AMERICAN LEGION AUXILLIARY
Emmett Liles Unit 541, Ellston, Iowa
The Emmett Liles Unit 541 American Legion Auxilliary was organized on September 12, 1912 with the following charter members:
Mrs. John BARNS | Mrs. Harold CLOUGH | Mrs. H. E. HAGEMAN |
Mrs. Harry HOFF | Miss Juanita HOFF | Mrs. Ellis JOHNSTON |
Mrs. Luther JOHNSTON | Mrs. Dick TREICKLER | Mrs. Ike TREICKLER |
Mrs. J. M. TREICKLER | Miss Mary WALTERS | Mrs. Bunker WALTERS |
Mrs. Ray WALTERS | Mrs. B. S. HARRIMAN | |
The charter came on January 1st of 1922, and the following officers were elected:
Mrs. Luther JOHNSTON, president
Mrs. Bunker WALTERS, vice-president
Mrs. John BARNS, secretary
Mrs. H. E. HAGEMAN, treasurer
Mrs. Harry HOFF, chaplin
Mrs. Ike TREICKLER, historian
In 1922, six new members joined the unit.
The first meetings were held in the Opera House. In 1923, the Legion purchased a vacant brick building which was
cleaned and remodeled. The Legion and Auxilliary are responsible for the Memorial Day program. They are also
responsible for the placement of evergreen wreaths used at the Ellston, Oliver, and Pumptown Cemeteries, along
with the placement of flags on the veterans' gravesites for Memorial Weekend.
The Junior Auxilliary group was organized on October 19, 1956 with sixteen charter members:
Margaret Ann ASHLEY | Sandra COLLIER | Judith Ann FEEBACK |
Jeanine Kay JACKSON | Sandra Lee JACKSON | Paula MAHRENHOLZ |
Terry MASON | Carol McMILLION | Mira McMILLION |
Kay SCHAEFER | Margaret Ann WALTERS | Mary Alice WALTERS |
| Terry WALTERS | |
The Junior Auxilliary sponsored many community events such as the annual Easter egg hunt, Christmas toys for orphans,
singing Christmas carols for shut-ins, and selling poppies on Poppy Day.
Mrs. Anna LILES was the only Gold Star Mother of the Auxilliary. She was the mother of
George Emmet LILES for whom the unit was named. During the spring of 1949, the present Legion Hall was built.
In 1953, the Auxilliary held a "Welcome Home" dance for PFC Robert MAHRENHOLZ, the son of Mrs. Ena HOFF. PFC MAHRENHOLZ was a World War II
and Korean War Veteran. He was captured on April 23, 1951, and held as a prisoner of war for 28 months until his
release on August 21, 1953.
SOURCE: CLOUGH, Dora. "American Legion Auxilliary" A Century of Memories: Ellston, Iowa 1881 - 1981 Pp. 222-3. 1981.
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2010
|