News Releases for 2023
September 2023
Auxiliary Unit 166 Officers and Executive Committee Members Marti Marron, President; Lisa Capecci 1 st VP; Emily Nock 2 nd VP; Teddy Rozzano, Chaplain; Deb Helmle, Sgt at Arms; Kirsten Brown, Historian; and Executive Committee members Penny Matthews, Tina Prezoitti, and
Jessie Parsons.
Karen Thompson, Past Unit 166 President, presenting Kirsten Brown with her Auxiliary Member of the Year award
A surprise "See you later" party was held to wish Kirsten and Scott Brown safe travels to their new home in FLorida. They will remain members at Post 166.
The Browns received two Florida prints to adorn their new home
Incoming President Marti Marron with immediate Past President Karen Thompson
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September 2023
Auxiliary Education Committee member Delaney McDaniel is surrounded by “Amazon Smiles.” She prepared an Amazon Wish List of school supplies requested by Worcester County schools, and shared the list on Amazon and with friends and family, who purchased the supplies. They were shipped by Amazon to Delaney, who sorted them to be distributed to local schools. ALA Unit 166 will be making a big impact with these supplies as part of the ALA Give 10 to Education Program. Delaney currently serves as the Department of Maryland, Honorary Junior President.
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August 2023
Marine Veteran Gets New Flag After Storm Left His In Tatters
When one of our summer storms blew through the region, the strong winds left in tatters the Marine Corps flag that Stuart Smith was flying at his house in West Ocean City. Smith is a 97-year-old veteran who served in Korea, where he was wounded and received the Purple Heart. His flag was replaced recently by the First State Detachment of the Marine Corps League after American Legion member Harry Rey learned Smith could not replace it. Harry turned to the First State Marines and soon Smith had a new USMC flag flying.
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March 30, 2023
Vietnam Veterans Celebrated at American Legion Post
All of the local veterans in this photograph served in-country during the Vietnam War and were honored
at the American Legion Post at this year’s Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Celebration.
Local veterans who served in-country during the Vietnam War gathered at Ocean City American Legion Post 166 on March 30 to celebrate the annual Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. The Post, which was decorated with displays and memorabilia from the Vietnam era, provided lunch for the veterans and their family and friends. The Maryland State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented certificates and lapel pins to every veteran, and a 50 th Anniversary Commemoration flag to Vietnam Veteran Gerry Barron, a member of the local Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter.
The last American troops were withdrawn from Vietnam on March 29, 1973. Two recent U.S. Presidents are behind the movement to recognize the day. In 2012, President Barack Obama issued a proclamation to commemorate the 50 th anniversary of the end of the war and to emphasize “the importance of extending to Vietnam veterans the same honor and gratitude we solemnly bestow upon all U.S. military veterans.” In 2017, President Donald Trump signed the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 to officially recognize March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day.
January 2023
Ocean City American Legion Kicks off 2023 Giving with $12,000
Ocean City American Legion Post 166 kicked off its 2023 charitable giving program with donations amounting to $12,000 to six organizations. On the receiving end were the Furnace Town Historic Site, Coastal Hospice, American Legion Comfort Warriors Fund, Diakonia, Worcester County Youth and Family Counseling, Joan Jenkins Foundation, and Atlantic United Methodist Church.
In the accompanying photo, Charity Committee Chair Bo Spicer reads the list of January Donations to the membership prior to the membership vote approving the disbursements.