The Jackson and Johnson Auxiliary Unit # 263 was chartered in 1953.
Mrs. Helen Dorsey, who was the Department Vice President At-Large along with Mrs. Nettie Gant presented the Charter at The Morning Star Baptist Church, then located on Roberts Avenue, Catonsville, Maryland.
Our first activity was a joint Christmas party for the childern of our community by Post # 263 and Auxiliary members. During that era, Black units were called Units at Large and caucuses were held to elect Department, District and State Officers. These officers were known as "At Large Officers". Each Unit had it's own officers who were elected and installed annually. Our first President was Mrs. Elizabeth Hebron. Our meeting were held at The Morning Star Baptist Church Hall until 1960. Our meetings and other activities were then held on the second floor of "Washingtons's Grocery Store" on Winters Lane & Edmondson Avenue, Catonsville, Maryland.
Our Gold Stars
Our Gold Star Mother, Mrs. Eleanor Johnson (Mother of Henry Johnson) and Gold Star Sisters Sarah France, Margaret Gaither and Frances Henson. Along with Mrs. Marjorie Jackson (Widow of Charles Jackson) and Frances Jackson (Sister of Charles Jackson).
A proud moment in our history was when in 1988 our Past President, Thelma Delores Coates was elected State President of Maryland, American Legion Auxiliary.
Presently we have nine (9) Past Presidents that are living and still members of the Jackson and Johnson Memorial Unit # 263. They are: Eva P. Brooks, Thelma D. Coates, Kathleen France, Oznol France, Elizabeth Hebron, Mary Marner, Cornelia Randall, Yvonne Rhone and Ruth Webb.
Our Mission
Our volunteers have earned a reputation for selfless
service in thousands of communities across the country. Our nearly
one million members carry out programs to
benefit veterans, young people and the community at large. And,
as the largest patriotic women's
service organization in the world, the Auxiliary has proven its
worth in hundreds of ways.
The Auxiliary's Poppy program for veterans is the
oldest, and probably the most well known, of our many programs.
Auxiliary volunteers distribute millions of
poppies every year in return for donations, large and small.
The contributions are used exclusively to assist veterans and
their families. The crepe paper poppies are
made by hospitalized veterans, thereby providing a small income,
therapy and help to build the veteran's self-esteem. In the community,
the little red flowers remind
the world that we have not forgotten the sacrifice of our veterans.
We proudly wear this beautiful symbol in memory of those who
died to preserve the freedom we
enjoy.
The Auxiliary is deeply concerned with America's children
and young people. They represent our future. Our programs address
child safety, juvenile justice, the
problems of missing children, drug and alcohol abuse, teenage
pregnancy and teen suicide.
Each year, the Auxiliary contributes millions of dollars
and volunteer hours to individual projects for children, in addition
to the thousands of dollars which are
donated to The American Legion Child Welfare Foundation to provide
grants for various children's programs. Locally in our Catonsville,
MD community we also carry our mission into our churches and
nursing homes.
These are just some of the things that the American
Legion Auxiliary does for veterans, communities and young people.
We welcome every eligible woman to join
us. It is your opportunity to share the joy, and the rewards,
of doing something good for yourself and your community.
Message from the President to our Members
Winter 2006 is upon us and summer has gone by so swiftly but the following is a recap of some of
Auxiliary’s activates:
Ø
President
Consuella Rheubottom accompanied by some
legionnaires and auxiliary members of Post 263 attended a Mother’s Day dinner
held in May at Post 285. Sadie Murray one of our newer members (age 92) was
awarded a monetary prize of being the oldest mother in attendance. It was nice
affair enjoyed by all. Additionally members of the same party returned to Post
285’s Father’s Day Dinner Dance in June and by coincidence Sadie Murray’s
husband, Lawrence Murray won the prize as the eldest father (age 93) present. A
great time was had by all.
Ø
July there was the Community and Customers cookout, September the School Supply and cookout for the kids, November the Thanksgiving Dinner for the community and December the Christmas baskets for the needy along with the Christmas party for the customers and community.
Submitted
by:
Second Vice President - Ivory N. Harris
October 2010
