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In last week's Tales of Sarasota the photograph shown was of Barnes Hamburgers on what is now Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. Also in the picture was Sarasota's Bicycle Lady, Margaret Myrwang who came here from Washington State sometime in 1953. During World War II she served in the U.S. Army as a nurse. When she applied for membership in the local American Legion Post she was told she would have to join the Ladies Auxiliary. Claiming she was not a wife or widow of a veteran, but a veteran, she became the Post's first female member.

Margaret was a talented still-life painter and had attended Ringling Art School. She could be seen at various outdoor locations with her easel and palette capturing scenes of local color. Frequently she could be seen doing head-stands to, as she'd say, to combat brain-drain.

Directing automobile traffic at busy intersections was another of her hobbies. She would often come in to our bicycle shop and proudly tell us how many accidents she had prevented by blowing her whistle and waving her orange glove-clad hands.

Margaret passed away at age 67 in December of 1983 while in the James Haley Veterans Administration Hospital in Tampa. She left several survivors, but no replacement.