On Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4 & 5, we held our semi-annual poppy distributions and raised money for our Veterans Relief Fund at three area grocery stores – QFC Westgate in Edmonds, QFC Speedway in Mukilteo and Town & Country market in Mill Creek. Given the weather conditions, including power outages experienced that week, as well as a rather light turnout of participating members we did remarkably well, bringing in a total of $14,000 over the two days (after all all adjustments).
In past years, we have staffed as many as five stores, but it has become more difficult to staff even the three locations. We have lost a number of our regular participants over the past couple of years, some of whom have moved away and others who are no longer physically able to be with us, or who have passed on. We are very much in need of new members and participation from our more inactive members in this and the Memorial Day event. 20 Post members participating, out of a total of around 200 on the roster? Surely more of us can give up a couple of hours twice a year to help out.
The participants were:
Duane Bowman
Calvin Barnard
Carl Kurfess
Dan Doyle
Charlie Gaul
Pete Farmer
Les Abel
Nia Parvini
Vivian Olsen
Tom Hallums
Michael Reagan
Rose Gilliland
Alden Gilliland
Don Stapleton
Bryan Rowe
Charlie Smith
Mike Denton
Linda Denton
Dan Mullene
Steve Brown
Jim Murdock
Jim Traner
Holy Rosary Girl Scouts
Chaplain Doyle recruited a group of Girl Scouts from Holy Rosary church in Edmonds, which included his granddaughter. A creative way to draw attention to our cause. Many thanks to non-member participants, Edmonds City Councilor and USAF Veteran Vivian Olson, and Linda Denton, wife of past Commander Mike Denton, as well as American Legion Post 66 Adjutant Dan Mullene.
