CLARION The regular monthly meeting of the Spc. Ross A. McGinnis Veterans of Foreign War Post 2145 Auxiliary was held Jan. 8 at the Clarion VFW, 603 Liberty Street in Clarion.
During the meeting, many upcoming activities and projects were discussed.
At the meeting, two applications for membership were approved. Bobbie Lawrence and Sharon Wagner were named the auxiliary representatives to the Butler Veterans Administration.
At the auxiliary post, donations of socks, hats and gloves are coming in and will be taken to the mid-winter conference. The auxiliary approved $375 to fund this project for next year.
The auxiliary’s visits to four area nursing homes with gifts requested by veterans were well received. They had also shipped a care package to veterans deployed overseas, and another one to the Butler VA Domiciliary. The auxiliary would like to acknowledge Tractor Supply for their candy donation which was included in the Butler package.
The Ted Lawrence Scholarship is sponsored by the post, auxiliary and club. Three scholarships in the amounts of $1,000, $600 and $400 will be awarded to the authors of the winning essays. This year’s theme is: “How does the media influence patriotism?” Seniors in Clarion County high schools who plan to continue on in post-secondary education are encouraged to apply.
Entries of relatives of post or auxiliary members will also be accepted. Application forms have been sent to the guidance counselors in all seven county high schools.
Deadline for submission is March 1. Scholarships will be presented at the annual awards ceremony of the VFW Post 2145 to be held on March 11.
Another opportunity for students to shine will be the “Illustrating America” poster contest that will be open to children in grades 3 through 5 of the Immaculate Conception School.
During the Christmas season of 2022, ten families of veterans were helped in various ways, including requested items and holiday meals.
This past season, the VFW Post 2145 bus was a Wreaths Across America escort for the truck bringing the wreaths on Dec. 14, 2022. The Limestone and Clarion Fire Companies were also part of the escort. The escort began at the Strattanville Interstate-80 exit and continued to I.C. School, Clarion Area High School, the Clarion and Immaculate Conception cemeteries, and Keystone High School.
Auxiliary members were part of this escort and participated in the official laying of the wreaths on Dec. 17. The members also helped to remove the wreaths on Jan. 16. The auxiliary has made a donation to fund 75 wreaths for the upcoming 2023 Wreaths Across America project.
Another topic at the meeting was the Snowflake dinner and dance which will be held on Feb. 25 at the VFW, 603 Liberty Street in Clarion. Doors will open at 5 p.m. and dinner will be served from 5 to 6:30 p.m. after which the dancing will begin. This event is open to the public and tickets are available at the VFW and the Liberty House Restaurant. The cost is $20 for single; $30 for couple and music is provided by Two for Flinching.
Additionally, tickets for the May 6 Cash Bash are now available. The cost is $25 which includes dinner and a chance of winning some cash. There are a total of 38 drawings totaling $15,250 to be given away. Doors open at 11 a.m. The final drawing is at 6 p.m.
Winners of the 35 regular drawings need not be present to win. The three “early bird” drawings of $1,000 each will be held at 11:30 a.m., noon and 12:30 p.m. Participants must be present to win an early bird prize. Everyone is invited to come and have a day of fun.
Many other service projects are in the planning stages by the auxiliary.
Those wishing to join the VFW auxiliary must be an immediate relative of a veteran who is eligible for membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Interested individuals who are eligible and interested in joining in the VFW Auxiliary mission of serving all veterans and contributing to the community, should stop at the Clarion VFW located at 603 Liberty Street to make an inquiry and pick up an application.
