American Legion Auxiliary to meet Dec. 13

MADISON – Members of American Legion, Post 229 are following a busy schedule for the holidays. A recruitment meeting with the women’s auxiliary for the post is at the top of the schedule.

American Legion Auxiliary will meet Dec. 13 at 6 p.m. Organizers encourage prospective members to attend the session at Masonic Lunar Lodge, 740 Eastview Drive, in Madison. The lodge is located just east of Bob Jones High School.

“We had a great formation for the Ladies Auxiliary in the summer of 2017, but the group has been struggling to grow,” Post 229 Commander Larry Vannoy said. Vannoy encourages legionnaires to invite their spouse, sister, mother and daughters to come to the auxiliary’s meeting.

By attending, a woman will not be making a commitment to join, he said.

Jean Downs, member of Post 229 and American Legion Auxiliary, “has graciously offered to help get the post auxiliary active again. The meeting’s intent is to meet interested ladies, review the mission of the auxiliary and firm up leadership positions,” Vannoy said.

In addition, guests can meet Vickie Thrower-Mills, who serves as Alabama’s membership chairman for American Legion Auxiliary.

For eligibility requirements, women can join American Legion Auxiliary who are the grandmothers, mothers, sisters, and direct and adopted female descendants of members of American Legion.

In addition, women are eligible who are grandmothers, mothers, sisters, wives and direct and adopted female descendants of all men and women who were in the U.S. Armed Forces during any of the following periods. The service member may have died in the line of duty during such service, or, having received an Honorable Discharge, died after service:

* Gulf War / War on Terrorism — Aug. 2, 1990 to date of cessation.

* Panama — Dec. 20, 1989 to Jan. 31, 1990.

* Lebanon and Grenada — Aug. 24, 1982 to July 31, 1984.

* Vietnam War — Feb. 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975.

* Korean War — June 25, 1950 to Jan. 31, 1955.

* World War II — Dec. 7, 1941 to Dec. 31, 1946.

* World War I — April 6, 1917 to Nov. 11, 1918.

Any woman who is eligible to join the American Legion membership also is eligible to join the American Legion Auxiliary, whether or not she is an active member of American Legion. However, eligibility of her female relatives (sister, mother, direct descendants) depends upon her membership in American Legion.

For more information about the auxiliary, call Downs at 256-541-7873, email jean.downs@teledyne.com or visit the national website at alaforveterans.org.

Also on Dec. 13, a regular membership meeting for American Legion, Post 229 will be held at 7 p.m. at Lunar Lodge.

“We are placing wreaths at veterans’ grave sites on Dec. 15 at 10 a.m. We will meet Madison Memory Gardens on Hughes Road. We have approximately 500 wreathes to place. Your participation will be greatly appreciated,” Legionnaire spokesperson Richard L. Blanton Jr. said.

For more information, visit AmercanLegionPost229.org or Facebook/American Legion Post 229.