Millie Fleming
West Annapolis

I am recommending the following two dedicated women into the Hall of Fame for the Ladies Auxiliary to the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Fire Association.

At our last company meeting we were reminiscing back to the earlier days of the ladies auxiliary and the ladies that made it what is today. The two women that I am about to mention were the backbone to the ladies auxiliary. They were the women who were always there. They both attended the county, state and local fire company meetings they were the familiar faces at every carnival, every dinner, every bingo night or any other event that West Annapolis Fire Department sponsored. Both of these women spent many a night and day in the kitchen preparing meals for the firefighters. The following are the continued reasons why I am recommending the two women into the “Hall of Fame":

Let me first introduce you to my Mom, Mary-Smith Jensen. She joined the, ladies auxiliary on June 16, 1958 and was a lifetime member of the West Annapolis Ladies Auxiliary. Over her many years of service and dedication she held several offices within the company. My mother was a very strong and hard worker. Living across from the West Annapolis Fire Department, she spent a lot of her time helping with company functions. Carnivals, bingo dinners, and etc. For many years she attended and supported the county and state auxiliary. In later years, due to her health she was unable to attend the meetings. My Mother passed away in June 1992. I will always remember the times growing up and attending many county, state and local fire department events. As the daughter of a woman in the ladies auxiliary, I remember the late nights of making sandwiches for the fire fighters on large multi-alarm fires (before the Alarmers were formed). They would go to the local grocery stores and purchase food to make the sandwiches. soups, and other food. The grocery stores would open up late at night to supply and support the Fire Department. The food was made in our kitchen and taken to the fire scene. This happened on any given day or night.

Millie Fleming is another amazing lady who with my mother changed the course of the "Ladies Auxiliary" in our company. Millie joined on October 4th, 1965. Millie also was invaluable in preparing food at my Mother's house. Over the years Millie held several offices in our company and attended county, state, and local meetings as well.

She also attended all of the functions that the Fire Department had until her health problems. She is still a very important part of our auxiliary. When we have any function, Millie is always the one to make sure that the event's organized menu planned (Millie was known for her wonderful chicken salad) and everything was going smoothly. This is one of her many specialties.

Our organization is very fortunate to have these two women. If it weren't for the dedication of women like my Mother and Millie our organization would not be what it is today. Over the course of time our organization has gone through some rebuilding years.

Those rebuilding years made me realize that our auxiliary is strong and will continue to be strong and continue to grow. It would mean a great deal to myself and the other women in our organization, if you would consider these two women as nominations for the Hall of Fame.

They may not have held positions at the county or state level, but they were always willing to support each new president and the officer. Whatever events where planned for the year they always supported them with time and talent.

Submitted by: Vicki Ogilvie, President
March 18, 2002