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600 S 6th Street PO Box 878 Sunnyside, WA 98944
Phone: 509.837.4500 |
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| World War I Auxiliary member receives thanks from local VFW |
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 | | Photo by Frances Potts/Daily Sun News | | Mabel Reilly receives a Memorial Award from Greg Schlieve, memorial chairman of Sunnyside VFW Post 3482. |
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Mabel Reilly, 87 years young, stood in last Monday's heat to receive a certificate of appreciation from Greg Schlieve, memorial chairman of Sunnyside VFW Post 3482.
The award was a belated one, given in thanks to Reilly for a donation made on Memorial Day 2001 by her in the name of World War I Veterans Barracks 565 Auxiliary.
The contribution that helped raise a memorial to all veterans at Lower Valley Memorial Gardens cemetery was the last money in the treasury of the auxiliary, which faded away along with World War I veterans.
"The barracks ceased to exist in the '70s," said Schlieve.
Reilly, who worked her way through the ranks of the local auxiliary, went on to become president of the state auxiliary, which, Schlieve said, also no longer exists.
At the time the donation was presented in 2001 to the Sunnyside VFW post, which was responsible for building the monument, Reilly checked with the state organization to ask if a contribution to the memorial was a fitting use for the last of the money raised by an auxiliary that supported the men who served in World War I.
The answer was a resounding yes.
Monday's little ceremony for two at the cemetery north of Sunnyside was poignant in its simplicity. Reilly was all smiles as she graciously received a plaque on which a portion of the memorial is pictured.
"And now I'm going to play bridge!" Reilly stated, as she eased her way out of the sun and into the car she still drives to her weekly card sessions. |
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