[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 61 (Tuesday, May 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E804]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY UNIT 146 IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN TENNESSEE

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                           HON. VAN HILLEARY

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 14, 2002

  Mr. HILLEARY. Mr. Speaker, my home state of Tennessee's nickname 
``The Volunteer State'' dates all the way back to the War of 1812 when 
thousands of Tennesseans enlisted in response to Governor Willie 
Blount's call for volunteers. The volunteer spirit that moved so many 
Tennesseans to service then remains alive and well in our beautiful 
state almost 200 years later.
  Today, the volunteer spirit is manifested by the thousands of 
Tennesseans in the armed services and by the countless civilian 
volunteers from Memphis to Bristol and Chattanooga to Clarksville.
  One such group of Tennessee volunteers is American Legion Auxiliary 
Unit 146 in Lawrence County. I am proud to commend them today for the 
fine work they do.
  From children to veterans, Unit 146 exemplifies the volunteer spirit, 
that call to help the community, to ease the pain of those less 
fortunate and to lift us all by their example of caring and compassion.
  For ``Make a Difference Day'' this year, Unit 146 made yarn angels 
for every patient in local nursing homes and assisted living centers.
  Last Christmas, they made and filled stockings, complete with an 
American flag, for veterans at the VA hospitals in Nashville and 
Murfreesboro.
  Together with their local American Legion post, they host bingo games 
for veterans in VA hospitals.
  Each year, Unit 146 remembers our veterans and the heroes who gave 
their life for their country by participating in Memorial Day 
ceremonies and Veterans Day parades.
  In addition to supporting our veterans, the unit looks to the future 
by supporting important programs for children and youths. Throughout 
the year they pass out flags, Halloween safety brochures, pamphlets on 
how to say *'No'' to drugs and suicide prevention books.
  Unit 146 provides their local sheriff, the Tennessee Highway Patrol 
and their hospital's emergency room with stuffed animals and coloring 
books to ease the pain for traumatized children.
  American Legion Auxiliary Unit 146 truly represents the best of the 
volunteer spirit in the Volunteer State.
  I commend them for the fine work they do throughout the year. Their 
acts of goodness are a common thread in our state running all the way 
back to 1812 when Tennessee first needed volunteers to come to the 
assistance of her people. Their acts of kindness touch all and spawn 
other acts that will keep that thread strong for the next 200 years and 
well-beyond.

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