National president of American Legion Auxiliary to visit

ROCKY HILL » American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) Department of CT will host National President Mary Davis on July 2-5 during a stopover in her year-long nationwide tour to call on community members. Davis will have the opportunity to visit veterans in various locations across the state.

“It is our pleasure to welcome President Mary to our state, speak with our dedicated members and visit a few of the organizations that assist our veterans,” said department president Marge Sunbury, in a written statement.

During her visit, the leader of America’s largest women’s patriotic service organization will have a tour of South Park Inn in Hartford where members will be handing out “Socks of Love”; address those Veteran Service Organizations assembled at the Hall of Flags ceremony on July 4 in Hartford as the keynote speaker; and join the American Legion family on the VA Campus in Rocky Hill for a July 4 picnic and carnival for the veterans who reside there.

Mary Davis, of Lacey, WA, was elected national president of the ALA during the organization’s 96th National Convention in August 2016. As a member of the ALA for 40 years, Davis has chosen to highlight ALA Member Pride for her term as national president.

“Each and every day as we work our programs, serve our veterans, help our military families or make a difference in the life of a child, we swell with pride because of the difference we make,” Davis said in a statement. “I call that ALA Member Pride. Pride in one’s accomplishments, pride in making a difference in another’s life and pride in belonging to an organization that embodies the mission work of the American Legion Auxiliary.”

American Legion Auxiliary members have dedicated themselves for nearly a century to meeting the needs of the nation’s veterans, military and their families both here and abroad. They volunteer millions of hours yearly, with a value of more than $2 billion.

As part of the world’s largest women’s patriotic service organization, Auxiliary volunteers across the country also step up to honor veterans and military through annual scholarships and with ALA Girls State programs, teaching high school juniors to be leaders grounded in patriotism and Americanism. To learn more about the Auxiliary’s mission or to volunteer, donate or join, visit w w w.AL AforVeterans.org or www.alactdept.weebly.com.