Provided by: Tracey Martiny
ALA Unit 46, Alpine, WY
President
During December the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 46 – Alpine hosted two programs to honor veterans and support the community. On December 16th, the second annual Wreaths Across Star Valley Ceremony was performed at the Alpine and Thayne Veterans Memorial. Wreaths were laid during each ceremony by scouts representing the Prater Peak Pack #1307 to remember and honor our veterans.
We were gathered at each ceremony along with millions of Americans participating in ‘Wreaths Across America’ to pay respect to service members of the Marine Corps, United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines, and their families who dedicated their lives to protecting our nation and its freedom. By laying the wreath, we honor those who sacrificially served and illustrate acts of service recognizing our commitment to serve the Star Valley community with a common purpose that reflects compassion, unselfish sacrifices, and commitment to others.
The second program is an annual tradition to serve the community by planning and organizing a Christmas Food Basket program. It is the unit’s largest service project of the year that comes together the week before Christmas. This year the unit worked with community partners to serve over 140 individuals with baskets filled with grocery items for a Christmas dinner and additional staple items. This year the program grew from an average of 25 families to 46. This is a remarkable increase in need, yet with the assistance of those in our community, we were able to bless all the families that were nominated. It was an honor to work with the following organizations that support this program through donations of funds, resources, and time: Alpine Dental Care, Alpine Fire Department, Alpine Standard (Triple J Companies), Alpine Valley Resort, American Legion – Unit 46, Bank of Jackson Hole – Alpine, Bridger Animal Hospital, Broulim’s – Alpine, Century 21 – Shay Scaffide, First Bank of Wyoming – Alpine, Four Pines Physical Therapy, Hunter’s Appliance, New West Construction, Print Star, Ravenlunatics, Silverstar Communications, Staples, Teton Medical Consulting, Top of the Rockies, Yankee Doodle, and White Buffalo.
To be involved and serve in the efforts of the local veterans’ organizations contact any of the following: Alpine American Legion Post #46 Commander Dennis Christianson at (307) 880-4482, Alpine American Legion Post #46 Auxiliary President Tracey Martiny (907) 854-6825, Afton American Legion Post #49 Commander Ty Campbell at (307) 248-1437, Valley Post #4797 Commander Jerry Lainhart at (307) 880-8887, or VFW Star Valley Post #4797 Auxiliary President Jill Robert at (307) 880-7420. To learn more about Wreaths Across America visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/.
