Legion Post

On October 13, 2004 WILLIAM YOUNG-HANS, born December 28, 1919. He was a master craftsman, a WWII Air Force veteran, avid member of the American Legion Post #130, Perry Hall, and an active member of the MSSA Fishing Club. Mr. Younghans is husband of the late Angela Younghans. He is survived by three children, Diane Hess, Craig Younghans and Franz Younghans; grandchildren Bethany Thompson, Marcy Thompson, Rachel Younghans; one sister Helen Tragott; beloved friend, companion and partner, Norma Mochinal.

Group to raise funds to buy calling cards for military overseas The Yingling-Ridgely Jr. Girls Unit 7472 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary will sponsor a Back Yard Mini Fair, "Help a Hero ... Call Home," from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at 10372 Tuscany Road, Ellicott City. The event, which will include games and prizes, refreshments and raffles, will raise money for free calling cards for military personnel serving overseas and for wounded personnel at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda and area veterans' hospitals.

When Gen. John A. Logan issued an order in 1868 to decorate the graves of Union soldiers on May 30, a Westminster woman took the order literally and began one of the longest-running Memorial Day observances in the nation. "Mary Bostwick Shellman followed Gen. John. A. Logan's May 5, 1868, General Order No. 11 to adorn the graves of Union soldiers with flowers," said Westminster Mayor Kevin E. Dayhoff, also a local historian. "She gathered a group of schoolchildren for the task, and they walked from the old schoolhouse on Center Street to Westminster Cemetery."

Despite the vandalism of more than 40 flagpoles this week at an Arbutus American Legion post, leaders there will conduct a scheduled Memorial Day observation tomorrow morning. The service at the Dewey Lowman American Legion Post 109 will begin at 9 a.m. with official military ceremonies. Throughout the day, the post's six television screens will carry the dedication of the World War II memorial in Washington. Early Monday, vandals bent 44 flagpoles to the ground at the post, at 1610 Sulphur Spring Road.

Despite living within an hour's drive of the nation's capital, many Carroll County veterans are declining invitations to the dedication of the National World War II Memorial tomorrow to observe the occasion with their comrades in familiar surroundings. The American Legion Gold Star Post 191 in Mount Airy will mark the dedication with patriotic music, speeches, honors for the post's 200 World War II veterans - with a reading of each of their names - and a 21-gun salute. The personal touches for the veterans would be lost in the crowd of more than 200,000 expected for the dedication on the National Mall.

In 1931, when the Knights of Columbus erected its Santa Maria Council headquarters in Canton, it was such a big deal that the mayor laid the cornerstone and the Catholic archbishop dedicated the edifice after a big parade. And why not? In those days, Santa Maria, at Highland Avenue and Fleet Street in Canton, was the fraternal order's biggest council in Maryland. Seven decades later, Santa Maria has shrunk from 1,400 members to perhaps 50 who are active, according to Darryl Jurkiewicz, a past grand knight.

LaDeana Wilson says she is passionate about teaching because she truly loves helping students transform their lives. From teaching culinary science to cheering on students during basketball games, Wilson is always ready to serve them, they say. Still, when American Legion Post 60 in Laurel lauded her with its Teacher of the Year honor last month, Wilson was surprised. "It's a tremendous honor," she said proudly, while showing pictures of the event. "I felt like queen for a day." Wilson has been a teacher for 17 years -- including the past four at Howard High School in Columbia, where she teaches culinary science, early childhood development and foods and nutrition.

On December 28, 2003, ROBERT V. HUDGINS, beloved husband of Judy Ann Hudgins, devoted father of Shannon Stuart and her husband Tim Stuart, loving grandfather of Ashley, Jacob and Rachael Stuart. Son of Phyllis Mae Fox and brother of Dennis G. Hudgins A Memorial Service will be held at the Parkton American Legion Hall, 19520 York Rd. on Friday, January 2 at 11 A.M. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Parkton American Legion Post (21120). Arrangements by family owned Henry W. Jenkins & Sons, 410-343-3000

American Legion Gold Star Post 191 of Mount Airy will hold a family open house from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at 801 Prospect Road. The community and especially veterans are welcome to meet members and find out about the post's programs. The organization supports the community through high school scholarships, holiday memorial services, charities, weekly bingo and local sports teams. The post also helps members with veterans' rights and activities. The post includes the American Legion, an auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion.

Annapolis police were searching last night for a suspect they have charged with murder in the shooting of an Annapolis resident late Friday near an American Legion hall in the western part of the city. Police issued an arrest warrant for Shawn Eric Woodlin, 30, who police believe last lived in the first block of Bunche St. in Annapolis. He was charged with fatally shooting 36-year-old Howard Eugene Stevens of the 300 block of Atwater Drive. Woodlin may be driving a white 1996 Ford truck with Maryland license plate 86L465 and "4X4" written in red on the back, police said.