| Edith Dumm is a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Post 7909 of Jacksonville, Florida. When she heard about the Atlantic Coast Young Marines desire to travel to World War II sites in Germany and France and be present for the D-Day Anniversary, she got to work as she always does. A humble little table with a small sign explaining the cause was set up at Post 7909. After that Eadie was a whirlwind making cookies and packaging them in little baggies. The patrons loved the array of orange balls, bourbon balls, date nut balls, zucchini bread, and pumpkin bread, to name a few. Then to pump up the donations even more, she assembled new or nearly new items that might attract buyers. Between December 1, 2022, to April 30, 2023, her tireless efforts netted $600 for the youth trip. What one determined, unselfish woman can do with her talent and perseverance inspires all of us. She never asks for money for the supplies, and we all know she would refuse our offers anyway. | |||||
| On another recent occasion, one of our auxiliary members came to the post with her young son, who takes acting lessons. He wanted to go on a trip that would give him more acting training but thought it was an impossible dream. The mother persuaded him to do something and not give up. They came up with the idea of making chocolate chip cookies. He and his mother came with his few bags of cookies which he made all by himself, and we set up the humble table with a fast sign. The few bags didn’t last long, but there was money in the jar. Then an amazing thing happened. Different types of cookies suddenly appeared. No one knew who was doing the cookies. They never stopped, and it really didn’t take us long because we knew who the generous baker had to be. Of course, it was Eadie Dumm. Her baking extravaganza paid off, and soon the auxiliary had a check for $500 for that young aspiring actor.
Since becoming an Auxiliary member, she has faithfully provided lunch for Post 7909 every Monday. She does heroic acts every week. She does this because she loves veterans and their families. Married to a Navy veteran for 65 years, Eadie truly honors his service with her Monday luncheons. She seeks out everyone who comes to the post and offers them a delicious homemade lunch or a to-go box for later enjoyment. When other scheduled meals are at the Post, desserts magically appear in the kitchen at the right time. Again it’s generous Eadie giving again. While most people her age are on a golf course or sitting in a rocking chair, she’s looking for ways to help others. What amazes us is her humility. She does not seek accolades or attention for anything she does. It is indeed time to honor this unsung hero! Nominated by Kathy Wright
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