American Legion Auxiliary now in Maricopa

As of last month Maricopa has its own American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 133.

The group currently has twelve members and one junior member (under 18 years of age). They meet on the second Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at the Maricopa Veterans Center, which is located adjacent to Rotary pool at 44240 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway.

“Our purpose is to support veterans and to promote individual volunteerism in the community,” said president JoAnn McNeil.

Some of the Auxiliary’s members are Reading Buddies in the Maricopa public schools, one works as a public library volunteer, several are actively involved at the F.O.R. Maricopa food bank, and one member volunteers in the cafeteria at the Mobile Elementary school.

Newly elected Unit 133 officers are: JoAnn McNeil, president; Patti Lacombe, vice president; Pam Barnes, secretary-treasurer; and Beverly Floerchinger, chaplain.

The Auxiliary was organized nationally in 1919 to assist The American Legion. Currently it is the world’s largest women’s patriotic service organization with nearly 10,500 units located in every state and some foreign countries.

Eligibility requirements for membership in the American Legion Auxiliary include the following:
• A woman who is eligible for membership in the American Legion is also eligible to join the American Legion Auxiliary.
• The mother, wife, daughter, sister, grand-daughter, great-grand-daughter, or grandmother of members of the American Legion, and deceased veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces during the  war eras are eligible for membership.
• Step relatives are also eligible.

If you are interested in becoming part of Maricopa’s new Unit 133 of the American Legion Auxiliary, contact McNeil at 520-840-4645 or Barnes at 520-568-4266.

Submitted photo: (left to right) Vice president Patti Lacombe, President JoAnn McNeil, Secretary-treasurer Pam Barnes and Chaplain Beverly Floerchinger.