American Legion Auxiliary District 18 President DeNyse Laugeson of El Monte    will conduct the first monthly meeting of the new Auxiliary year on Monday, August 17th, 7:30 p.m., at Abraham Lincoln Post 241, 4725 Maine Ave., Baldwin Park.   Awards received by the 15 Units in the San Gabriel Valley at the recent state convention in Riverside will be presented.  At the recent Installation of Officers, a special guest was Madison Zylstra from LaVerne who was the $2,500 Scholarship winner in the 2008-2009 Americanism Essay Contest in Group IV (10-11-12th grades).   Hannah King, lst Place winner in Group III (8th-9th grades) will receive her award of $200 at the August meeting.  Both winning students are from Bonita High School, sponsored by San Dimas Unit 475, Patti Aldrich, Chairman).

The new Department of California President Norma DuVall of Monrovia has announced her special project for the year will be “Operation Mend”. Margaret Quinones of La Puente, Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Chairman will up-date members on this program.  The uncompensated or under-compensated costs associated with one soldier’s “Operation Mend” care are approximately $500,000.  These expenses include patient evaluation, plastic and reconstructive surgeries, transportation and housing, care coordination and other patient services.  The single largest cost is the multiple, lengthy and complex plastic and reconstruction surgeries required, and soldiers may have to travel multiple times over the course of one or more years for treatment and often they want to be accompanied by their families.  Gifts from organizations such as the Auxiliary as well as private citizens support air and ground transportation, room and board, per diem to patients and their families and broad social support while in Los Angeles for surgeries at UCLA where the country’s best plastic and reconstructive surgeons in the private sector, along with nurses and support staff, volunteer their time.

Girls State Chairman Sharon Cooper has announced the first meeting of the 2009 Girls State Alumni on September 13th at Canyon City Post 180, 3:00 p.m., for the purpose of election of officers and making basic plans for the coming year.

With membership having a high priority, the  new 1st Vice President, Carol Valeaquez of La Puente,  wants all women to know that Auxiliary membership is open to wives, mothers, daughters, granddaughters and great granddaughters of Legionnaires as well as women veterans in their own right.  Eligible ladies interested in membership are urged to contact the chairman at © 626-533-3042 or any of the local Units located  throughout the San Gabriel Valley.