state to Cleveland. Yes, another good crowd, including Rosemary and Ed Merriman. She’s doing well and looked good, too. Shirley Turner, president of the unit, Inez McCain and their active members also had a wonderful meal to serve and supported their Post’s needs.

The next day, we visited Post 213 in Vicksburg…wow, what a meal! Great turn out of Auxiliary members who did an excellent job serving the meal and extending their hospitality. This was also my first visit to that Post. Great job, ladies! On to Post 112 in Jackson. The Post hall was festively decorated, and we had a great catfish meal. The Unit gave the National Commander a monetary contribution to the Legion’s Emergency Fund, and we were afforded the opportunity to have him crown the Unit’s Miss Poppy and Little Miss Poppy. The young ladies were so beautiful. Jr. Unit 112 President Sara Jo Housely also presented a gift to the National Commander–great night to showcase some of our Juniors!

Unit 56 President Paula McGinnis presents gift to Comm. Hill

Unfortunately, I had to miss the visit to Post 24 in Hattiesburg as I had to be at my Post–Tylertown 56–that morning to help get ready for his lunch visit. I can’t report too much on Hattiesburg, but I know it was first class as usual. At our Post at noon, the Unit was out in full force to prepare a refreshing lunch of tropical salad–made by the hands of our Unit President Paula McGinnis. It was delicious, and the hospitality was grand. The hall was decorated nicely, and I’m so proud of my own Unit’s efforts. Love them!

We made our final stop at Bay St. Louis last night for a nice evening meal. President Marlene and her ladies had the hall decorated in Mardi Gras colors and presented the Commander a lovely pen holder set and one of Lou Wilkerson’s famous magnolia paintings. They also gave him (and one to take to his wife) a beautiful Mardi Gras necklace. Thanks to those ladies who helped make it a special evening for the Post. So you see, our Units are instrumental in helping the Posts with their successes. That’s how it should be, working side-by-side, in harmony, to achieve the goal at hand. We should constantly be striving for that balance.

Me and National President Rita Navarette

On Jan. 22-24, in Vicksburg, the Dept. of Mississippi held its annual Mid-Winter Conference.  And, what a great conference it was!  National President Rita Navarette was our special guest and was a wonderful person to meet.  One can tell she has the Auxiliary in her heart and believes in its mission.   We had a great turn-out of members from across the state–and I appreciate their support by attending.  A couple of highlights included our Garden Hat Parade for membership turn-in (so many creative ladies!); a inspiring speech by our Girls State Governor; a presentation by Deanna Attaway, the USO Director here in Mississippi; a wonderful report from our Honorary Junior Department President Savannah Seals; and lastly, the USO Show on Saturday Night.  Special Project Chairman Merita Guinn and the excellent cast of the show culminated a wonderful weekend in grand style, raising over $1,000 for the USO in Mississippi.  I extend many thanks to everyone in the show.

Juniors at Mid-Winter 2010

I was also honored to have received a $500 Girls State Scholarship in my name from Unit 112 in Jackson.  The scholarship will be available at the 2010 session.  This unit also gave a $500 scholarship in honor of National President Navarette and a $500 scholarship in memory of a special member of their Unit and mother of our own Dept. Secretary Nancy Sanders.  We thank this Unit for their generousity and dedication to our Girls State program.

Wow, it was a busy weekend, but such a fulfilling weekend.  Thanks to all–our officers, the Dept. Secretary, the Program Chairmen, the Committees and their chairmen–for all their hard work and dedication.  I hope those who attended left the conference with renewed enthusiasm for our work.

Me and Barney

Well, it’s been a while since I’ve made an entry to my blog.  Have been having a a great time, attending Post Christmas parties and visiting at the VA facilities in the state.  I started December by riding in the Tylertown Christmas Parade–with Barney!  I then visited Unit 76 in Liberty, Unit 139 Bay St. Louis, Natchez Unit 228, Forest Unit 9, Kosciusko Unit 44, and Corinth Unit 207.  Had wonderful holiday fellowship with these members.  I also visited a Christmas party for some of the Jackson VA Hospital residents.  Dept. Rep. Leslie Crosby had a wonderful program for these veterans, including a Rennaissance Choir from Terry High School. 

Mississippi delegation for the Biloxi VA Christmas Cheer program, along with VA personnel.

On Monday, Dec. 7, I was honored to help the Dept. VA Rep Jo Tisbury distribute Christmas Cheer to patients in that facility.  Members from the Dept. of Alabama, including their Dept. President, joined us, as tradition has it, and it was good to see them.  It was a joy to be able to speak to the patients and bring them a little cheer for the season.

I closed out 2009 by attending a New Year’s Eve party at Waveland Unit 77.  These ladies worked hard to put the night together to raise money for their programs.  Great job!

So, all in all, December 2009 was a great month.

Betty Johnson and Geraldine Cummings takes a break from wrapping gifts to take a picture with Dept. President Angela Kilcrease.

Boy, I just love Christmas Gift Shop!  I had the pleasure of representing the Department at the Biloxi VA Hospital Gift Shop on Nov. 29 and 30.  The ladies of Unit 119 Gulfport, led by VA Dep. Gratia Dresbeck, always does an excellent job in gathering gifts all year and helping the Biloxi VA Rep Jo Tisbury, Unit 1992, Gautier-Vancleave, in getting things organized and costs covered.  Members of Unit 1992 Gautier-Vancleave, Unit 160 Pascagoula, Waveland Unit 77, Moss Point 243, Lakeshore 152, and Unit 139 Bay St. Louis also contribute greatly to this program’s success.  (Hope I haven’t forgotten anyone.)  We also have units all over the state who send goods or money for postage–the most costly item of the lot!

Me and Gratia Dresbeck of Unit 119 Gulfport who works so hard each year to make Gift Shop a great success.

For the last two years, I have manned the typewriter with my buddy Shelby Byrd, typing mailing labels for the packages.  We have other members who help the veterans shop for their families (at no cost to them), wrap the presents, and box them up for mailing.  Their deligience is a tribute to many Auxiliary members that make this service available for our hospitalized veterans. 

The Biloxi VA is undergoing a major facelift and expansion…including the building we use for the project.  They do a beautiful job in decorating the stage area–putting us all in the Christmas spirit.  We thank the staff that works with us and sees to our every need.  We salute you all!

If you can volunteer to help with this project next year, please do so.  We need more hands and hearts to serve our veterans.  Thanks again to everyone who participated in the Christmas Gift Shop 2009!

2nd Vice Mary Ried presents another 100% junior award to Mrs. Pete of Unit 125 in Meridian.

What a good time I had at Lake Tiak O’Khata for the Central Area Conference on Nov. 20-22.  We had a great contigent of folks attending, including the National Vice Commander Jimmie Foster from Alaska.  Post and Unit 69 in Columbus was there to help James Edwards, Central Area Commander, to keep us fed, and the hospitality room was a fun gathering place. 

The Auxiliary meeting was succesful, I think.  Of course, the sound system bleed over from the Legion’s meeting made things a challenge, but we made it through with flying colors.  I hope everyone who attended left the conference with a sense of purpose and with a mission in their hearts!  I’ll have the few photos I have on the Dept. Web site…if you have some, please send me a CD of them.

Nancy, Lou, Jack, and I rented a cabin this year.  Boy, what a great place!  We certainly enjoyed our locale and will certainly do that again. 

Thanks go to all who made the CAC a success.

Angela Kilcrease

Unit 6 President Pearl Gurley (left) and Jimmie Cabrol of Unit 165, Cleveland

On Saturday, Nov. 14, we traveled all the way up to Corinth, Miss., for the Fall Northern Area Conference at Post 6.  Mrs. Pearl Gurley and the members of Unit 6 did an excellent job in organizing, decorating, and hosting this event.  Many thanks go to this active unit.  Just the other day, Mrs. Pearl sent me a handwritten list of the things they have done thus far in the year.  Wow, what a list!  I’m just so proud of their efforts in their community.  It’s truly inspiring.

It was good to see the ladies from the Northern Area.  And, District II is now tied with District 7 for first place in membership!  That’s wonderful!  Keep it going, ladies, and congrats to District President Martha Rodgers.  I want to see you grow and grow.

We will be traveling to Lake Tiak O’Khata in Louisville, Miss., this weekend for another great Legion family get-together for the Central Area Conference.  It’s always bee-utiful there, with the fall colors, and I’m looking forward to being with friends.  If your unit is in this area, I encourage you to attend on Saturday, at least.  We have lots of good information to give to you to help you in your unit during the year.

Oh, after the conference on Saturday, Jack and I, Lou Wilkerson, and Nancy Sanders drove to the Shiloh National Park.  What a great little side trip!  I didn’t realize how big it was and how beautiful a setting.  It certainly was a good day.

Angela Kilcrease