American Legion Family #411 - Makes a Difference!

American Legion Family #411, Lansing, Kansas met the challenge of the National "Make a Difference Day", by making a difference in the life of Mary Lou, a 73-year-old Leavenworth widow.

Mary Lou's smile broadened as Legionnaires, Auxiliary, Sons of The American Legion and Junior members swarmed her home early Saturday morning.  The first mission was to repair her broken wheel chair.  Parts were switched out and soon Mary Lou was able to maneuver from room to room.  Leaving Mary Lou to enjoy her wheel chair, the American Legion Family #411 grabbed chain saws, skill saws, drills, shovels, rakes, ladders and hammers and went to work.  They rebuilt a wheel chair ramp, removed trees and trimmed others, installed a ceiling fan, installed a mailbox, raked many leaves and did routine maintenance on the property.  The day's highlight was seeing Mary Lou's expression when a stove arrived to replace her worn out one.

Tears filled Mary Lou's eyes as she looked around and saw everything that had been done.  She said, "Thank you so much; I appreciate every cotton-picking one of you!"  Her eyes rested on a cedar tree in the corner of her yard.  She smiled as she told us the story of the marriage tree.  When Carl and Mary Lou married, they planted a cedar sapling.  Today, that sapling is a 50 foot cedar tree.  Mary Lou said, "The tree grew as our marriage grew."  Thanks to the American Legion Family clearing the overgrowth, Mary Lou can view the marriage tree from her front window and door while remembering the 38 years she and Carl shared.

The American Legion Family #411 freely gave their time, energy and skills to make a difference for Mary Lou, our community and our little corner of the world.  Volunteering were: Robert Barnum, Dennis Baragary Jr., Ralph Beckwith, Don Bohnsack, Linda Bohnsack, Saxon Brittingham, Terri Brittingham, Linda Caudle, Michael Caudle, Jim Cunningham, George Grimm, Arizonia Hill, Dakota Hill, Lena Hill, Tommy Hill, Forrest Holderman, Jack LeRoy, Marilyn LeRoy, Dave Meredith, Kay Michaud, Roger Michaud, Tyler Michaud, Marjean Neve, John Overend, Jim Timmons and Terry White.

Article and picture by Linda Caudle, American Legion Auxiliary #411 - Lansing, KS