CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Pictured are attendees to the Gladbrook Legion Appreciation Soup supper for Volunteer Ambulance and Fire Department.

GLADBROOK — Sunshine has finally warmed enough to melt some of the snow from last FridayÕs snowstorm, so the Gladbrook Legion welcomed a good crowd to the LegionÕs annual Volunteer Appreciation soup supper for the local fire department and ambulance crew.

Organizers were pleased to meet several of those young men who had transferred to the Gladbrook fire crew from Lincoln. Lincoln is no longer an active Fire Department but will be able to use the equipment for mutual aid situations.

President Jeanne and Commander Ron welcomed the guests followed with prayer by Chaplain Joyce Swangel. Bob Knaack and Terry Schmitz were in the kitchen and had fixed the oyster stew and chili soups.

Kay Lowry presented her Legislative Report to the joint group reporting that the Board of Veterans Affairs had surpassed its 2021 goal of attacking the backlog of veterans legacy appeals. In 2017 a new law was passed with a new method of handling appeals for veterans who had original VA claims denied which resulted in two stacks of claims to be processedÉthe older ones were called Legacy and the newer appeals called the AMA. The good news is that by Dec. 1, 2021, the Legacy claims were completed resulting in $47 million awarded in past claims to Veterans.

Mental illness and suicide among returning service personnel continues to be of great concern. An organization called Gold Star Wives is comprised of widows of those killed in duty or having died of a service-connected disease. It is based in the DC area and the main focus is to lobby Congress for benefits for these families, provide excellent information and be a giant support group.

Lowry mentioned the five signs of emotional suffering aimed to improve mental health and emotional wellbeing of all persons which are: noting a personality change, change in behavior as temper or agitation, withdrawn emotionally, poor self-care or judgement and a felling of hopelessness. She also mentioned five healthy habits of improving emotional well being: encourage those troubled to think of their own care, not someone elseÕs, check in with a trusted person, pay attention to relationships, practice self-care and know the five signs of emotional suffering, as this is not a diagnosis. More information is available at www.giveanhour.org

The organizations then proceeded to separate meetings. Nine Auxiliary members including five officers answered roll call. The secretaryÕs report was read and approved. President Jeanne gave the finance report in the absence of Treasurer Trudi Scott.

A picture of Past National President Nik and parents taken at her National Convention in Phoenix was added to this report for the records.

Sue Koster education chairman presented treats to teachers and staff at GMG in October for Education Month and a thank you was read in appreciation from them.

Activities coming are:

• SALÕs Fish Fry (postponed from the 14th (due to the snowstorm) will be on Jan. 21, drive-by serving from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. from the Memorial Building. Note $15 per serving.

• Third District Spring Conference on March 19 with Legion members meeting at the Tama Post

• Home and the Auxiliary at the Toledo Post Home with registration starting at 8 a.m. Lunch provided…$7.

• Junior Conference at Gladbrook tentatively set for 11 a.m. on April 3, registration, lunch and meeting to follow. Maya Goos serves as Third District Junior President. Bring your Junior members to this informative meeting and encourage them to participate in being an officer.

• PNP Nik will be attending the Dept. Legislative Day at the Des Moines Capital on Jan. 19.

The unit welcomes new members, Jackie Grimmius Quick, a 1953 GHS grad from Arkansas who has resettled to Independent Living following the death of her husband and Suzanne Goos Pfisterer of Mystic Conn, granddaughter of the first Legion Commander, Lee Engel and daughter of Roger and Mary Lee Goos.

Meeting adjourned