Unit 304 recognized three members of our youth community for the good works they perform related to the mission of the American Legion Auxiliary. Each received a Certificate of Appreciation and a gift card to Amazon. Their family members also attended our Unit meeting on April 20th where we had a special cake and other refreshments for all.
Each of the students individually approached us and told us what they were able to do to assist us, if we wanted their help. All of them succeeded in their efforts for us.
Our senior awardee was one of our Empire Girls State citizens last year and also our Poppy Queen in the Memorial Day Parade. Julia Henry spoke with the advisor of her Social Studies Honor Society and asked for approval to have the members help obtain items for our troops in Afghanistan. She planned an afternoon at Raindew with the members. They made flyers, set up tables to collect items and stayed at Raindew soliciting the support of customers for our military. Some people shopped at Raindew and donated items. Others made monetary donations. The Honor Society used the donations to shop at Raindew for items on the list. They then wheeled shopping carts full of supplies to the American Legion hall and helped to pack them for mailing. They filled at least 20 boxes.
Our junior awardee helped at several of our collection drives and packing marathons for our troops in Afghanistan. When Lauren Moschitta heard about the November standdown, she came up with a plan to have a clothing drive. She prepared a “Letter to the Editor” for the Manhasset Press announcing the drive, produced a flyer, and set up donation sites. She also spoke with the manager of Raindew who donated many new warm items. She collected 276 articles of warm clothing with a value of approximately $2,825. She then packed up the items with the assistance of her family and two unit members and donated the clothing to us for distribution at the standdown in November. She also followed up with a thank you letter that appeared in the Manhasset Press.
Our sophomore awardee has taken our Unit into this century because of his technological expertise. Daniel Miller asked if we would like to have our own website. So we began to work on it together at his home. We spent many nights around the dining room table so there is a piece of each member of his family in the final product. He was a great architect for the website. He gave us a living website that allows us to add to it with each new event or project that we undertake. It actually serves as a history of our year. We thank Dan for bringing us into the present technologically and for giving us a platform to help the community understand our commitment to veterans, God and country.
