AMERICAN LEGION POST 183 AUXILIARY
New Business
Elections for the 2005/06 year were held in June and the results are as follows:
President Andrea Grafton
Sr. Vice Kathy Schick
Jr. Vice Robbi Orr
Secretary Beth Grant
Treasurer Flo Neumyer
Chaplin Marianne Coulter
Sgt at Arms Tsuruno Salton
Historian Ursula Goodman
The Installation of Officers this year will be held along with the Legionnaires Installation. Date will be announced.
7/19/05
Dear Ladies,
The Auxiliary has been very busy this past year. Along with our usual events supporting the community and the legion, we have started plans to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of Unit 183’s founding on June 12, 1923.
Old Business
Elections where held and the previous years officers remained in place. To start off celebrating our Anniversary, an article and picture appeared in the Shirley Volunteer reminding people that the trees along Main Street had been planted by the Auxiliary in honor of men and women from Shirley who had served in World War II. The photo showed Shirley Griffin, Mary Sidilau, Sophie Day, Jessie and Frank Dempsey and Ray Farrer who all helped plant some of the trees. The idea of planting the trees followed a tradition started when Civil war Veterans planted trees from the Boston Post Road (route 2A) to the center of town. One of the plans we hope to do during the Anniversary year is to donate trees in honor of the Korean War, Vietnam War and Desert Storm. This is just in the planning stage, maybe three or four trees at the new school.
Jacqueleen Hunt and Westly Caissie, two of our Girl State candidates spoke at the monthly meeting about their experiences at Girl State. They said it was an unforgettable experience that they would always remember.
Florence McKenna and I attended the POW Memorial Ceremony at the Fort Devens cemetery. This a yearly event held by the Army and German and Italian Consulars from Boston. During WW II, German and Italian prisoners of War where interned at Fort Devens. Some who died during that period are buried at the military cemetery. Once a year wreaths are laid during a ceremony in their memory, just as wreaths are placed in foreign countries for our war dead. It’s a very moving ceremony and all Auxiliary members are invited.
The Children’s Halloween Party went well as usual. The judges had a hard time as all the kids looked so cute.
November
At the monthly meeting we inducted two new members Brigid Sponaugle and Marianne Coalter. (A third candidate, Robin Rose was unable to attend.)
Unit 183 is an official Korean War Memorial Partner. As such we all went to the Selectmen’s meeting and presented an official Korean War Commemorative Flag to the town of Shirley. This flag was hoisted during the annual Veteran’s Day Ceremony. During the severe winter weather the flag will be displayed at the War Memorial building.
December
We held our Christmas Pot Luck Supper and we want to thank Jessie Dempey for the Christmas Tree note hangers. It’s nice to know that even when we are apart that we still think of each other.
The Bedford VA Christmas Shop was excellent. We exceeded our quota of 42 gifts plus we
mailed another $45 to State for postage. Barbara Minezzi and I went down to set up tables the day after Thanksgiving and my daughter went along. She couldn’t get over what a thoughtful and touching program this is. To give a veteran in the hospital an opportunity to send a wrapped gift that he selects to his family is a personal touch in this busy world. I think the wrapping part gets you so involved. I want to thank Barbara Minezzi, Louise Minalga, Florida May, Marianne Coalter and Brigid Sponaugle for going down to VA Hospital in Bedford and helping with the wrapping of all those gifts from the 5th District Auxiliaries.
The Children’s Christmas party was well attended; in fact, I think it was one of the largest groups of children that I have seen. We sang Christmas songs while Dick Sawyer accompanied us on the piano. The kids munched on cookies and bags of candy and drinks.
As you know Guy Cote was ill and we had a new Santa who passed out some great toys. Then in an odd twist of fate, Guy passed away on Christmas Day. The Legion asked us to put on a coalition in Guy’s honor as he was Post Commander. I want to thank Sandy Jenness, Marianne Coalter, Kathy Schick and Donna Tessier who served the meal and everyone who baked . Guy’s daughter Allison sent us a warm thank you note.
January
We have added two more new members. Kathie Schick and Flo Neumyer. Flo is responsible for our new 21st century newsletter. All told we have fifty-two members. If you have a daughter, granddaughter or friend please mention joining the auxiliary or coming back if they have dropped out.
We have three major projects in the coming year.
April 26th — We will be hosting the Past Presidents Parley. If you have been a president, and most of you have, this will be a great time to see old friends. We took the liberty of putting all past presidents on the committee. We will be discussing this at February’s meeting.
June 14th — Our 80th Anniversary Dinner. We need pictures and articles about the auxiliary. Please bring these with you to our next meeting. We have decided to met even in the winter months. Committees will meet at six and the regular meeting will be at seven as usual.
October 11th —– Girls State Tea. A reunion of all the girls and women who have attended Girls State in the past years. We hope to hold this tea on homecoming weekend when the town of Shirley will be celebrating its 250th Anniversary.
October 12th — Homecoming Parade – Float or trolley for members to ride in parade.
Well that’s all for now. As you can see it’s going to be a busy but fun year. We know that the Auxiliary has been a strong example of Americanism to the town of Shirley and as the wives, daughters and sisters of Legionnaires we look forward to passing on the principles of the American Legion Auxiliary in the years to come.
Elaine DeCell
President Unit 183
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Schedule of Events
February 10th—
Hostess: Elaine DeCell, Flo Neumyer
February 22nd—
Unit
#247, Call Elaine for more details if interested in attending
March 10th—Luncheon
Meeting - Phoenix Restaurant, more ebdetails to follow
Hostess:
Alice Hebert, Anna Hebert, Gerry Hallet, Tiny English
March 16th—
#235,
Contact
Elaine if interested in attending
April 14th—6 pm Committee Meeting
Hostess:
April 26th—Past President’s Parley, Unit #183, more details
to follow
May 12th—6 pm Committee Meeting
Hostess:
Chris Saball, Theresa Bastine, Chris Mitchell
May 23rd & 24th—Poppy
Sales
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Auxiliary NEWS:
The forgotten war.
This is expression often used to referrer to the Korean War and unfortunately to
the men and women who served defending their country and way of life in that
war. Maybe it was because the Korean War followed WW II so closely and our
nation could not believe we where at war again or because the Korean War
veterans just wanted to come home and get on with their life's or that it was
referred to as "police action." Whatever the reason it soon became the
"forgotten war" but not to the families left behind or to the servicemen who
fought there and especially to the POWs.
The United States Department of Defense is commemorating the 50th Anniversary of
the Korean War. "A grateful Nation Remembers" and honors its Korean War
Veterans, their families and those who served on the home front for their
service and sacrifices from 1950 - 1953. The flag bears the dates the war
started and the anniversary dates 2000 to 2003 June 25th. It also says FREEDOM
IS NOT FREE. The flag will be presented by the American Legion Auxiliary Unit
183 and hoisted by the George J. Morin American Legion Post 183. This ceremony
will take place at the annual Veterans Days Ceremony at 11 o'clock on Veterans
Day November the 11th at Whitely Park. The public and all veterans are invited
to attend.
The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 183 of Shirley is proud and honored to
present an Official Korean War 50th Anniversary Flag to the Town of Shirley.
Unit 183 is celebrating it's 80th year of service to the community one part of
our Preamble to the Constitution says we are "To preserve the memories and
incidents of our associations during the great wars" (this was written before WW
II) with this in mind we hope that people will remember the so called
"forgotten war" and ask questions about it. In our preamble to the Constitution
we also swear to "safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice,
freedom and Democracy" most importantly "to promote peace and good will on
earth" so there may never be a "forgotten war" instead maybe mankind could
somehow learn to just forget war altogether.
Elaine D. DeCell
President Unit 183
10/31/02
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2/23/02
As a member of the world's largest patriotic organization you have
an advantage to take part in programs such as support of veterans at the
VA Hospital in Bedford, Girls and Boys State, Legion Baseball just to mention
a few. These programs not only encourage Americanism but instill
a love of God and Country values that have made the United States the great
country it is today. Remember you can make a difference as a member
of the American Legion Family.
Veteran's Day took on an extra meaning this year after the terrorist attack on Sept 11th. As a community we gather to honor our Servicemen and women past and present who have helped keep this country free. It was also the first time that the Legion family have all been present and taken an active part in the ceremony. It is really great to have an active SAL Unit. The Halloween Party and Christmas Parties for the town of Shirley were another good example of the Legion Family working together. We are looking forward to working together with the Legionnaires and the SALs to promote and support the American Legion's ideals and programs.
Elaine DeCell
Unit 183 President
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9/10/01
Dear Members of the American Legion Family (Legionaries, Auxiliary
members, SALs (son of Legionaries),
Every year the Bedford, VA asks the Auxiliaries in Mass. to contribute
and help out at the VA Hospital. This years wish list consists of the following
if you would like to make a contribution toward the cost of the following.
phone cards, a 55-gallon fish tank, coffee and supplies for AA meetings,
and an AM-FM cassette/CD player. The VAVS fund Raising Committee
will be asking for donations to the Wheelchair van fund. The Annual Veterans
Festival will be held on Thursday, Oct 25, 200 l at 6:00 p.m in the Hospital
gym. Please send checks to :
Department of Veterans Affairs:
Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Hospital:
200 Springs Rd (135)
Bedford Ma 01730-1198
Children and Youth: The Department Children and Youth project for this year will be Lowell Association for the Blind Beep Baseball Team and Youth Programs. This sounds like an interesting project if you are interested in more information on this please call me Elaine DeCell 798 582 7902.
Anyone interested and joining the Auxiliary just give me a call at 582 7902.
We met the 2nd Monday of the month at the War Memorial Building.