American Legion Dinner honors Tehachapi Blue and Gold Families
American Legion Dinner honors Tehachapi Blue and Gold Families
By: by Mary Clyde, Contributing Writer
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Posted by editor Tue Nov 30, 1999 00:00:00 PST
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0 responses 0 comments The local American Legion post honored Tehachapi Blue and Gold families at its third annual Christmas dinner on Friday, Dec. 14 at the Veterans' Memorial Hall.
Blue Star families attended the dinner along Gold Star mom Karen McKinney, shared Harriet Clendenin, American Legion District President. A large gathering of other Legion members showed their support for the Christmas festivities.
Blue Star families have family members currently serving in a war and Gold Star families have lost a family member in a war, explained Clendenin. McKinney lost her daughter in Iraq a little over a year ago.
“It just never entered my mind that she wouldn't come home,” she shared.
The four pillars of any American Legion post are: Veterans' rights, patriotism, children and youth and national defense, explained Norm Clendenin, Post Commander, District 15, Tehachapi Post 221.
“Supporting our troops and their families is paramount to our organization. Over the last year, our post has sent three thousand pounds of packages to our service men and women serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and Jordan,” added Clendenin.
While all members of an American Legion post are veterans, American Legion posts are not affiliated with the VFW (whose members are veterans of foreign wars), explained Irene Murphy, President of the Women's Auxiliary.
“We are two entirely separate organizations,” she said.
Tracy Barns and her mother, Maria Weir, provided musical entertainment while the families visited and sang Christmas carols. Weir has written nearly 90 letters to the troops and has received responses from many of them, said Barns proudly of her mother's dedication.
“She just loves hearing back from them!”
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