[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 3, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1105-E1106]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          MULBERRY MEMORIAL AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY, UNIT 72

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM H. PUTNAM

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 3, 2003

  Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I would like to draw my Colleagues to the 
attention of the following articles on the Mulberry Memorial American 
Legion Auxiliary, Unit 72, in Mulberry, Florida from my district.
  Unit 72 is very active within the community of Mulberry, and I feel 
these articles exemplify the best of Unit 72's service and commitment. 
Please consider the inclusion of these articles in the Congressional 
Record.

                  Mulberry, Florida's Schools Benefit

  (Submitted by Donna Righi, Unit 72 President and Education Chairman)

       Mulberry Memorial American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 72, 
     Department of Florida works closely with the schools in 
     Mulberry, Florida and are kept aware of the needs of their 
     students. In February 2003, Unit 72 donated over $120 of 
     underwear to two of the schools in Mulberry.
       School Supply drives are frequently held, and money is 
     often donated to schools, however, Unit 72 discovered that 
     children in need often do not have underwear to wear. You 
     aren't able to give away your used underwear, so needy 
     families often do not receive this necessity. The schools 
     were contacted in regards to sizes, and Unit 72 bought them 
     for the schools to distribute to those in real need. Items 
     that were distributed were: Socks, underpants, jockey shorts, 
     and even bras. The schools really appreciated this. They 
     never seem to have enough of these items for occasional 
     accidents that occur, not to mention the students that can't 
     afford these necessities.
       On Wednesday evening, September 11, 2002, The Mulberry 
     American Legion Auxiliary Unit #72, joined with the American 
     Legion and Sons of the American Legion Squadron 72 and 
     conducted a service in observance of the events of September 
     11, 2001.
       We had distributed bags to two local schools, Kingsford 
     Elementary and R. Bruce Wagner Elementary, for the children 
     to decorate for luminaries. These children did a magnificent 
     job on over three hundred bags.

[[Page E1106]]

       Legion Post 72 Commander, Jerry M. Mitchell, opened our 
     ceremony with a brief welcome and the Pledge of Allegiance. 
     Legion Chaplain Dennis Farmer gave an invocation and then 
     turned the ceremony over to Martha Bosley, Auxiliary Vice 
     President who gave a short speech in remembrance of the 
     victims and heroes of that fateful day. Auxiliary Unit 72 
     member, Jan Feldman closed our service with the singing of 
     ``God Bless America''.
       The more than fifty participants then took their American 
     flags to the side of Route 37 to wave in a show of patriotism 
     and were greeted by passing motorists who waved back. Later 
     the members lighted all the luminaries the students had 
     provided and placed them by the side of Route 37 as dusk 
     fell. Again the passing motorists signaled their approval and 
     appreciation by blinking their lights and honking their 
     horns.
                                  ____


Mulberry Police, Fire/Rescue, City Honored for Service by Legion Family


 Chief Dave Hamlin Police Officer Of Year, Mike Team Is Firefighter Of 
                                The Year

       Prime rib dinner all of the trimmings was served to a large 
     turnout Tuesday evening in the Mulberry Memorial American 
     Legion Post Home.
       This was an annual Mulberry Police and Fire/Rescue salute 
     and awards dinner given by the local American Legion Post in 
     cooperation with the Legion Auxiliary and Sons of the 
     American Legion.
       The hall was filled with Mulberry Police and Fire/Rescue 
     personnel and guests, a number of City officials, Legion 
     family members and guests.
       The annual Mulberry Police Officer of the Year award was 
     given to Chief Dave Hamlin. Alan P. Hall, long-time 
     Legionaire officer who has served five times as Post 
     Commander, and as Department of Florida Commander, noted 
     Chief Hamlin has been with the Mulberry force for many years, 
     coming up through the ranks.
       Alan P. Hall recalled some funny incidents over the years, 
     remember growing up in Mulberry when the City had just one 
     police car with one red light on it. He remembered the old 
     Mulberry police station and when Dave Hamlin first came on 
     the Mulberry force.
       Chief Hamlin noted Mulberry is starting to grow, and 
     quickly, and the City of Mulberry is working to be prepared 
     with services for the growth and to serve present Mulberry 
     needs. Last year's award went to Police Lt. Randy Tagliarini.
       Mike Team, likewise, was named Mulberry Firefighter of the 
     Year. He and other Mulberry Fire/Rescue and Police employees 
     were thanked for what they do. Last year's winner of the 
     award was Fire Chief Mitch Carmack.
       Alan P. Hall noted these public servants work around the 
     clock in Mulberry, working evenings, nights, weekends and 
     holidays to help keep the City safe.
       He said life is short and we need to respect each other and 
     the job each other has to do.
       Among Legion family officers helping thank Mulberry Police 
     and Fire and City officials were present Commander of the 
     Legion, Jerry Mitchell, Barbara Caruthers, Legion Auxiliary 
     Chaplain, John Jennings of the Mulberry SAL, and Frank Pierce 
     sang patriotic music to add to the occasion.
       Among City officials in attendance recognized were ex-Mayor 
     Sam and Lou Eva McLaughlin, City Manager Patricia Jackson, 
     Commissioner Jerry and Judy Woods; Commissioner Jim and Flo 
     Splaine and Commissioner Julian and Felicia Mullis.


                   Sheriff Crow Was Featured Speaker

       Main dinner speaker was Polk County Sheriff Lawrence Crow 
     Jr. who spoke about how ``everything changed'' in law 
     enforcement and in this country on September 11.
       He noted new measures being taken locally, including 
     machine guns that will soon be in hundreds of area patrol 
     cars.
       Sheriff Crow talked about two helicopter duty deputies who 
     died in the crash of their Polk County Sheriff's helicopter 
     just after 9-11 on Oct 22, 2001. They hit a fog patch and the 
     chopper crashed when infrared night vision must have led to a 
     misperception of the craft's altitude.
       The Sheriff noted Polk County is part of a nine-county 
     group dealing with terrorism. The Sheriff's job is risk 
     assessment.
       He noted this phosphate area, the port of Tampa, the 
     nuclear power plant near Crystal River and other points are 
     targets in this part of Florida. He noted fertilizer elements 
     may be used as explosives and this is a local concern with 
     terrorism.
       Sheriff Crow said there is a very real threat, in his 
     opinion, if we go to war against Iraq we will have a backlash 
     here against the United States.
       In closing Alan P. Hall noted Mulberry Police and Fire/
     Rescue personnel should be respected and thanked, noting they 
     deal first-hand with some things many people don't want to 
     even see.

                          ____________________