Manhasset American Legion Auxiliary Unit 304

Four of the six young women who represented Manhasset Unit 304 at Empire Girls State this year attended the meeting held by Unit 304 on September 17th.  Each of them spoke of their experiences during the week spent at Brockport in which they gained an in-depth knowledge of our nation’s two-party system through very hands-on activities.  They created a fictional 51st state. were members of counties named for women who are prominent in United States history, ran for office, created bills that were presented to the body of 360 young women, and learned the fate of their bills in the legislature.  Each spoke very highly of the program and of the other young women they met from throughout New York State.  They stressed that the knowledge about government will aid them as they reach voting age and beyond and the self-knowledge they gained will carry them through their lives.

Left to Right:  Pat O’Brien (President, Unit 304), Linda Clarke and Ann Marie Moschitta (Co-Chairpersons for Empire Girls State), EGS Citizens Emily Song and Jenna Curran (St. Mary’s High School), EGS Citizens Caroline Ryan and Sofia Matos (Manhasset High School), and Elizabeth Parrella ( 1st Vice President and Treasurer, Unit 304)

A Memorial Service is held on a rotating basis in a Church in Manhasset each year on the Sunday before Memorial Day. Members of the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary participated together with members of the Congregational Church in this joint remembrance.  A gathering followed the service in one of the Church’s rooms and refreshments were served.  Anyone from the Manhasset community may attend.

Some members of Unit 304 wait with Post 304 Legionnaires for the start of the Service at the Congregational Church Memorial Day

Memorial Day Parade

The Memorial Day Parade which is sponsored by the American Legion annually in Manhasset took place as scheduled.  One member provided and drove her award-winning Cobra Mustang for the Poppy Queen in the Parade.  Others marched and attended the memorial service.  Following the Parade, a memorial service was held, wreaths were placed at monuments, the names of those veterans who have died during the year were read, and awards were given to high school students.  A celebration followed at the American Legion Hall for all American Legion and Auxiliary members and their families, for our active service personnel and for community members.

Awaiting the start of the Parade

Junior members in their new uniforms carry the new banner of Unit 304 in the Parade.  A Junior and Senior member form the Color Guard accompanied by an SAL member with their new Banner and a Junior member with their new Banner.  Senior members march behind.

Manhasset High School Sophomore and Honorary Junior Auxiliary President for Unit 304, Kaitlyn Clarke, served as our Poppy Queen in this year’s Memorial Day Parade

Pat O’Brien, President, addresses the attendees at the Memorial Service and Awards Ceremony at Manhasset High School

Pat O’Brien, President, and Elizabeth Parrella, 1^st Vice Presiddent, present Manhasset High School senior, Abigail Kolyer, with the American Legion Auxiliary Good Deed Award for her work with senior citizens suffering from dementia.

Pat and Elizabeth with the awardees for 2019 (in no particular order): Poppy Queen, Kaitlyn Clarke; EGS Citizens, Caroline Ryan and Sofia Matos of Manhasset High School and Jenna Curran and Francene Olegario of St. Mary’s High School; Americanism Award recipients, Kristin D’Angelo of Manhasset High School and Rachel Jang of St. Mary’s High School; and Abigail Kolyer, Good Deed awardee

The Junior Auxiliary worked with our senior members to create 26 Diaper Cakes and 32 wash cloth Teddy Bears for the “Welcome Baby Tea” held for 24 female veterans who had just given birth or were due to give birth in the near future. This was sponsored by the Women’s Wellness Center at the Northport VA Medical Center on May 16th.

Members shopped and met to package gifts for the “Welcome Baby Tea.” These consisted of a stroller, Pac ‘n Play, bath robes for the Moms, diapers, onesies, baby wipes, Desitin, baby shampoo, thermometers, handmade blankets and sweater sets donated by our partner “Care to Knit,” and pacifiers.  Personal gift items were also provided for the “Moms to Be.”  A local troop of Brownies created “cupcake socks” by folding baby socks and placing them in cupcake papers to make them look like real cupcakes.  All items were brought to the Northport VA Medical Center (NVAMC) for the Welcome Baby Tea which was fabulous.  The “Moms to Be” were given lunch in addition to the many gifts.  There was also a program given by the different departments within the NVAMC.  They centered around care after birth, breast feeding and proper nutrition.  The prosthesis department gave the ‘Moms to Be” breast pumps and the nutrition department gave them recipes for healthy eating along with a sample of a healthy snack made from oatmeal.  It was a wonderful day.

Joan Deignan, Dale Telmer, Marianne Buzzitta and Sue Neville (2nd Vice President) were part of the team shopping and packing gifts for our female veterans.  Sue served as the liaison with the Women’s Wellness Center.  

A conference room was transformed into a beautiful setting for a beautiful event.

We thank everyone who supported this particular project.  We are also very grateful to all those who make donations to us throughout the year.  Your generosity enables us to provide support, not only for this event, but for our veterans all year long.