[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 111 (Friday, August 7, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1615]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    GRATULACJE, POLISH LEGION OF AMERICAN VETERANS LADIES AUXILIARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES A. BARCIA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 6, 1998

  Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a group of 
people who are the embodiment of the American spirit of volunteering 
and selfless dedication to others. These people are the members of the 
Polish Legion of American Veterans Ladies Auxiliary. The objective of 
this group is to bring moral and material support to hospitalized 
veterans and aid widows and orphans of the Polish Legion of American 
Veterans. It is these wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, 
granddaughters and nieces of honorably discharged Veterans of the Armed 
Forces, who preserve the eminence and sanctity of American ideals.
  On Saturday, August 22, 1998, Michigan will celebrate the Legion's 
75th anniversary in Lansing. With members from 66 chapters throughout 
the nation, in attendance, this event will not only be a time to 
celebrate, but also a time to reflect. It will be a time in which both 
members and the community will come together and solemnize 75 years of 
community service and involvement.
  The first chapter of the ``Ladies Legion'' of the American Veterans 
of Polish Extraction Association was formed, in Chicago Illinois in 
September 1920. It wasn't until 1931 that the Polish American Veterans 
held a Consolidating Convention in Cleveland. It was at that time Ohio 
formally adopted the name of Polish Legion Of American Veterans, U.S.A. 
An Auxiliary of the National Ladies Legion was also formally formed. 
The first official consolidated Ladies National Convention was held in 
1932 in Hamtramck, Michigan, represented by 56 delegates from the 
several states where their membership originated.
  Today membership in the Ladies Auxiliary continues to grow and new 
projects have been implemented. The Auxiliary provides service to 
U.S.O. centers (Detroit), the Aid to the Blind Program (Illinois), 
which includes braille flags, books to schools, American essay and 
poster contests for middle school students, financial aid and 
scholarships to students and Hospitalized Veterans Wheelchair Olympics, 
to name a few.
  Mr. Speaker, PLAV Ladies Auxiliary has been working tirelessly for 75 
years to improve the quality of the lives of others. Their efforts 
should not go unrewarded. Please join me today in congratulating the 
Ladies Legion on its 75th anniversary, and hoping they will enjoy 
countless more years into the future.

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