News Editor

Remembering those who fought to preserve our freedom is an important job of the American Legion Post 70 Auxiliary’s (ALA) job.

On Jan. 10 members of the ALA gathered at Memorial Park in Troy to place the name of a Vietnam veteran on the Veteran’s Memorial. Toby Griffin and his wife, Jewel ,placed her brother, Michael Vance’s name on the bronze plaque which lists the names of deceased Korean War and Vietnam War veterans. There is another plaque on the memorial which lists the names of deceased WW I and WW II veterans.

"Only the names of deceased veterans are placed on the plaques," said ALA chaplain Dorothy Jinright

"We also put their name on one of our flags, which are put out at the park on four holidays and at special times like on Sept. 11."

Jinright said the ALA is currently trying to raise money to purchase two more bronze plaques for the memorial because the two

that are there are full. Because the plaques are made of bronze they are very expensive. She said the ALA is seeking donations to help with the purchase of the new plaques.

According to Jinright, the ALA works year round to help the American Legion take care of veterans in hospitals and who are sick, and to provide assistance to their families who need it.

She said one of their largest projects each year is to collect money in order to provide nice gifts for the veterans who are in the VA Hospital in Tuskegee every Christmas.

"This past year we also provided every veteran in the hospital with their own baseball cap," said Jinright. "Almost every one of them indicated they wanted a nice baseball cap to wear and we set out to do that for them. It would surprise you the number of donated caps we received from companies who responded to our call for help," she said.

Jinright said the ALA also gives the veterans at the hospital such items as heavy socks to keep their feet warm, tee shirts, and fruit and candy, according to what the hospital allows. "It’s a year-long job, but we enjoy it," she added.

Jinright said the ALA is responsible for taking care of Memorial Park, a job which they take very seriously. On Memorial Day and Veterans Day they conduct special ceremonies in honor of those who fought in all of the wars since WW I.

Other activities the ALA sponsors include Girls State and Boys State and several scholarship opportunities. "We also help children who are in distress," said Jinright.

This year’s officers of the ALA are: Faye Pittman, president; Jean Gibson, vice president; Diane Flowers, secretary/treasurer; and Jinright, who serves as chaplain.

Donations to help with the purchase of the plaques for the memorial can be sent to: American Legion Auxiliary, 204 Homewood Ave., Troy, AL 36081.