The Tingley American Legion Auxiliary, Dewey Unit #516, was organized August 3, 1921, with the following charter members:

Most of the Unit's projects carried out today had their inception with these charter members, more than sixty years ago.

Veteran-made Memorial Poppies are sold on the last Saturday in May to help finance the aid given to veterans and their families.

Each Memorial Day, Memorial sprays assembled by the Unit members are placed on veteran graves in the local cemetery and in several other Ringgold County cemeteries.

We still remember our hospitalized veterans and their families at Christmas time.

Home-made cookies are regularly sent to the Veteran Hospitals, more than 160 dozen being sent in 1981-1982.

Several projects such as the Poppy Poster and the Poppy Essay contests had to be abandoned when we lost our secondary school in 1959 and our elementary school in 1980.

The basket dinners held for so many years on the Legion's birthday, Washington's birthday, and Armistice Day have faded into history, nor do we any longer sew carpet rags.

In 1947, the Unit sent its first delegate to Iowa Girls State and has sent a girl each year since with the exception of three years. An interesting note is that the first girl was sent for $25.00. The fee in 1982 was $90.00.

In 1948, a Halloween celebration headed by the Tingley Unit was begun and it is still [1983] observed, but because of its growth, it has become a total community project.

One member, Edith McINTOSH, served as Fifth District president in 1935-36. Twilla LININGER was District Historian one year, and another year she was District Vice-President in charge of membership. She and Editha OBERMEIER have held District Chairman positions in recent years.

SOURCE: Tingley, Iowa Centennial: 1883 - 1983. p. 109. PSI, Inc. Belmond IA. 1983.
Courtesy of Mount Ayr Public Library, September of 2011

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, September of 2011