[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 15 (Friday, January 24, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E69-E70]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY'S 100TH ANNIVERSARY

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                           HON. BILL HUIZENGA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 24, 2020

  Mr. HUIZENGA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the 
100th Anniversary of the American Legion Auxiliary, the nation's 
largest wartime veterans service organization.

[[Page E70]]

  The American Legion Auxiliary is a premier service organization that 
has been a vital asset to our community. By providing support for our 
veterans, our military, and their families, the American Legion 
Auxiliary shapes a positive future in an atmosphere of fellowship, 
patriotism, and peace.
  Founded in 1919, the American Legion Auxiliary boasts almost one 
million members from a range of different backgrounds. This past year, 
the organization oversaw more than 40 million volunteer hours and 
raised $37 million for charities across the U.S.
  Specifically, the American Legion Auxiliary's Gilbert D. Karsten Post 
33, has been a pillar in our community through their support of 
veterans, sponsorship of local events, and extensive youth development 
programs. Their tireless work has dramatically increased the quality of 
life for veterans and their families across West Michigan.
  The post gets their name from the late Gilbert Dean Karsten, an 
American army Corporal who was killed on the battlefields of France on 
August 2, 1917. Gilbert D. Karsten was born in Zeeland, MI, on April 
20, 1898, and joined the U.S. Army just days after the U.S. declared 
war on Germany. His death made him the first World War I casualty from 
Zeeland, and the community has continued to honor his sacrifice by 
using his name to help further their commitment to serving local 
veterans and their families.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating the American Legion 
Auxiliary and the Gilbert D. Karsten Post 33 for their 100 years of 
dedicated service to veterans throughout our country and in West 
Michigan.

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