LIVINGSTON COUNTY
VETERANS AUXILIARY MEMBER OF THE YEAR 2007

LINDA WALLACE

of American Legion Post 419 Ladies Auxiliary, Pinckney

Linda Wallace grew up and went to grade school in Whitmore Lake, Michigan and to high school in Dexter where she graduated in 1966.  She is the daughter of Hank and Doris Brower who live in Whitmore Lake.  Her father served in the Marine Corps during World War II. One month out of high school Linda married her high school boyfriend, Jim Wallace, and shortly afterwards he was drafted during the Vietnam War era into the Army.  After his basic training he was assigned to Fort Richardson, Alaska, and Linda accompanied him there during his two years of military service from 1966 to 1968.  She did office work for Shell Oil Company during that time. Linda and Jim have remained married for 40 years, and together they raised two daughters and a son, Angela Wallace who lives in Brighton, Alysha Garbacik who lives with her husband Rich in Howell, and Anthony Wallace who lives with his wife Marsha in Pinckney.  They have three grandchildren. Linda worked for 25 years for a book manufacturer, Sheridan Books, in Chelsea, Michigan, where she did office work, including payroll, accounts receivable and accounts payable.  She retired from there in 2001.

Linda has lived in the Pinckney area since 1970, and in 1973 was a charter member when the American Legion Post 419 Ladies Auxiliary was formed.  She was the first Ladies Auxiliary president at that time, and then served as treasurer, and in many committee chairs.  She was less active there during the time the children were growing up and she was also working full time. Since her retirement Linda has served again as treasurer, and as chair of many committees, and is currently in her third consecutive term as president of the Post 419 Ladies Auxiliary.  She also currently serves at the American Legion 6^th District of Michigan as recording secretary, and as chair of the Ladies Auxiliary Emergency Fund Committee. In her three terms as president of the Ladies Auxiliary Linda has helped to lead the post back from a decline in building care, membership, and activity into a remodeled, financially solvent, and revitalized Post and Auxiliary, with increasing membership and activities.  She and the Auxiliary assist in putting on activities and fundraisers of many kinds, including craft shows and bazaars, yard sales, scrap booking, classic car shows , dances, holiday parties, and every month spaghetti dinners and country breakfasts for the public. 

Many of the funds and collected items from these events go to help veterans in VA hospitals, our troops in Iraq, homeless veterans, needy families for Christmas, and others. Linda participates in Memorial Day and St Patrick’s Day parades in Pinckney, and in other ceremonies honoring veterans in the community.  She recently helped start Red Cross blood drives as the Post.In addition to all these volunteer functions and duties in her spare time Linda likes to read books, go motorcycling with her husband, play golf, travel, and spend time with her family and the grandchildren. For all of her service to veterans, community and country the Livingston County Veterans Council, comprised of the 23 veterans and auxiliary organizations in the county, has elected Linda Wallace to be the Livingston County Veterans Auxiliary Member of the Year 2007.