Club news
By The Emporia Gazette (Contact)
Originally published 01:38 p.m., April 7, 2008
Updated 01:38 p.m., April 7, 2008
Sertoma
Aaron Bura was recognized as Sertoman of the Year for 2008 by the Emporia Sertoma Club during the March 26 evening dinner meeting.
Bura has been actively involved for many years with the miniature train in Soden’s Grove Park and is frequently the engineer. Before the Sertoma Club operated the train, Bura helped with the miniature train when he was a member of the Early Bird Optimist Club in the late 1960s. His experience “was invaluable when the Sertomans took over the project,” said the news release.
He worked at the Emporia Post Office for 26 years before he retired in 1987. Earlier, he worked in the insurance business in Emporia.
Bura was a member of the Army Air Corps and served in the Pacific Theater for three years. As a tech sergeant, he controlled radio and radar. He was awarded the Purple Heart after being shot by enemy fire and still carries the Japanese round in his body.
He has been active in veterans’ affairs for many years, having previously served as commander of the Kansas Department of Disabled Veterans. As a volunteer for the Veterans’ Affairs Office, he drives a van to Leavenworth and Kansas City.
He is a member of American Legion Ball-McColm Post 5, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled Veterans, for which he does volunteer work. He also volunteers as a “Red Man” at Newman Regional Health.
Bura graduated from Ramona Grade and High School and attended the University of Kansas where he studied business administration. He and his wife, Mildred, have three children, Tim and Linda Sadowski of Emporia, Rose Anne Bura of Wichita and Dennis and Gwen Bura of Atlanta, Ga.; and three grandchildren in Atlanta, Ga. He lived on a farm in Marion County until he was called into the service.
He and his wife are members of the Messiah Lutheran Church, where he serves as an Elder.
F Nine new members of the Sertoma Club of Emporia were welcomed at the membership dinner on March. The new members are Gary Daines, Mary Wade, Gene Graber, Michelle Breaux, Shaun Parks, Kerri Thompson, Rusty Lidzy, Billy Christian and Cora Brown. Sponsors were members Ulli and Kerry Wallace, Bob Hush, Les Nuessen, Thomas Kriss, Warren Brown and Rod Symmonds. Speakers in March were Jack and Mary Melhorn, who presented a program about the New England area.
Optimists
The Flint Hills Optimists are making plans for the Youth Appreciation Week banquet to be held April 24 in the Flint Hills Room of the ESU Memorial Union. Recent speakers have been Liliana Heredia-Taylor, new director of services for the Lyon County Red Cross and Mike Dorcey, who talked about the new playground at Peter Pan Park. Courtney Graves was welcomed as the club’s newest member.