FOREVER FOR VETERANS

BY LYNN BASH, 2010-2011 DEPARTMENT OF ALASKA PRESIDENT

REFLECTIONS OF JULY&..Many Units reported having BBQs, picnics, car washes, parades and community trash pickups. Units reported there was some "serious" fishing also done this month with more to come next month. Thank you for honoring and serving our Veterans and their families.    

JUNIORS&..August is Junior Activities Month. My goal this year as Department President is to sign up as many Juniors as we can and start as many Junior Auxiliary Units as possible. I was sitting in my doctors waiting room "waiting as usual", when I picked up a magazine and began to thumb through it. I came across and article entitled "Teens in Trouble". I read the article and here are two of the stats that were listed:

1.       35% of runaway and homeless youths have attempted suicide at some point in their lives.

2.       Every year, between 1.6 million and 2.8 million kids run away from home or are asked to leave.

Think about these staggering numbers; and, remember our youth are our future. Lets start signing up these Juniors and saving them and our country.

Reasons for joining:   

Spirit of Youth Program  Provides scholarships;

Freedom Foundation - Scholarships for students to learn history of our country.

Girls State/Girls Nation - High School juniors learn process of Government. They run for political office, campaign and meet state political figures. Two "senators" are selected to participate in Girls Nation in Washington DC., where they learn about government on a national level; and,

Junior Patch Program - Earn patches in many Auxiliary programs (i.e. Americanism, Community Service, Leadership).

In addition to the above, Juniors can do some many wonderful things for the Veterans and their families in their communities. Ideas are endless; but here are some. Adopt a Highway for cleanup; sing songs and Christmas carols for aged, blind and shut-ins and at Senior Center; dress and donate dolls for needy children in community or hospital; send cards to Juniors who are ill; distribute poppies; collect clothing and food for the needy; donate toys; baby-sit; write to soldiers fighting oversees; mow yards and pull weeds for elderly; and, adopt a senior citizen, a handicapped child or an orphan by remembering his or her birthday, Easter and Christmas with a visit and small gift.

I want the Legion, Auxiliary, SAL and ALRiders to come together in a combined effort to sign up Juniors. We can mentor them and nurture them in the American way, under God and for our Country. As I said before, normally for the cost of a pack of cigarettes or a couple drinks you can pay a Juniors membership fee for one year. 

SO, WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?   I will have Junior membership applications available at my visitations!!!!!