Emmett Liles Unit 541, American Legion Auxilliary, Ellston

BARNS, CLOUGH, HAGEMAN, HOFF, JOHNSTON, TREICKLER, WALTERS, HARRIMAN, MAHRENHOLZ, LILES, ASHLEY, COLLIER, FEEBACK, JACKSON, MASON, MCMILLION, SCHAEFER

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 4/21/2010 at 23:55:59

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 M
rs. 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

George "Emmett" LILES
 

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