T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY From left to right, Roseanne Anderson of the Central Iowa Quilt Sew-Ciety, Sue Kitzman of the Conrad American Legion Auxiliary Unit 681, Marshalltown Combined VFW/American Legion Honor Guard Commander Bob Miller, Deloris Clayton of the VFW Auxiliary Post 839 and Marshall County American Legion Auxiliary President Deb Miller pose for a photo in front of the Iowa Veterans Home on Monday. All of their organizations will be honored with Governor’s Volunteer Awards during a ceremony set to be held at Ankeny Centennial High School on Thursday afternoon.

ANKENY — A total of six area organizations dedicated to veterans issues will be recognized with Governor’s Volunteer Awards during a ceremony set for Thursday at 3:30 p.m. at Ankeny Centennial High School.

The Central Iowa Quilt Sew-Ciety, Conrad American Legion Auxiliary Unit 681, the Conrad Junior Legion Auxiliary, the Marshall County American Legion Auxiliary, the Marshalltown Combined VFW/American Legion Honor Guard and the VFW Auxiliary Post 839 are all set to be honored for their volunteering efforts at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, and each has found unique ways to contribute to the facility.

But in classic volunteer fashion, Sue Kitzman, the president of the Conrad American Legion Auxiliary, just wishes she could do more. Conrad, the Marshall County Legion Auxiliary and the Marshalltown VFW Auxiliary help to put on bingo on different days at IVH. The Conrad Junior Auxiliary has also decorated tables at the facility.

“I think it almost makes me feel uncomfortable because we never quite do as much as we’d like to do even though we do more than most people do,” she said. “But I always set big goals for our group, and then I say ‘Well, we didn’t really do all that much.'”

The Combined Honor Guard, under the leadership of Commander Bob Miller, performed over 100 funeral ceremonies in 2022 — both for veterans and law enforcement officers — along with special events on Veterans Day and Memorial Day, and they’ve been involved in a host of activities at IVH, including putting bookcases together for veterans and running a carnival and games.

The Quilt Sew-Ciety is best known for distributing Quilts of Valor to local veterans, and Roseanne Anderson, speaking on behalf of the group, described the feelings that come with the presentation ceremonies.

“It’s very moving. It’s an emotional time when we hand these out to the people,” she said.

The Marshall County Legion Auxiliary, led by President Deb Miller, also helps out with bingo as well as the carnival, the foreign food fair and a variety of donations throughout the year.

“The community’s been very supportive. We’re out there always doing fundraisers, and the community’s been very supportive,” Deb Miller said.

Despite everything they’ve already accomplished, the leaders of these organizations don’t plan to slow down anytime soon, and they’ve still got plenty of goals left to achieve. The Quilt Sew-Ciety, for example, will be partnering with the Iowa State Fair to sponsor a Quilts of Valor judging contest. The Conrad Auxiliary is working to teach kids flag etiquette, and the Marshall County Auxiliary is ramping up efforts to get a float in the Oktemberfest parade this year.

“We finally got a trailer with bales of hay that we can sit on so that they don’t have to walk and then try to get more of our units in the county, get our name out there so people realize who we are, what we do and how they can help,” Deb Miller said.

The effort that they have put in has not gone unnoticed, and IVH Commandant Todd Jacobus is especially appreciative.

“The organizations being recognized do incredible work in support of veterans and our communities. They have a direct and very positive impact on the vibrancy of the Iowa Veterans Home and quality of life of our residents,” he said.

While the groups have different names, serve different areas and in some cases have different functions, they’re united under the common mission of serving veterans and making sure they never feel forgotten.

“Every veteran has a story, and you just have to take the time to listen and encourage him or her to tell you that story,” Kitzman said.

And of course, they’re always seeking to recruit, especially as membership in veterans organizations and their auxiliaries continues to dwindle.

“Somebody’s gotta do it,” Bob Miller said.

The ceremony Thursday will be open to the public.

——

Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or

rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.