The Independent-Record from Helena, Montana · Page 11

Section Two inftepettktti Itotfr Section Two Vol. IX-No. 179 Helena, Montana, Sunday, May 18, 1952 Price Five Cento Legion Auxiliary Poppy Day Saturday to Honor War MAYOR J. R. KAISERMAN has again proclaimed Saturday, May 24, as American Legion Poppy Day. He is shown last year as he purchased the first of 5,000 poppies from Margaret Hoffman, right, who was Jocal chairman. Mrs. H. L. Holm is shown standing at left She is state poppy chairman. Mayor Kaiserman has urged the support of the sale "in memory of those citizens of Helena who made the supreme acrifice for America." "Wearing the memorial poppy is an individual tribute to the war dead, showing that we remember and are grateful for the their sacrifices on our behalf," the mayor said. Legion Auxiliary Sponsoring hne. Girls State Believing that patriotic educa- 'on is the fir?t line of defense, members of the American Legion auxiliary instituted Girls State four -.ears ago as a means of giving inspiration and citizenship training 'o outstanding girls of the state. Every June for one week girls gather at one of the Montana "olleges 'to participate in actual ·ampaigning and voting for city, county and state officers. Two girls TC picked by delegates to attend lirls Nation in Washington, D. C. Social activities during Girls l a t e include a banquet, tea, picnic nd other similar affairs. The 1951 enclave uas conducted at Rocky 'ountain college in Billings. Girls are chosen by the faculty om the junior class of the high ·hool. Final voting on candidates by the junior class girls. Candidates must be of high charter with ability and willingness i adapt themselves to the require- icnts of Girls State and to co- oerate with their fellow students, ccondly, they are chosen for their -adership ability, and third, for nndards of scholarship. Delegates for this year are Shir v Kasperick, Cathedral high ·hool, and Arlene LaFromboise nd Carolyn Wertz, both of Helena tgh school. Alternates are Janet lunzenrider, Mary Jo Morton and lamona Day. Evidence of the success of Girls itate corres from reports of girls tlending the first few years. Girls avc increaser qualities of leader- hip, reached a marked maturity nd have shown greater interest in -hool and community activities fter they returned home. Other groups which assist the axillary in the Girls State project re the Past Presidents' parley, lelena Woman's club, Daughtejs if the Nile and Helena Soroptimist lub. De Walt DISTRICT PRESIDENT -- Mrs. Jack Naegele has been elected district president of the American Legion auxiliary. The election was held early this month. DISTRICT OFFICER--Mrs. John Casebolt, outgoing president of Lewis and Clark Unit No. 2, American Legion auxiliary, was elected district secretary-treasurer recently at a meeting in Deer Lodge. Another member of the local unit, Mrs. Jack Naegele, was elected district president. 'id You Know? That when you wear an Ameri- ;m Legion Auxiliary poppy, you ionor the dead and help the living; hat auxiliary memorial poppies are hand made by disabled veterans; that the work of making the poppies is a Godsend to many hundreds of disabled veterans, giving 'hem interesting activity, encour- igcment and much needed money; t h a t every penny received in Pop- iy Day contributions throughout the nation goes for disabled veter- ind and needy children of voter- ins? If the water taken from them by evaporation did not return, our ·ccans would dry up in 3,000 years. PLAN POPPY ACTIVITIES--These three women have assisted Mrs. L. 0. Bradford, unit poppy chairman, with activities for the 1952 Poppy Day. Shown above, left to right, are Mrs. Robert Plunkett, poppy poster chairman; Mrs. Herb Kibler, member of the poppy sales committee, and Mrs. H. L. Holm, who is state poppy chairman. Occupational Therapy Value Found in Making Red Poppies The work of making poppies for the annual Poppy Day is considered highly valuable as occupational therapy, Mrs. H. L. Holm, state poppy chairman, has announced. The poppy project provides profitable employment for the idle hands of thousands of sick and disabled veterans each year. It is an encouraging experience for men who have no other way to earn money to be able to fashion the familiar little red crepe paper memorial flowers which are bought by auxiliary departments at the rate of two cents a poppy. Rehabilitation Among problems facing veterans of World war II and the Korean conflict, which the auxiliary tries to help solve, are the need for education, readjustment to civilian life and care of the families of the incapacitated. The job of rehabilitating the American veterans is the greatest public service the organization performs. Members feel it is a privilege as well as their responsibility. Expanding Service To serve the needs of the Korean war veterans, and yet maintain the standard of service to veterans of World cars I and II, the American Legion auxiliary is rapidly expand- ings its volunteer hospital workers' service. Hospital volunteers are auxiliary members who devote their time and effort to bring aid, comfort and recreation to veterans. Poppies Will Bloom on Lapels Throughout Nation Honoring Dead of Three Wars By Dorothy Helton Thirty million poppies will bloom on the lapels of Americans throughout the nation as America honors the dead of three wars on Poppy Day, next Saturday, May 24. Members of three generations of womanhood will distribute the poppies in Helena. They include wives and daughters of World war I veterans; mothers, wives and daughters of World war II veterans, and mothers and wives of Korean war veterans. Poppies for 1952 will once again be replicas of the wild European poppy which grew in such profusion in the battlefields and war cemeteries of France and Belgium, and which has been the memorial flower for the war dead throughout the English-speaking world since World war I. The custom of wearing a poppy in honor of the war dead was inspired by a poem written by the Canadian doctor-poet, Col. John McCrae, which begins, as every school child knows, "In Flanders' fields the poppies grow between the crosses, row on row . . ." Mrs. L. 0. Bradford has been named poppy chairman of the Lewis and Clark unit of the American Legion auxiliary. She is being assisted by Mrs. H. L. Holm, who is state poppy chairman; Mrs. Herb Kibler, Mrs. Thelma Thurston and Mrs. Lucien Benepe. Five thousand poppies will be distributed in Helena. There are no paid saleswomen; all workers are volunteers from the membership of Lewis and Clark American Legion auxiliary unit. Only adult members are used. Every poppy sold in the state of Montana was made by a veteran at the hospital at Fort Harrison. Limited to an output of 1,000 poppies a week, each veteran is paid two cents for each poppy he makes. During the 1952 season, 50 hospitalized veterans at Fort Harrison made 159,000 poppies. Twenty thousand have been shipped to the Department of Alaska and the remainder were purchased «by units in the Department of Montana. Money realized from the sale of poppies is used for three of the American Legion auxiliary projects, child welfare, rehabilitation and educations of orphans of veterans. About 50 members of the auxiliary will sell poppies Saturday with headquarters in the lobby of the Harvey hotel. Half the proceeds will be sent to the state department and half remains with the unit, but every penny is used for veteran child welfare and rehabilitation. As an organization, the auxiliary gains nothing except the satisfaction of knowing it is giving direct assistance to veterans and their families which is, after all, the primary function of the group. Sometimes the only income hospitalized veterans have is from making poppies. Mrs. Larry Hoffman New Auxiliary President; Group Works for Child Welfare, Rehabilitation New officers of Lewis and Clark unit No. 2, American Legion auxiliary, were elected this month. Mrs. Larry Hoffman will serve as president for the coming year; Mrs. George Magnuson, first vice president; Mrs. Charles C. West, second vice president; Mrs. Robert Mock, treasurer; and Mrs. John Casebolt, Mrs. Al Yeska and Mrs. L. L. Benepe, board members. District honors have been accorded the Lewis and Clark chapter. One of its members, Mrs. Jack Naegele, has been named district president, and the outgoing unit president, Mrs. John Casebolt, was elected district secretary- treasurer at a meeting early this month. Primarily interested in the rehabilitation of war veterans who have been partially or totally disabled and in the welfare of children and orphans oi veterans, the auxiliary carries on a year-round program for the perpetuation of this work. A generous portion of poppy proceeds is used for education of orphans of veterans. In 1947, two annual $300 scholarships were set up in the state department to be given to either a boy or girl who were children of veterans with preference given to orphans. Scholarships are still available to those who wish to take advantage During World war II this committee was combined with the child welfare committee, but it was reinstated at the national convention in 1946, when a greatly increased need for its work was anticipated due to the large number of men who were destined to be veterans of the second war. Ten annual national president scholarships are awarded to worthy daughters of veterans. Montana is allowed one candidate in the northwestern division. The Education of War Orphans committee endeavors to make sure that war orphans in each community know of the educational op portunities open to them through federal and state aid. Many young people have been able to complete their education through these means, thus becoming better citizens and better Americans. Mrs. Theodore Underseth has been unit chairman of the education committee. The child welfare committee, headed by Mrs. Eddie Toman, includes Mrs. L. L. Benepe and Mrs. Dick Wilkinson. Last July the committee sponsored a foster home discussion for the Lewis and Clark county child welfare department. About 100 interested persons attended. A representative of the committee attends the monthly Lewis and Clark Youth council luncheons, where discussions are conducted about juveniles and their problems. The committee has been instrumental in helping children who have been handicapped in various ways and was in charge of buying and wrapping gifts for crippled children at Shodair hospital and in foster homes. The money was provided by the state department. Films were shown and talks were presented about several hospitals and various diseases of children. Fifteen families with a total of 57 children have been assisted by the child welfare committee, through the co-operation of the state department of auxiliary child welfare, crippled children of the state, county welfare office, Lions, Rotana members and school teachers. Working with members of the Lions club, the committee succeeded in sending two youngsters to the Lions Sunshine camp. Through the Rotana Milk Fund, the auxiliary has made it possible for many children to have milk regularly. "The Rotanas have been more than generous and so far they have never refused a request from us," Mrs. Toman said. Through various discussion meet- POPPY POSTER WINNERS--Mrs. Robert Plunkett, poppy poster chairman, is shown awarding first prize money to Eloise Fellbaum, whose poster was judged best of the 1952 entries. Standing third left is Judy Shope, whose poster won second prize, and Elizabeth Edwards, extreme right, holds prize poster. Miss Fellbaum's entry will be submitted to the state contest. The other two will be in downtown windows, as will all other entries. History of Poppy As Symbol Started in 1919 The idea of distributing poppies on streets to raise money for service work among needy veterans originated in Milwaukee in June, 1919. The poppies were used for the homecoming of the 32nd division to decorate doughnut and coffee booths and people stripped them off to wear, leaving coins to pay for them. The following May, the Saturday before Memorial Day, 1920, the first Poppy Day as we now know it was conducted by American Legion post No, 1 of Milwaukee. The poppy was adopted as the memorial flower of the American Legion at its national convention in Cleveland in September, 1920. The following October, at the first American Legion auxiliary convention in Kansas City, Mo., the poppy was adopted as the memorial flower of that group. Miss Moina Michael of Athens, Ga., was decorated with the Distinguished Service medal of the American Legion auxiliary for originating the idea of wearing poppies in honor of the war dead. Veterans in hospitals throughout the United States have made the poppies since 1922, when patients at the veterans' hospital in Minnesota made the first flowers for the sale. The Legion poppy is the only poppy made by patients from Montana and in a Montana veterans' hospital. ings, the committee has decided that juvenile laws must be revised and they plan to actively support revisions when the legislature reconvenes, Mrs. Toman added. A typical case in which the child welfare committee was active concerns a man and his four children, who were deserted by the children's mother in 1949. The father, a hardworking man, wanted to keep his children with him, but eventually members of the committee convinced him that they would be better off in a real home. Now all of the children ar.e in foster homes and the committee feels that for the first time they are getting the proper care. The father, a veteran, was ill and he has received care at the veterans' administration hospital at Fort Harrison, Mrs. Toman added. Purpose of Program The purpose of the American Legion auxiliary poppy program is to place the symbol of heroic sacrifice above the heart of every true American, giving at the same time an opportunity to serve the war's living victims. * * * * * * Eloise Fellbaum, Judy Shope and Elizabeth Edwards Win Prizes in Poppy Poster Contest Eloise Fellbaum, Judy Shope and Elizabeth Edwards won the first three awards in the poppy poster contest conducted in Helena. Members of the Helena high school art classes were the only entrants in the 1952 contest, which is open to all school children. Miss Fellbaum's poster, which won first, will be sent to Great Falls for judging in the state contest. Winners will then be forwarded to the national judging and the winner will receive $100. The first place poster, pictured elsewhere on this page, bore a picture of +he Flanders' poppy and carried the slogan, "Give new light to those who bore our torch." Judges were Lou Babb, Ed Walker and Mrs. Don Brinton. Rules of the contest specify that posters must be judged by a committee including an advertising agent, an artist and a member of the American Legion auxiliary. Other rules state that the posters must incorporate the w o r d "American Legion" or "American Legion Auxiliary" into the design; each poster should have a slogan, carry a picture of the poppy in correct colors, and cannot use the words "Buddy" or "buy." Judging is based on 50 points appeal; 15 points for artistic ability, 25 points for originality and 10 points for neatness. They may be made with paper cutouts, tempera water colors, crayons, oil crayons, pencil or oil paints. Posters made by art students of Tom Edwards at Helena high school will be displayed all this week in windows of downtown stores, Mrs. Robert Plunkett, local poppy poster chairman, has announced. MRS. LARRY HOFFMAN, left, new auxiliary president, Is shown accepting the gavel from Mrs. John Casebolt, outgoing president. Hoffman and other new officers were elected at the May meeting, in conjunction with the Gold Star Mothers' banquet. The president has been state department music chairman and a very active member of Lewis and Clark unit No. 2, American Legion auxiliary. Both women are wives of World war II veterans. Wear Poppy to Church Those who buy the scarlet Flanders poppy Saturday have been urged to wear the flowers of remembrance to their church or synagogue Sunday morning. Girls' State Chairman Mrs. Al Beck is Lewis and Clark Unit No. 2 chairman in charge of Girls' State activities. She presented the three Helena delegates and three alternates at the regular April meeting at the Legion hall. Vets Need Rehabilitation Three times in two and a half decades the American Legion and auxiliary have been called upon for rehabilitation work. The blind, the paraplegic, the basket cases, the ones with wounds on heart soul, the ones with visible and invisible scars have come back home and are still coming in need of help. More than 100,000 Americans, the flower of American youth and potential leaders for the nation's future, are casualties of the Korean conflict. POPPIES SOLD IN MONTANA are made by veterans at Fort Harrison. This group is shown working on the crepe paper flowm, for which PLED with they receive two cents apiece. Output of each veteran is limited to 1000 . week to keep them from working too hard at the project. ARE CRIP- THESE ARE A FEW OF THE 50 men at Fort Harrison who made 159,000 MRS. H. L. HOLM. STATE POPPY CHAIRMAN, is shown at right , this man can make poppies for the 1952 American Legion auxiliary poppy sale. Twenty thousand ing one of the patients at Fort Harrison with a check for the paper poppies at the veterans' ot the scarlet memorial flowers were shipped to Alaska for sale there. The for the American Legion auxiliary. Mrs. Herb Kibler, right, is a administration hospital at Fort Harrison. remainder were purchased by units in the Department of Montana. of the crepe paper flowers from another patient.