August 15, 2018 – Allenton, WI – On Sunday, August 19, the Allenton Parade will be dedicated to the only remaining ladies who are charter members of the American Legion Unit 483.
Audrey Rosbeck and Mary Jane Sternat will be honored for their years of contributions to the Auxiliary and the greater Allenton Area.
On March 13, 1951 with President Cora Boden leading the Auxiliary the unit became recognized by the national American Legion Auxiliary as Unit 483. Boden was the mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother of many members.
One of her daughters, Audrey Rosbeck, joined her in forming the unit along with fellow charter member Sternat.
The Legion Post 483, Fohl-Martin was formed and both the post and unit men and women, met in the upstairs area of the old fire station on Main Street in Allenton [408 Main Street].
The two organizations met there until the 1960’s when they bought the old public school house at 419 Railroad Street. Initially the Auxiliary met on the first Monday evening and the Legion post met on the first Monday of each month.
The Auxiliary, through its fund raisers, paid for the original playground equipment at the Veterans Park.
President Boden’s tradition of involvement in her community has had far-reaching effects.
In the 1950’s her daughter Pat Hart chaired the operation of the Food Stand for the Annual Legion/Fire Department Picnic.
Hart is still the head cook and bottle washer with help from her family of sons and daughters along with grandkids, sisters [Audrey will be in the kitchen on Sunday], nephews and nieces and many more.
Parade chair Ron Naab along with the picnic chairmen Rodney Delcore and Mike Retzlaff are honored to have the opportunity to acknowledge the presences of these two awesome ladies. “I look forward to the rousing applause from the spectators as these two fine ladies pass through the parade route,” said Ron Naab.