The Solon American Legion Auxiliary recently honored six members with 50 or more years ofservice. Back row (from left) – Gail Ott (74 years) and Mary Kucera (64 years). Front row (from left) – Rosemary Erenberger (52 years), Linda Linderbaum (52 years), Phyllis Fiala (64 years) and Jean Stinocher (62 years)
SOLON — Monday, June 2, the Solon American Legion recognized 27 members for their continuous membership. Six members of the Legion Auxiliary were recognized for 50+ years – Gail Ott (74 years), Mary Kucera (64 years), Phyllis Fiala (64 years), Jean Stinocher (62 years), Linda Linderbaum (52 years), and Rosemary Erenberger (52 years).
The Auxiliary is always looking for new members as well as transfers. Membership is offered to anyone (male or female) who is a family member of an active military person, or a family member of a veteran of any branch of our armed services or a deceased veteran.
The Solon American Legion Auxiliary was chartered on Feb. 16, 1925.
The Solon Auxiliary activities center on three major aspects – 1, veterans and their families; 2, our community; and 3, youth and education.
Solon American Legion Auxiliary activities within the past year
Veterans and their families: Our unit purchased 34 pairs of slip-on shoes for the VA hospital in Iowa City. Also this past winter, with the assistance of donations from St. Mary Knights of Columbus, we purchased 52 2X and 3X hooded sweatshirts and 60 pairs of socks for the VA hospital. Our unit decorates the doors of veterans at the Solon Care Center throughout the year in celebration of several holidays. The unit wraps and decorates 100 boxes of Kleenex for all of the residents of the Care Center complex at Christmas time. We promote Poppy donations by delivering donation canisters and poppies to various businesses in Solon as well as at the firemen’s breakfast every year. We recognized our women veterans with a reception in June. We made a donation to the Hero Banner fund to assist families who don’t have the funds to honor a family member.
Community: We prepare, serve and clean-up at the Legion’s Beef Days stand. We prepare and serve for funerals, anniversaries, and other events at the Legion. We honor our teachers and school staff during National Education Week every year. Hundreds of hours are given to our churches, our library, and other events in Solon throughout the year.
Youth and education: Each year we award six $500.00 scholarships to graduating students at Solon High School. We have had Auxiliary members visit 2nd grade classrooms to educate the students on Americanism, followed by saying the Pledge of Allegiance. This past year our unit donated six books to the Intermediate and Middle School libraries on Americanism. We have a yearly Poppy Poster contest in May for 2nd and 3rd graders with the winning posters hung in the Legion. Other posters are placed at businesses throughout Solon. We provide “safety” handouts to all elementary students at Halloween time. We prepare, serve, and clean-up at the annual spaghetti supper for the entire football team and their coaches during Military Week in September, and we also provide and serve a luncheon to our teens who attend the weekend Hunters Safety course.
If you are interested in joining the Solon American Legion Auxiliary, please feel free to call the Legion, 319-624-2277, for information. Our Auxiliary meets the first Monday of each month (except January) at 7:00 p.m.