Legion Post

The American Legion Post is sponsoring the National High School Oratorical Contest that can net a local student more than $18,000 in scholarship money.Any high school student in grades nine to 12 and a citizen of the United States is eligible to participate.The contest is meant to develop deeper knowledge and appreciationof the Constitution of the United States.Other objectives of thecontest include the development of leadership speak clearly and intelligently, and the preparation for acceptance of the duties and responsibilities, the rights and privileges of American citizenship.

The first letter took him five drafts and several days to write. Only after sitting down with a beer and staring at the piece of paper did James "Jim" Gouldin find the right things to say.For a man as reticent as Gouldin, letter writing doesn't come easily. The idea of corresponding with a complete stranger whose life was on the line nearly stumped him.But Gouldin overcame his writer's block by remembering how much letters meant to him while fighting in the Korean War. The 59-year-oldNavy veteran, who proudly wears his patriotism on his sleeve, wantedto help boost the spirits of the soldiers in the Persian Gulf.

Mount Airy community churches are holding Lenten lunches and devotional services from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesdays through March 20 at Calvary United Methodist Church. The lunches are free and all are welcome. Child care will be available during services. An offering will be taken each week to support the work of Mount Airy NET, which provides food and financial help to residents in need. The churches that will provide lunch and lead the service are: Locust Grove Church of the Brethren on Wednesday; and Prospect/Marvin Chapel UMC on March 20. Information: 301-829-0358.

Manchester resident Mandy Kent will represent Carroll County tomorrow night in the district level of the American Legion's 56th annual National High School Oratorical Contest.Mandy, who is a junior at North Carroll High School, will be one of three contestants from Western Maryland vying for prize money and the opportunity to compete at the state-level contest in Annapolis on March 7.The district contest, which also features winners from Frederick and Washington counties, will take place at 8 p.m. tomorrow at Francis Scott Key American Legion Post 11 in Frederick.

Digests, datebook If you have information for the community digests or datebook, call Ellie Baublitz at 410-751-7910 during the day, leave a voice mail message after hours, or fax news releases to 410-751-7916. Thirty-seven donors participated in the Mount Airy Chiropractic Center's holiday blood drive, which collected 25 units of blood for the American Red Cross on Nov. 23. David E. Koronet, chiropractor and donor chairman, thanks everyone who donated and helped with the event. The next blood drive will be held from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Jan. 28 at Calvary United Methodist Church on South Main Street in Mount Airy.

Many Memorial Day observances are scheduled for the Baltimore area today. Among them:* ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY* 9 a.m. Annapolis. Parade, starting at Amos Garrett Boulevard. To National Cemetery on West Street for services, then down West Street, through downtown to U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery for services, out to Memorial Circle at City Dock, more services. West Street, College Avenue and Randall Street will be closed from 8:45 a.m. to 10 a.m.* BALTIMORE* 10:45 a.m., West Baltimore. American Legion services at Baltimore National Cemetery on Frederick Avenue.

DIANE D. (nee Cameron) RUSSELL of Jacobus, PA. Born March 21, 1945 in Baltimore, MD, and went to be with the Lord on Sunday, May 29, 2005. She was surrounded by friends and family as Angels led her on the journey into her new life. She was the daughter of Eleanore (nee Wheeler) Cameron and the late Elmer Cameron of Baltimore, MD. She was a graduate of Eastern High School, Baltimore, MD. She worked as an independent Certified Real Estate Appraiser and as an Associate Real Estate Broker. She formerly worked as an adjudicator for the Department of Veterans Affairs and helped disabled and wounded veterans receive their benefits.

On Sept. 5, 1990, Milton F. Zientek's hard work began to pay off. Months of soliciting donations from area businesses had raised $10,000 for his American Legion post -- enough to build a veterans memorial complete with a 30-foot flag pole in Curtis Bay.But 3 1/2 years later, the small plot of land at Church Street and Fairhaven Avenue has yet to be fully transformed. Mr. Zientek, 69, a World War II veteran, blames area youths for vandalizing and stealing what volunteers have painstakingly worked to build.

Carroll County will celebrate Memorial Day with several observances: Uniontown Improvement Association will sponsor a small Memorial Day parade and memorial service beginning at 2:30 p.m. today at the Lutheran Church parking lot. The service is organized by resident Dave Bennett, who served in Vietnam. Bennett said the parade will include the Marines Corps league color guard and himself. "We usually pick people up as we go along," he said. "I'll make a few remarks at the Lutheran Cemetery, and then everyone is welcome to join us at our house for lemonade and cookies."

EPIPHANY EPISCOPAL Church regrets that it must postpone the English Country Tea scheduled for Saturday. The Odenton Heritage Society Bank Building Open House, planned in conjunction with the tea, also has been postponed. A new date will be posted in this column when it is scheduled.Ready for kindergarten?Odenton Elementary School is sponsoring a family activity hour for children ages 4 and 5 who will enter kindergarten next year and their parents, from 6: 30 p.m. to 7: 30 p.m. April 30 at the school.