Money For the Trail Maids

After Alabama NAACP President Edward Vaughn said the Azalea Trail Maid dresses remind him of slave days, support of more than one kind is rolling in for the girls.

Edward Vaughn told News 5 on Thursday that the girls would be the laughing stock of the inauguration and shouldn't represent the state. "I just think that we needed something that could show Alabama's great progress rather than something that shows a shameful past."

Mobile County Commissioner Steve Nodine says enough's enough. He sent Vaughn a letter asking for an apology. "I was extremely ticked off, extremely ticked off."

Trail maid President Andy Marasca won't comment on the controversy but tells us the girls and the dresses are always a big hit. "The dresses get noticed and oh... so beautiful. It's always a positive reaction. In seven years, I can't remember a negative reaction to one of these girls."

Of the current 50 Trail Maids, Marasco says 39 are white, 8 are black and 3 are Asian.

The 3-day trip to Washington will cost the organization about 32,000 dollars and the clock is ticking. The Trail Maids have spent the past month raising money for this trip. They're done everything from bagging groceries at the store to asking drivers for money at red lights.

The girls alone have raised about 8,000 dollars. Now the county and city plan to pitch in 10,000 each to make sure the girls get to Washington. The girls need 4,000 more to make the trip.