Photo By Walt Mares
The celebration is Saturday, May 7, in Clifton
By Walt Mares
“All gave some, some gave all.”
Korean War Army Veteran Howard Osterkamp
That is appropriate in describing what the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary and the American Legion stand for. The Auxiliary and Legion have long been key components of positive aspects of the Clifton-Morenci community.
They both honor the sacrifice of those veterans who serve or have served in the U.S. Military. A great number of its local citizens have served with distinction in the military during and since World War I. The Legion and Auxiliary were organized in the years shortly after the 1918 end of WW I.
For the Auxiliary, it has been a century-old effort that features the Lloyd C. Hill Unit 28 Women’s Auxiliary which is celebrating its 100th anniversary Saturday, May 7, in Clifton. The event begins at 1 p.m. at the Legion Hall in Clifton.
The public is invited and encouraged to attend. The Legion headquarters in Clifton is housed at the former Phelps Dodge Mercantile and has been there for decades. The Legion Hall is located at the corner of Coronado Blvd (U.S. 191) and Frisco Ave. It is near the historic iron Zorrilla Bridge that spans the San Francisco River.
The celebration includes a 2 p.m. dinner. There will be musical entertainment from 3-6 p.m. by DJ Trece (Servando). The event concludes at 4 p.m. with a 50/50 raffle.
The actual founding date of Post 28 is May 25, 1922, but what is the harm in celebrating a couple of weeks early?
The American Legion Women’s Auxiliary was founded in 1919, shortly after the founding of the American Legion which was chartered by an act of the U.S. Congress on Sept. 16, 1919.
Interestingly, the Legion was first organized shortly after the end of World War I. It happened in Paris France on March 15-17. It was established by 1,000 members of the American Expeditionary Force that served in Europe during the war, which became known at the time as “The war to end all wars.” Much of the ferocity and bloodiest of the battles of the war occurred in France.
An estimated 1,000 officers and enlisted men attended the caucus in Paris. From there the rest is history. Who could have known there would be future wars, such as World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and fighting in the Middle East?
The Legion and the Auxiliary have served veterans in all wars subsequent to WW I.
A program for the May 7 event states, “In honor and recognition of the American Legion Auxiliary Lloyd C. Hill Unit 28 members who have dedicated themselves for the past 100 years to honor the sacrifice of those who serve by enhancing the lives of our veterans, military and their families, both at home and abroad promoting patriotic youth…”
