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Gladbrook Legion and Auxiliary holds Christmas Candlelight meeting

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Pictured from left to right are Gladbrook Auxiliary Juniors: Bryleigh Bartel, Kinley Miller, Emma Bauer, Brayla Davis, Kenzie Bartel, Alaney Sienknecht, Third District Junior President Maya Goos and Adelyn Sienknecht who presented the program at the Christmas Candlelight meeting.

GLADBROOK — Iowa residents have enjoyed a very nice fall into winter season with 40-50 degree temperatures and clear days, but 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 8 found the Gladbrook Legion and Auxiliary donning winter coats to attend the annual Christmas Candlelight meeting and program by the Junior members. A light supper was served by Auxiliary ladies, Kathy Vavroch, Barb Brereczki and Kay Lowry.

President Jeanne Paustian welcomed Legion, Auxiliary and Junior members to this festive event with prayer offered by Chaplain Joyce Swangel. Junior Leaders assisted with the rendition of “How Grinch stole Christmas’ put on the Juniors followed by all enjoying a sing-a-long of Christmas Carols with Ann Vibbard at the piano. The gals presented all Legionnaires with a special gift and ‘thank you’ for service recognition.

The Legion will be putting together and delivering Christmas fruit boxes to members on Dec. 11. The Auxiliary will be furnishing Walmart gift cards for those Legion members living away. The next meeting is a joint soup supper for the community fire departments and ambulance personnel volunteers with new members recognized at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 17. They are serving oyster stew, chili and potato soup.

The Auxiliary members heard correspondence from Jan Mehaffey Pryor, of Des Moines NM, thank yous from Iowa City VA for crocheted plastic bag sleeping mats donated by Parkersburg Unit and Gladbrook members Marilyn Carstensen and Cathy Barnes, 12 dozen cookies were delivered to Iowa Veterans Home for its Christmas family Open house. Popcorn balls for the Commercial Club Santa Sacks were done on Nov. 28 in time for Gladbrook’s tree lighting. June Klinefelter made the cheese pop treats for Westbrook Nursing Home residents.

A treasurers report was given by Trudi Scott. Membership is nearly complete with 228 including four PUFL’s sent in. The Unit has two new senior members: Delaine Aves and Melanie Oderwald and one Junior as we welcome babe Ava Joy Eilers, daughter of Brad and Leah Eilers to the roster.

The 9th Kids Shopping Day event sponsored by the Children and Youth Committee of the Auxiliary with much help from other organizations and individuals in the Gladbrook community will be held on Dec. 11 with registration at 9 a.m. at Peace Church. The Lions Club is also holding its annual ‘bean soup/chili/potato” soup dinner from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Memorial Building on Dec. 11.

Paustian reported that 80 senior citizens came to enjoy the Senior citizens turkey banquet at the City Center amidst the Festival of Trees on Dec 3. Several carry-out dinners were also delivered. Linda Goos and Rose Russell provided a program of Christmas Carols.

Gladbrook will be recognizing 100 years of Corn Carnival in 2022 and have dated Christmas ornaments and a new cookbook available for the occasion. Contact Paustian at Peace United Church of Christ if interested.

The meeting isn’t complete without the ‘take-away’ gift exchange which always gets a bit testy at times. Meeting adjourned with greetings all around for a healthy and happy Christmas and blessings of peace and support for Veterans and military now serving.

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