The American Legion Auxiliary plays an important role to our American veterans all over the nation and on Tuesday the American Legion National President came to Great Bend to visit the American Legion Post 180.
“The purpose of my visit is to meet the members of this post and to help motivate them to help veterans and their families,” National President Sharon Conatser said.
Conatser was greeted my members of the auxiliary and after an introduction and a prayer everyone had the opportunity to enjoy a lunch and meet with her.
“I think it is awesome that she is here visiting us in Great Bend. She is our national president and this is very special to us,” Auxiliary President of Post 180 Tina Jackson said.
The American Legion Post 180 Auxiliary plays an important role to the veterans of Great Bend and the surrounding communities. Over the years they have helped veterans and their families with many issues that surround these people that fought for this country.
“There is a lot of history here and that is what it is all about,” Conatser said. “People can come visit the post and see this history and learn about the American Legion family.”
Conatser, of Champaign, Ill., was elected national president of the American Legion Auxiliary during the organization’s 95th National Convention in August 2015.
Conatser, a lifetime member, joined the American Legion Auxiliary through her father Clay Lofton, an Army veteran who served in World War II and the Korean War.
She is also eligible though her son, Rick Malloch, a Desert Storm veteran, and her husband, Marty Conatser, a Vietnam-Era veteran and past national commander of The American Legion.
Conatser is the first national president who is also a former First Lady of The American Legion.
According to the American Legion, Auxiliary members have dedicated themselves for nearly a century to meeting the needs of our nation’s veterans, military and their families both here and abroad.
They volunteer millions of hours yearly, with a value of more than $3.1 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 visit ALAforVeterans.org.