American Legion Auxiliary News Release
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
8945 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46260

Contact: Tabitha Rhoda, (317) 569-4565; trhoda@legion-aux.org

August 26, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

LOCAL LEANDER J. KINCHEN UNIT 47 WINS AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY

PRESIDENT’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE

INDIANAPOLIS, IN. — Leander J. Kinchen Unit 47 in Hammond, LA was awarded one of only five President’s Award for Excellence today by the American Legion Auxiliary’s National President, Desireé Stoy. This ceremony took place at the American Legion Auxiliary’s (ALA) 89th National Convention in Louisville, KY.

Leander J. Kinchen Unit 47 successfully implemented multiple community based programs over the past year.

Through the Americanism program, members of this unit promoted patriotism and responsible citizenship. Unit members placed 35 large flags in a local cemetery for the Avenue of Flags honoring deceased veterans on Memorial Day, Flag Day, July 4th and Veterans Day. They also volunteered at third and fourth grade classrooms and talked about the flag and how to fold it.  Between volunteering in the community and promoting their Unit’s activities, mission and goals, they raised awareness about the ALA. This helped in gathering strength in donations and volunteers for the Unit.

The President’s Award for Excellence is presented annually to American Legion Auxiliary units who represent the “best of the best” in planning and implementation of the ALA’s mission.  Each members of Leander J. Kinchen Unit 47 helped establish goals, create tactics to accomplish their goals and then reported on their programs or activities outcomes.

Founded in 1919, the American Legion Auxiliary is the world’s largest patriotic women’s service organization. With a membership of nearly 900,000, local ALA units have a strong presence in more than 9,500 communities nationwide. The ALA’s mission to serve veterans, their families and their communities is carried out through its hundreds of outreach programs delivered by its members, volunteers and national headquarters.

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