This past week I returned from our 7th American Legion yearly cruise we put together to of course enjoy life and each other, but mainly to raise funds for our veteran programs and children and youth programs. It has personally been a rewarding experience for my husband, David, and me, but this year's cruise brought along with it yet another dynamic force that made me once more sit up and take notice of our wonderful country and all its attributes. The force came this time from the eye of our youngest son, Matthew, who along with his lovely new bride Theresa, had come along for this year's cruise, as did many other of our travelers bring family. After a day at sea with us developing a great rapport with the other travelers and enjoying all the beauty around us, we went into Grand Cayman Island followed by Jamaica. That evening my son came to our room saying, "Mom, you know this is the first time I have ever been out of the United States in my 40 years and I felt in my heart that there is no place on earth like the United States of America. The beauty God gave our world was all around us as it is everywhere, but seeing these ports and the structure of their economy, education and living, etc. I can honestly say that even in these hard times, Mom, there is nowhere like the good old U.S.A. Our poorest of people live better than these people. ...more

February 10, 2009

As a bar manager, I would like to personally thank all the members of American Legion Post 69, who so graciously donated to the fundraiser for the domestic violence shelter. ...more

December 31, 2008

As District 8 president for the American Legion Auxiliary, I have been receiving many calls on how to get Christmas cards and phone cards for our wounded warriors to be able to call home for the holidays. ...more

November 27, 2008

In these hard times it is great to see that the human spirit is still alive and well. Upon hearing that the Hansen House would now be for teenage girls that were hard to place, the Avon Park American Legion Auxiliary decided to start a fundraiser and drive to get organizations to re-do the bedrooms to be suitable for young ladies and make them feel at home. First we had a fundraiser dinner, then a dinner theater bus trip and then watched as many of our good members and friends stepped forward with donations and physical help. We then contacted many churches and service groups hoping they would also adopt a girl's bedroom or bath. ...more

February 2, 2008

It was with much pleasure that I received a thank you e-mail from Col. James Purvis, saying how thankful he was of the five boxes full of goodies that our American Legion Auxiliary Unit 69 had sent to the troops. Purvis further said that he would see that his forward units, who don't get much mail, got the boxes and that only someone who has served in the military would know the full impact of what the boxes mean. Purvis is the son of Gayle Purvis Nyburg and brother of Lt. Jess Purvis with the sheriff's office. ...more

December 5, 2007