Members of American Legion Auxiliary Unit No. 15 began the activities usually performed by the unit for the Memorial Day holiday. On Friday, May 23, Betsey Lee Hodges and Nancy Sinclair along with Jonathan Hardin’s EMS/Firemen squads from Station 1 and Station 2, Scottie Taylor and John Harris, surrounded the graves at three cemeteries with U.S. flags.  Approximately 1,500 flags were placed at Oakdale, Pamlico Memorial Gardens and Cedar Hill in Washington to encompass and remember veterans interred there.

On Saturday, American Legion Post No. 15 Commander Cecil Ebron, Legion member Ray Briley, and Auxiliary members Betsy Tetterton and Lousie Briley joined Betsey Lee and Nancy in distributing poppies at various businesses in town. The donations received for the memorial flowers are used by the unit to care for veterans at the four VA Medical Centers in North Carolina and local veterans seeking assistance.

On Monday, Betsy Tetterton and Betsey Lee Hodges visited veterans at River Trace and Ridgewood Nursing centers. Each veteran was presented a flag and thanked for his service to our country.

The American Legion Auxiliary is the largest patriotic organization in the world.  Membership is open to mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, granddaughters, great-granddaughters and grandmothers of a current member of The American Legion or a deceased service member who would qualify for membership. Eligibility dates for membership in The American Legion are April 6, 1917 – Nov. 11, 1918; Dec. 7, 1941 – Dec.  31, 1946; June 25, 1950 – Jan. 31, 1955; Dec. 22, 1961 – May 7, 1975; Aug. 24, 1982 – July 31, 1984; Dec. 20, 1989 – Jan. 31, 1990; Aug. 2, 1990 – until cessation of hostilities. Women who served in the Armed Forces during these dates are eligible through their own service.  If interested in joining, please contact Betsey Lee Hodges at blh1480@hotmail.com.