Author Shirley Raye Redmond reads to LAFRW members at their April 22 Star Spangled Tea. Photo Courtesy LAFRW

LAFRW NEWS RELEASE

On Saturday April 22, more than 50 Republican Women enjoyed tea and delicious cooked items at our Star Spangled Tea in Los Alamos.

Dianne Coane opened the event and welcomed everyone.  Mary Wilhoit gave an opening prayer and Marie Tobin and Cathy Walters led the flag salute.  

Shirley Raye Redmond, local celebrity, author, and patriot was the guest speaker.  She shared amazing stories about World War II women heroes from a new book she is now working on.  She shared about 1000 female pilots, a woman who was a POW for 37 months, a woman who lost her life as well as her 5 children when a Japanese balloon/bomb landed in her backyard in Oregon, and the first Asian woman in the US Navy, who taught others to shoot 50 lb artillery guns.

We also learned about special animal heroes, including CHIPS, a husky, the most decorated military dog; Little Smoky a terrier, who saved the lives of more than 200 men; GI Joe, the War Pigeon, who served in the 56th British Brigade and flew special missions to the front; Bandoola,  the Elephant in Burma, who, with his trainer rescued many elephants from Burma prior to the Japanese invasion,  and Smiling Warrior, a small bear who won the hearts of the men in Poland and helped immensely carrying out dangerous tasks.  These stories will be shared in more detail in Shirley Raye’s new book titled Brave Animal Stories for Kids: 50 True Tales that Celebrate God’s Creation coming out in August 2023 at shirleyrayeredmond.com, Amazon, and other bookstores.

The event concluded with a silent auction.  A good time was had by all.