Newsletter

American Legion Post 56 Monthly Bulletin

April 2007

Commander's Message

Well, by now you should have sprung into spring.  Isn’t is amazing how one hour can effect your daily living activities and the way you do things.  But you know that is the way of everything today - just one little thing can have a major effect on something else.  Post 56 is no different.  A few extra members can help us reach our goal of 1068.  We now have 1007 so maybe you know someone you could sign up.  Thanks for your patriotic support.  Another little difference maybe whether we have served 50 meals or 75 meals on Thursday night.  Also, whether there is an event every weekend or just three weekends.  I guess the point is, we need to do enough to make a profit for the club to gain revenue rather than break even.

I thank everyone that was able to attend the Post Everlasting ceremony in March for our Comrades that have gone before us.  There were 30 members names entered in the records this past year.  However, the Honor Guard served over 80 funerals and thank you for your great job.  Also, at the meeting Post 56 Auxiliary presented the Post with a check for $88 for our 88th anniversary.  Thanks for the cake too.

We have All Fools’ day on Palm Sunday this year so prepare yourself for Holy week and remember to worship this special time of the church year.  Please check your calendar for the different events and activities and if you misplace your flyer check the web-site at www.americanlegionpost56.com for new updates.

If you would like to help with the Legion baseball you can send in or leave a financial donation at the bar to help finance the program this year.  Flyer will be hung up at the bar and we thank you for your support.  Also, please watch for baseball fundraisers.

The executive committee has been discussing what we can do to keep the club more prosperous and eliminate financial crisis from time to time.  It has been decided to work on a debt elimination drive.  It is important we look and plan for the future.

Let’s pray for ending to our fighting and bring peace to everyone.

For God and Country
Arnie Mulso, Commander Post 56

Thank you to the VFW for your donation to the Popcorn Machine

Club Update

Hi!  Hope everyone had a great March.  It was a lot of fun up here at the club.  I hope everyone enjoyed Paul Knutson’s Elvis Show and our live Comedy Act. Please watch the calendars in coming month’s, it was so entertaining we’ve asked them to return.

Well April is here.  Lots going on again.  April 6th - Fountain Lake Sportsman Fish Fry serving 5 pm - 7:30 pm.  April 8th - Happy Easter.  April 9th - Board meeting at 6 pm.  April 16th - Supper at 6 pm followed by 7 pm Post meeting.  April 22nd - Legion Breakfast hosted by the Auxiliary  serving from 8 am - 12:30 pm.  April 28th - Deer Hunters Fish Fry serving 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm.  April 29th - Saddle Club Breakfast.  Remember Fridays - Laurie’s Karoake - April 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th, it’s always a grand time.

Have a wonderful month.  Thank you to all for your continued support.

Heidi Watson
Food and Beverage Manager

F.Y.I.

This is the list of deceased members of the American Legion who were honored during the Post Everlasting Ceremony at the meeting on Monday, March 19.

Mark A. Staloch, Edwin Bogenschutz, Oscar R. Landaas, Richard J. Sigurdson, Jerrold H. Mickelson, Paul (Swede) Weigel, Wilbert H. Pagel, Eugene A. N. Otterson, Kenneth J. Noaeill, Fred H. Hanson, Luther L. Olsen, Robert D. Larson, Dennis Vanderwoude, Ruth E. Pleiss, David J. Renchin Sr., John J. Nordland, Lawrence A. White, Donald E. Turnbull, Raymond B. Hershey, Albert Veldman, Clayton F. Knudson, Harold Carroll, John M. Enger Sr., Robert Kuehl, Orlan S. Erickson, Howard J. Christensen, Lyle B. Ellinghuysen, Robert H. Michaelis, Deed A. Casey and Ruth J. Loken.

Their service to the nation is appreciated.  May they rest in peace.

Ed Shannon

Editor

Auxiliary News

It is spring...............the calendar says it’s so................

But I won’t believe it until there’s no more snow.

Anyway, it is time to shed our heavy winter wraps and get busy on spring projects.  In April our Auxiliary will be packing boxes for our troops overseas.   The Post Office sells a shipping box that we can fill with whatever we can get in it and ship overseas.  We are eager to have names and addresses of specific people who are serving overseas and are related to our members.  We will need such things as toiletries, socks, playing cards, telephone cards, and snacks that will travel well.

Regarding our vets, I am sure you have read of the deplorable conditions in which some of our wounded heroes are trying to recuperate in veterans’ hospitals.  NOW is the time to write your Congressman and plead with them to take action to improve the care.

On Monday March 19 our Auxiliary ladies helped our Post 56 observe Post Everlasting and the 88th anniversary of the American Legion.  We had a good crowd of about 80 people to share a fine dinner and then join in the solemn prayers and songs to commemorate our comrades who have passed away in the past year.  Sadly the list was quite long.

Sunday, April 22 our Auxiliary will help with the pancake breakfast in the Legion dining room.  If you can volunteer your help, we would appreciate it.  It is a good fundraiser for our unit.

A problem has arisen with this modern day technology.  Many people no longer use a land line phone so are not listed in the telephone directory.  If you use only a cell phone, please inform us of your number so we can keep in touch.

As promised, I brought back lots of pictures from the OSCAR party in San Francisco, as well as the OSCAR for best costume, as “The Queen”.  Who says old people can’t have fun!?

Our nominating committee will present a proposed slate of officers for the coming year at our next meeting, Wed. April 4 at 7:00.  The Board will meet at 5:15 Monday April 2..........no fooling!  Monday April 9 we will meet at 1:00 to complete annual reports and we hope all committee chairs can be there.

For God and Country

Joyce Rhody, President

UPDATING

As a 41-year member of the Leo Carey Post, I am sending you a news release I received from the Minneapolis VA Medical Center recently.  I thought you would approve of publicizing favorable information concerning veterans from your Post.  (Incidentally, a few years ago I gave the Post a World War field snare drum, with the name Tom Carey on it).  I moved to Hayward, Wis. a few years ago but hold membership there.

Don R. Jacobson, 41-year member of the Albert Lea American Legion post and 87-year old World War II veteran received notification recently from the Minneapolis VA Medical Center that he had won two blue ribbons for his piano renditions at the recent Minneapolis VA Veterans Art competition.  He will compete for national honors in May and a possible invitation to the National Veterans Arts Festival in St. Louis in the Fall.  The competition involved thousands of veterans from 104 VA medical facilities throughout the U.S.

RAYMOND R. KILLIAN
Born Feb. 15, 1919.  Died March 17, 2007.  He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a member of the American Legion, the VFW, and the Eagles.

GORDON G. MICHAELIS
Born May 22, 1932.  Died Feb. 26, 2007.  He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and was a member of the American Legion and the Eagles.

Dollar-A-Month (D.A.M.)

Thank you for your contributions to the Dollar-A-Month fund.  All contributions support the Post 56 club facilities, maintenance & continued growth of our organization.

Judi Olson,

D.A.M. Account Manager

To make a donation, click on the link to our D.A.M. Fund Account Page.

The deadline for the May issue will be the Wednesday following the post meeting.  This will be the deadline in the future!

Veterans Memorial Update

As of March 20th a total of 2,116 of the paver bricks and 41 sponsorships have been sold to honor those who served in the nation’s armed forces.  There’s still room for more paver bricks and more sponsorships!

A check with Jon Rhiger indicates the dedication of the now completed Freeborn County Veterans’ Memorial will be held at a future date to be announced.

Post 447 VFW and Auxiliary meetings are held on the 2^nd Monday of every month at the American Legion Post 56 Clubrooms @ 7:00pm. Come and join VFW Post 447. 

Veterans helping Veterans.

Book Your Upcoming Special Event

with Heidi  373-7993