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Joint district meeting slated

PARKERSBURG — Parkersburg American Legion Auxiliary Unit 15 at its September monthly meeting announced plans for the Joint Fourth District meeting on Sept. 28 at American Legion Post 15.

The meeting will be hosted by the auxiliary and the post.

Registration will be held 9-10 a.m. and a joint opening will follow. Department officers are scheduled to attend.

Department Commander Barbara Burdette of Lewisburg and Auxiliary Department President Sharon Kauffman of Martinsburg are serving on the state level this year. Fourth District commander is Bob Schoolcraft of Parkersburg and Fourth District president is Patsy Young-Greiner of Parkersburg. Marianne Bennett is Post 15 commander and Greiner serves as Unit 15 president.

Dianne McClung, past national historian and past department/unit 15 president, attended the National Convention Aug. 23-29 in Indianapolis. McClung said changes approved by the American Legion affected auxiliary members’ eligibility. “Wives” was changed to “spouses.” Spouses of a veteran can now join the auxiliary.

Stu Bennett of Post 15 was the first to join Unit 15 under the change and is the state’s first auxiliary spouse member. Bennett is the post adjutant, a Sons of the American Legion member and is canteen manager. His wife, Marianne Bennett, is Post 15 commander and unit second vice president.

Newly installed Auxiliary National President Nicole Clapp of Iowa presented Mike Rohan, husband of past national commander Denise Rohan of Wisconsin, with the first spouse membership in the organization at the National Convention.

Another change was to open up the eligibility for legionnaires. If a person has served in federal active duty in the United States armed forces since Dec. 7, 1941, and was honorably discharged or is still serving is eligible to join the Legion. Before war eras were defined but now eligibility is open from Dec. 7, 1941, until the date of the end of hostilities as determined by the government of the United States.

On Oct. 14 a business meeting with an initiation of new members will be held with light refreshments to follow. Members who have not been initiated can participate in the ceremony and should contact Greiner.

Members approved a donation to buy candy for the Trunk or Treat Night sponsored by the National Guard at 6-7 p.m. Oct. 19 at the armory on Blizzard Drive.

Dawn Lutes, national security chairman, said Sherry Hamilton won the patriotic quilt that was raffled to fund boxes going to deployed service personnel. The proceeds and other donations received will be used to buy supplies, pay shipping charges and Christmas cards which will be mailed to National Guard members and other veterans.

Since the cards need to be mailed by late October or early November, a card signing event will be set for members to help in this project.

Bennett and Leah Metz are spearheading the effort to make lap robes for VA hospital patients and other veterans. Anyone interested in learning to crochet granny squares for the project can contact Bennett for lessons.

Coffee was purchased for the local VA clinic.

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