Bemidji Veterans Home Birthday June 2025
Another successful Poppy Day on May 9th for the Park Rapids Legion Members
Thank you to everyone that distributed poppies during Park Rapids Poppy Day last Friday. Special thanks to all individuals that donated!! The American Legion Auxiliary collected 3700.00. This money will go to local Veterans in need. See link to post.
Again, thank you to all!!!
Dorothy, Poppy Chairman
May 9th is Poppy Day in Park Rapids
The Auxiliary is inviting YOU to join us in handing out poppy’s while collecting donations for veterans! Please stop by the Legion between now and May 9th to sign up for a time and place that works best for you. All donations will go to the Park Rapids area veterans. Reach out to any Auxiliary or Legion members if you have any questions. Thank you for your help and support! Click here for more information and history about National Poppy Day.
Administrative Professional Week
Our Auxiliary ladies have again prepared and served a wonderful meal for Administrative Professionals’ Appreciation Luncheon. This year’s event served approximately 120 guests including the Community Edudation staff/helpers. We served a tasty crab cup hors d’oeuvre, house salad, cheddar biscuit, smothered chicken breast, veggie blend and real cute angle food cupcakes along with spring punch. The Park Rapids Community Education has sponsored this event for the last 18 years.
Everyone enjoyed the yummy food and time away from their busy office duties. Great job ladies!
Week of the Young Child
Every year our Auxiliary members work with the Park Rapids Community Education Department to hold community wide activities for our young children. On April 10th the Auxiliary sponsored an activity at the Legion for preschool children to decorate paddle boards with stickers and a ball. Everyone was able to decorate their own paddle board and received a treat and juice box. All had a great time!
We hope to see more of the young ones at our annual Christmas party this December!
Local Blood Drive
Auxiliary member, Lynn Spellman, helped with registration at the local March blood drive at St. Peter’s Catholic Church. This 2 day blood drive reported 117 of 138 appointments checked in and 91 were able to donate, which brought in 107 total blood products. This helps cover Vitalant’s hospital needs for approximately two days! There were 5 first-time/new donors at this event. Thanks to everyone that had a hand in this effort!
The Legion celebrates 106 years in March 2025
After our March Post and Auxiliary meetings, the Auxiliary served a light lunch with birthday cake, made by Auxiliary member, Erin Hensel. There was plenty to go around and we shared with the Legion’s Tuesday Night Trivia group!
2025 Auxiliary Donation to the Civil Air Patrol
Andrew Johnson, from the CAP (Civil Air Patrol), along with two of their cadets were welcomed at our March Auxiliary Monthly meeting as they requested a donation to help sponsor their upcoming activities for the cadets over the next several months. Thank you CAP, for stopping back to receive your check with two other young cadets and for helping out our youth grow and become outstanding citizens!
2025 Auxiliary Fish Fry
The lenten fish fries are in full swing! The Post, Auxiliary and S.A.L. (Son’s of the American Legion) are taking turns hosting the annual-weekly fish fries during lent. If you haven’t stopped by to enjoy our delicious Friday evening meal before, plan to attend any or all of the next four Friday’s at the Legion! We serve from 4:30-7:00pm. We hope to see you there!
Everyone having fun at the local Fish Fry !
2025 Chili Challenge
Our Auxiliary Unit had a wonderful time at the 14th Annual Chili Challenge where we raised $1,900 for the Park Rapids Food Shelf! Hope to see you at next years event. Here is the recipe for out famous Sweet Potatoe & Black Bean Chili
{Recipe from Joy Pendley, Ortonville, MN – My whole family enjoys this chili,
but my daughter especially loves it. It’s so easy and very flavorful.}
Click here to download the recipe for our Sweet Potatoe & Black Bean Chili.
Spring/Summer 2024
Auxiliary members cleanup the landscape around the legion and hold a memorial ceremony for the Auxiliary members that have passed each spring.
Activity Bags for the Servicemen’s Center at our at the Minneapolis Airport
Lynette McFarren (not pictured), our Auxiliary Unit member and Chaplain, made 20 children’s activity bags in March 2024, for the Servicemen’s Center at the MSP Airport. President, Dorothy Pierzinski, Parliamentarian, Lynn Spilman and VA&R Pat Cadreau (Veteran Affairs and Rehabilitation), presented these activity bags to our District President in April 2024. These will allow the children traveling with their parents to take a few toys with to help pass the time as they travel. This is an ongoing activity that Minnesota Units continually support.