Newsletter

American Legion Post 56 Monthly Bulletin

August 2006

Commander's Message

Welcome to Post 56!!  Thank you to everyone that has participated this past month by donating to the DAM account (Thank you to Past Commander Haskins for starting that program) and dropping by and purchasing food and/or beverage.  Also, coming soon is Win a Broasted Chicken dinner so come in and check this program out.

Thank you to all the volunteers that put up and took down the flags, served food on the 3^rd of July, Color Guard for marching in the parade, served our 4^th Sunday breakfast, attended Dept. convention, attended Post 56 meeting, worked at bar bingo, Honor Guard for their attending funerals and the list goes on.  These are just some of the things that are happening at Post 56 that people just think gets done, but not without a patriotic feeling and wanting Post 56 to continue to exist.  Can you help someplace?  Maybe just attend a Post 56 meeting (3^rd Monday of the month plus usually a steak supper at 6pm).  Hopefully next month we will have the Boy State attendees visit our Post meeting.

By the time you read this MN will have a new Dept Commander and thank you for delegates that attended the convention in Rochester.  National will be in Salt Lake City.

Again, we have a NEW year for Legion as it starts July 1^st so most of you have gotten your renewal notice.  You may want to consider a paid-up-for-life membership since National is increasing dues by $4.50.  Dept probably by $3.50 and District probably by $1.50 so you could save about $10 per year for our duration of years of membership.  We need to bring the level of Patriotic participation higher without an extreme crisis so renew and ask an eligible person to join for their patriotic feelings.  Can you believe that 57% of American adults identify themselves as extremely or very patriotic.  Time to show others you are proud to be an American and a citizen of this great country.  Wake up and smell the roses, look around and see the beauty, and feel the enthusiasm people generate, thank a veteran for serving to defend our freedoms, and thank God each day for a great country that we live in.

I suppose I need a Commander’s project again but no it won’t be as large as last time, but it will support the past project.  It is felt that the lounge could use some purified air filter fans so that is what we will work for.  The estimated cost is $3,000 so any help you can assist with would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you.

Thank you to Past Commander Tom as his project of new fryers, cook and hold, plus broaster are installed – plus one of the coolers decided to give up the ghost so a new cooler had to be purchased.  Just when you think you are getting even something else goes haywire.

Again, thank you for eating, drinking, and playing at Post 56 and watch for Win a Broasted Chicken dinner.  So until later after your summer trip, swim, camp, or ballgame we hope to see you soon.

For God and Country

Arnie Mulso, Commander

Legion Heritage

The challenge as stated in the last newsletter was to find out which post commander was the first World War II veteran to serve in this position.  We have found the answer – with maybe a big mystery involved.

It wasn’t Albert Brady who was the 31^st commander of Post 56 in 1948-49.  He was born November 7, 1899 in Shell Rock Township and served in the U.S. Army during World War I.

Brady was an employee of American Gas Machine Co. during the years he lived in Albert Lea.  He moved to California in 1951 and died on May 31, 1979 in San Jose.

There’s a real mystery regarding Wilson Cooper, the post’s 32^nd commander during 1949-50.  No obituary information is available regarding this man.  Could he still be living somewhere in the nation?  The only information I could find regarding Cooper was an entry in the 1950 city directory which listed him as assistant city engineer.

Can anyone furnish more information about Wilson Cooper?

There’s no mystery regarding Richard J. “Dick” Harty who gets credit for being the first World War II veteran to become Post 56 commander.  He was the 33^rd in line and evidently served part of Cooper’s term in 1949-1950.

Dick served in the U.S. Navy during World War II from 1943 to 1946.  He was an optician with the Benson firm for 43 years and club manager for the Legion from 1957 to 1991.  Dick was Legionnaire of the year in 1974.  He was a life member of the American Legion and belonged to the Knights of Columbus, VFW and the Elks.  He died on April 18, 1994 and is buried at St. Theodore’s Cemetery.

The post’s 34^th commander for 1950-51 was Erwin H. “Ruzie” Ruhsam.  He was fully featured in the Lifestyles section of the Tribune in the July 16 issue.

Ed Shannon, Editor

Club Update

Goodbye July, Hello August…With it comes Fairs, Food and Fun.  I hope everyone is having a great summer and staying cool.

So what’s happening this month – Freeborn County Fair starts August 1^st.  Since many of you will be out enjoying the great entertainment we will be altering a few of our normal weekly events.  Thursday, August 3^rd, instead of our special menu we’ll be serving food off the Bar menu.  Friday, August 4^th Laurie will be out at the fair enjoying Joe Nichols with most of you, so we won’t be having karaoke.  Come in anyhow;  grab a bite to eat and a cold drink before you go to the show.  We’d love to see you.

August 9^th – Arc will be hosting their annual Burger Supper in the backroom.  August 12 – Welcome the Albert Lea Class of 1961 for their 45^th High School reunion to the club.  August 22^nd – D.A.V. meeting from 7:00-9:00 pm.  August 23^rd – The Auxiliary membership luncheon.  August 27^th – the Post 56 Pancake breakfast serving from 8:00am-12:30pm.  August 28^th – we welcome back Arc, monthly Monday nite dance.  Also don’t forget to come join the fun with Laurie’s Karoake Korner on August 11^th, 18^th and 25^th.

Have a great month.  I’m looking forward to seeing you all !

Heidi Watson

Food and Beverage Manager

F.Y.I.

There seemed to be a real touch of nostalgia for the folks who came to the Legion Club on Friday evening, July 14.

The music was mostly old time, or what was also listed as old tyme.  For some folks this could have really been a reminder of an era when area ballrooms featured bands playing polkas, waltzes, two steps and schottisches for dancing.  And with the music furnished by Tom Goetzinger from New Prague that’s exactly what many of the folks in this crowd did.

Of special interest for this event which had free admission and capacity attendance, were the members of the Borderling Polka Lovers Club who gave several dancing demonstrations.

This particular program was sponsored by the Albert Lea Sesquicentennial organization.

Goetzinger is best known for being the co-host of the Bandwagon program on KEYC-TV.  This telecast is on Channel 12 starting at 11:30 a.m. Saturdays.  He also has a weekly radio program, “A Treasure Chest of Old Tyme Music”, on stations KATE, KDHL and KOWZ.

An interesting part of Friday night on July 14 at the Legion Club was the contrast of music between the karaoke selections in the bar area and the old time selections in the dining area.  Anyway, as the old saying goes, everyone seemed to be having a good time.

Now let’s switch the subject to an entirely different topic.  The question has been asked if donations to the Honor Guard can be mentioned in this publication.  The answer is an absolute yes!

Ed Shannon, Editor

Auxiliary News

Greetings on a “warm” July Day!  Next January we will think with fondness of these summer temperatures.

At our board meeting Monday July 10^th, we decided to have the Membership Luncheon Wednesday, August 23, 2006 from 11:00am to 1:00pm.  This lunch is free for all paid members.  The cost for a guest is $5.00.  Dues can be paid that day:  $18.00 for adult membership and $6.50 for juniors.

Bonnie Schneider will chair the luncheon so we are counting on all the good help and donations you usually give.  If anyone has tomatoes or cucumbers from the garden please bring them to the club on August 22^nd at 10:00am.

Just settling into the job of president.  I am so happy to have as fellow officers:  First Vice President-Eileen Schmitz;  Second Vice President-Wanda Christensen;  Treasurer-Rita Anderson;  Executive Board-Ange Larson and Isabel Lee;  Sergeant-at-Arms-Isabel Lee;  and Chaplain-Dorothy Snider.  I am still looking for someone to chair the National Security and Americanism Committees.

The first meeting of the 2006-207 year will be Wednesday, September 6 at 7:00pm.  Board meeting will be at 5:30pm (since the prior Monday is Labor Day).

Send your membership dues to the Legion Club, c/o Auxiliary, 142 North Broadway; or to Treasurer – Rita Anderson, 22563 770^th Ave.; or to Joyce Rhody, 1805 Brookside Circle.

Hope to see you at the Membership Luncheon.

Joyce Rhody

SAL Officers

Commander	Jeff Elseth
Vice Commander	Tom Baas
Sergeant At Arms	Scott Rasmussen
Adjutant	Bernie Priebe
Chaplain	Mike Bennett
Membership Director	Jack Briggs

TAPS 

David Renchin Jr.

Born October 30, 1930.  Died July 18, 2006.  He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and was a member of the American Legion and the Knights of Columbus.

Dennis WanDerwoude

Born September 18, 1952.  Died June 27, 2006.  He served in the U.S. Army and with the Minnesota Army National Guard at the Albert Lea Armory and was a member of the American Legion.

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 Septemer issue will be Wednesday following the Post meeting.  This will be the deadline policy in the future!

Veterans Memorial Update

As of July 19, a total of 1,756 of the paver bricks and 28 sponsorships have been sold to honor those who served in the nation's armed forces.  There's room for more paver bricks and more sponsorships.

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