New life
Clarion’s American Legion Auxiliary is back on track
CLARION — Jo Ann Kramer’s leadership has rebuilt Clarion’s American Legion Post 246 Auxiliary from its near demise to one which is active and viable.
The group had essentially been on life support for a number of years. Currently, the membership has grown to more than 30, due in large part to Kramer’s efforts.
While Kramer has been a member of the auxiliary since she was two days old (when her aunt paid her junior membership dues), she has experienced both boom and bust in those nearly seven decades, first in Belmond and now in Clarion.
While she has held the position of president for a number of years, the active membership had dwindled from several dozen down to six.
“We were not getting new members,” she said. “Some moved. Some were growing older. Others had died. We were told that we needed to grow and become more active or disband.”
She started to contact possible members asking them what the Clarion unit should do. The women started to positively respond to her question.
The goal of any American Legion Auxiliary is to support veterans and their families, as well as those currently serving in military active duty.
“We work to do just that,” said Kramer. “We have regular meetings every other month and do other things in between. We have sent nine greeting cards to those in our area who are currently serving, as well as notes of thanks to nearly 60 veterans, thanking them for their service to our nation.”
Within the last several years, members have participated in the local Veterans Day program at the high school. Several members made presentations to Clarion-Goldfield-Dows fifth-graders titled, “What is Veterans’ Day,” which included giving each student a ruler showing all the presidents of the United States, plus having the students make 160 greeting cards, which were sent to veterans living in the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown.
“Jo Ann has done a good job of leading our group,” said auxiliary member Leann Anderson. ”She does a wonderful job of conducting our meetings and keeping us informed. It is important for all of us to support our military; those who are serving now and those who have served us in the past. Our auxiliary helps us to do that. Because of Jo Ann’s leadership, our auxiliary remains active in our community.”
In the past several years, a handful of local auxiliary members have distributed poppies (made by disabled veterans) on Poppy Day with contributions returned to veterans.
One evening each fall, tables are bussed at a local pizza restaurant, raising money for a college scholarship for a graduating senior with a family member in the military. “Lunch and Learn,” a series of presentations, was given to interested members, educating them on the auxiliary and its work with veterans.
Annually, the group tours some location with connections to veterans, such as the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter, the Gold Star Museum in Des Moines, and the Sullivan Brothers Museum in Waterloo.
“Because of the renewed interest in Clarion’s auxiliary,” said Kramer, “I believe our future looks bright.”