Legion Auxiliary to honor veterans with luminary trail in park

COVID-19 has limited or prohibited many activities this year and among them are programs honoring our veterans. Area schools in particular have traditionally held Veterans Day programs that see good attendance. Some programs may still be held at the schools but will be virtual.

“Needless to say, our veterans may not feel as honored as they usually are,” Windy Green, ALA Unit 72 vice-president, said.

American Legion Auxiliary Unit 72 wants to help make up for this with a special Veterans Luminary Trail.

The program will be a drive-through event to be held on Tallahatchie Trails, which is the road leading to the tennis and soccer complex.

The drive-through will be Saturday, Nov. 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. and special music will be available on WNAU 1470 AM.

Grades K-5 in all area schools will be decorating luminary bags provided by the American Legion Auxiliary of New Albany. “We are very excited to be able to do this in cooperation with city and county schools,” Green said. “There will be around 3,000 bags lit from our schools for our Veterans that night.”

The pandemic has also hurt the group’s fundraising efforts so they are accepting donations for this and other ongoing projects for local veterans as well as those in the VA home in Oxford.
“I am hoping we can make this event a yearly tradition to honor our veterans regardless of Covid-19, other sickness, or even physical impairments,” Green said.

Anyone willing to help can purchase a set of red white and blue luminary bags $20 to honor a veteran (Green said to be sure to include the name of the veteran and branch of service, or message).)

For $100, a person or organization becomes a Red Star donor that comes with yellow ribbons and tags around a lamppost along the trail.

A $500 donation makes one a White Star Donor who gets 10 red, white and blue bag sets, a yellow lamp post ribbon with tag, sponsor name on ribbon tag and sign with luminary bags with gold star, five Facebook promotional ads as a Gold Star sponsor and listing in the program as a White Star donor.

A $1,000 contribution makes one a Blue Star Donor. That comes with 20 red, white and blue bag sets, a yellow lamp post ribbon with tag, a sponsor name on a ribbon tag and sign with the luminary bags, a red, white and blue star sign with name among luminaries and on a tag for the ribbon, daily Facebook promotion as a Red, White and Blue Star Sponsor and radio spot with WNAU.

Each donor will be listed as Red, White, and Blue Star donors with ads in programs to be handed out as patrons enter.

“This drive-through event will be a beautiful tribute to our veterans, and donations to our local American Legion and Auxiliary will be accepted at the end of the route,” she said.

Checks for contributions should be made payable to ALA Unit 72. Anyone who is interested in volunteering or who has any questions is asked to contact Windy Green at 601-503-3574 or Heather Whittington at 662-316-5295.

Mail all donations to Heather Whittington, 1050 CR 56, Myrtle, MS 38650 no later than Nov. 10. Pick-up can be arranged.