BY NATALIE GILSTRAP
Special to the Monitor
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – AMVETS Post 86 recently received the prestigious 2023 National Americanism Post Award. This award was made possible through the organization’s dedication to furthering the ideals of Americanism and to the eight McRae Elementary School students who won in the AMVETS Americanism Program contest.
“It’s actually very rewarding.” Said Tanya Marheine, District X Commander and Department of Florida Americanism/AADAA Chairperson.
On Monday evening, the organization held a recognition ceremony to recognize key players who contributed to receiving the award. The ceremony consisted of Marheine speaking to the audience and presenting a slide show of the Americanism contest winners along with their drawings and essay on “What does freedom look like.”
Nehemiah Hershey, Parker Wilson, Steve Gibson, Carter Cloutier, Kendrek Blackshear, Makayla Sherouse, Grayson Roberts, and Olivia Yount were the winners.
Marheine also presented the 2023 National Americanism Post Award to the Ladies Auxiliary in honor of their efforts and contribution.
In addition, the event had Post 86 AMVETS Riders be awarded the National Recognition for Quality Chapter Award for 2023 and a donation made to Soldiers Freedom Outdoors. The ceremony concluded with the group presenting awards to Charlie Woinski and recently passed away former Ladies Auxiliary Madame President Nancy Keefner for their service and dedication to the organization.
“Miss Nancy Keefner was a huge player in this,” said Marheine. “If it wasn’t for her, our Madame President Nancy Keefner, I’m not sure we could’ve received this huge award from nationals.”
AMVETS Post 86 is a nonprofit civic organization that is dedicated to providing support to veterans everywhere.
The VA Hospital and the Fisher House Foundation are some of the many organizations that AMVETS Post 86 helps support. In addition, they are heavily engaged with their community.
“We do community involvement. We help the homeless, we do the senior citizen dinners, we do Veterans Day, and we participate in the ROTC programs,” said Marheina. “Just a lot of community things we do here.”
The group also provides scholarship opportunities to high school seniors and hosts fundraisers to support community projects. Lastly, they donate to the local food pantry.
