Carrie Furlong Taylor, a long time resident of Los Alamitos and American Legion Auxiliary member, was honored by the Department of California as the “American Legion Auxiliary Member of the Year.”
Carrie Furlong Taylor, a long time resident of Los Alamitos and American Legion Auxiliary member, was honored by the Department of California as the “American Legion Auxiliary Member of the Year.”
Taylor has lived and went to school in Los Alamitos. She became a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 716, Los Alamitos in 2007. She currently is the Unit Chaplain and serves as Community Service Chairman.
Taylor was presented her award for being the American Legion Auxiliary Member of the Year at a luncheon during the 2014 American Legion Auxiliary Convention in Santa Clara on June 20.
Taylor will now be eligible to compete for the National title of American Legion Auxiliary Member of the Year at the National Convention in August.
Unit 716 Past President Deborah Driscoll wrote the nomination letter for Taylor on behalf of the Unit.
Letter of recommendation
The entire membership of Unit 716 Los Alamitos has unanimously selected Carolyn “Carrie” Taylor as our nominee for ALA Department of California Unit Member of the Year. She is the ultimate representative of what this award stands for.
Carrie has been a member of our unit since 2007, and recruited three additional generations of her family – her mother, daughter, and granddaughter – to join her. She currently serves as our Unit Chaplain and Community Service Program chairman, positions she has held in years prior, and is so perfectly suited for. Her various projects and services in support of these positions are always widely anticipated, extremely well run, and hugely successful, due in no small part to her hard work and unflagging enthusiasm.
Carrie is a strong advocate for Ronald McDonald House, coordinating, preparing and serving meals at the Orange facility with the help of our senior and junior members, as well as offering friendship and comfort to the families in residence. She puts those same talents to use during her unit ward visits to the VALB, with a smile and tender word for many a wounded veteran. She also volunteered for the Juniors Reverse Trick or Treat visit at the VALB, and helped decorate, fill and distribute “Beat the Winter Blahs” gift baskets to female veterans hospitalized at the VA.
This year was the second time Carrie raised enough money, by herself, to provide for an entire military family participating in the Operation Santa Claus project at the LBVA. Her employer hosts a very fancy Christmas party every year, and Carrie raises money by “auctioning” a date with her to the event. She then follows up with all the military families our unit has served, and raises additional monies when she throws her annual Easter Bonnet luncheon fundraiser. If invited, she stays in contact with these families to make sure they have information about aid programs, as well as emotional and financial support on behalf of our unit.
Every year Carrie spearheads our unit’s participation in the JFTB “Race on the Base”. Usually she is getting her hands sticky as she first slices crates of oranges, then disburses the treats at one of the spots along the race course. This year she also ran in the 10K event, helping to raise $7000 for Honoring Our Fallen. She is a yearly supporter of the American Cancer Society walkathon, not only as a unit organizer but also as an active participant. She has also set up a yearly visit to the Chapel of the Four Chaplains at the Queen Mary, complete with picnic afterwards. It has proven to be a fun and popular way for all members to learn about and appreciate this part of our Auxiliary legacy.
Carrie spent all day helping at the Military Children’s Party/Ball held at Los Alamitos JFTB on April 16th. This year, as always, she will head our contingent of members participating in the Memorial Day services at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Cypress.
Aside from organizing her own fundraising activities, Carrie is always volunteering for duty during the unit’s monthly dinners, weekly Taco Tuesday nights, Legion breakfasts, our Octoberfest fundraiser and other special projects. Everyone knows if there is a function at the post, and you need to talk to Carrie, you will find her in the kitchen washing dishes.
