Newsletter

American Legion Post 56 Monthly Bulletin

August 2007

Commander's Message

July has been a very busy month at Post 56.  It started with the July 3rd parade.  The Honor Guard was one of the very few that completed the parade before the rain started.  Our Brat and Hamburger stand was also doing very well before the storm moved into the area.

Sunday July 8 we served Breakfast at the Club.  We were very happy with the turn out.  We served over 400 people that morning.

July 16 First Vice Dave Mullenbach and myself attended Departure Ceremony for Delta Company, our Local Guard Unit.  They are headed to Kosovo for a year.  That evening we served a Pork Chop Dinner to the Guard Unit and their families.  Bill Goette and his family furnished the Grill and did the grilling.  I left that evening knowing that we had done the right thing.

A special Thank You to all the volunteers of the American Legion Family.  You are a great group of people and make this organization what it is.  Thanks again.

As for Aug. enjoy the best County fair in Minnesota.  There are two Breakfast’s scheduled, Sunday Aug. 12th and 26th.

On Aug. 10th a Monument Commemorating Minnesota’s Soldiers who gave their lives in the Global War on Terror will be at the American Legion from 3 pm till 8 pm.  Keep this date in mind.  It will be on a semi trailer.  Dedication of this monument will take place Sept. 2 at Veterans Park, Ramsey, MN.

Keep in your mind and heart our Military Forces that are attempting to keep peace around the World.  Thank them when you can.

For  God and Country!

Commander, Gary Anderson

How are we doing?  So far $19,095 has been deposited.  Thank you very much to the 56 donors so far.  Would you consider being a General as one person has so far?  At $5,000 we could be debt free very fast.  We also have 1 Maj. Gen., 3 Brig. Gen., 4 Majors, 13 Captains, 22 Lt. and 13 at other levels.  Let’s try to remember to get your donations soon.  In addition to debt elimination the Legion has received other generous financial donations and they are appreciated.  Areas of support have been the WWII memorial trip, Honor Guard, and local National Guard pork chop dinner.  Also, thank you to the many volunteer hours to help with different events.  Thank you Legion Family and friends of the American Legion.

Arnie Mulso
Past Commander

Club Update

Hello July - with it comes parades, fireworks and picnics.  We have a fun month ahead, so lets get down to business.

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 July 31st.  Since many of you will be out enjoying the great entertainment we will be altering a few of our normal weekly events.  Thursday Aug. 2nd we’ll be serving Hot Turkey (commercial) sandwich and vegetable.  Friday Aug. 3rd - No Karoake.  Aug. 4th - We welcome Albert Lea Class of 1997.  Aug 8th - Auxiliary Luncheon 11 am - 1 pm.  Aug. 12th - Legion Breakfast serving 8 am - 12:30 pm.  Aug. 13th - Board meeting at 6:00 pm.  Aug. 17th and 18th - welcome Albert Lea Class of 1947.  Aug. 20th - Post meeting at 7:00 pm.  Aug. 22nd - Membership Luncheon.  Aug. 25th - we welcome Hollandale’s Class of 1972 in the back and Paul Knutson’s Elvis Show in the lounge playing from 7 pm - 11 pm.  Aug. 26th - Post Breakfast 8 am - 12:30 pm.  Let’s not forget all the fun Friday’s with Laurie’s Karoake Korner Aug. 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st.

Have a wonderful month.  I’ll see you all soon.

Heidi Watson
Food and Beverage Manager

F.Y.I.

One of the ways to provide a final salute for a veteran is to have an illustration of a small American flag to highlight his or her obituary.

At the Tribune, for example, there’s no charge for this addition to an obituary.  However, it’s up to the family to let the funeral home know that a flag is to be added to the obituary.

Up to a few years ago I was the person at the Tribune who worked with the funeral homes to prepare most of the obituaries for publication.  On several occasions there was a temptation to add a flag illustration to the obituaries for known veterans.  Yet, it’s still up to the families involved to make the decisions on this part of the obituaries.  Anyway, those veterans deserve these final salutes!

While we’re on this subject, I like to point out that the TAPS part of this publication is based on saluting those deceased veterans who are members of this American Legion post.  Thus, there maybe several obituaries in the Tribune with the small flags.  Yet, like the situation this month, only one qualifies for the TAPS section.

Let me close off with one more point.  It doesn’t make any difference where a member of this post happens to pass away.  He or She will be listed in the TAPS section.

Ed Shannon

Editor

Auxiliary News

August kind of sneaks up on us, doesn’t it?  It is still nice warm summer weather, but it foretells of fall and cooler weather.  Enjoy summer while you can.

It is a busy summer here in Albert Lea, with all the festivals, etc.  The Legion keeps busy, trying to raise money for new uniforms for the honor guard and to honor the troops leaving for Kosovo and we try to help in anyway we can.  Monday night July 16 we hosted a pork chop dinner for the troops and their families and we welcomed any diners who wanted to pay for their meal.  Some of the ladies baked cookies to use as dessert at the meal and/or send along with the troops when they leave.  It was very moving to see all those very young troops with their wives and babies.  We wish them Godspeed.

Although we have no membership meetings in July or August, the board met Monday, July 9 to plan for the coming year.  The Membership Luncheon will be Wednesday, August 22, from 11 to 1.  It is free to members who have paid their dues, so it is a good way to bring our membership up to date.  Pat Johannson and Bonnie Schneider will chair the luncheon so they look forward to your help and donations.  If you have garden produce, like tomatoes and cucumbers, please bring them that morning for the table.

The 2007 American Legion and Auxiliary Convention is scheduled for July 19-21 in Bloomington.  Unfortunately, I am unable to attend because of a family wedding in South Dakota, but we have a good representation registered to attend and we are proud of them.

Our next membership meeting will be Wednesday, September 15 at 7 pm.  Because the previous Monday is Labor Day, we will hold the board meeting on Monday, August 27 at 5 pm.  Please plan to come to our meetings and join in the activities we work on to fund projects for our veterans and our community.

For God and Country

Joyce Rhody, President

STANLEY JOHNSON
Born Oct. 3, 1942.  Died July 2, 2007.  He was a veteran of service in the U.S. Army and a member of the American Legion.

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

Cobb and Margaret Knutson    In Memory of Stanley Johnson
Bob Pleiss    In Memory of Ed Fosse
Family of Ed Fosse    In Memory of Ed Fosse
Irene Christensen    Donation
Jim Hanson    Donation for Honor Guard Uniforms
Paul Levisen    Donation in Memory of Don and Thorvald Levisen
Don and Joyce Metcalfe    Donation in Memory of Mildred Schultz
Marion Follmuth    Donation
Virginia Hanson    Donation
Bill and Marilyn Danielsen    In Memory of Milly Schultz
Harvey and Donna Brua    In Memory of Gordy Blake

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 September issue will be the Wednesday following the post meeting.  This will be the deadline in the future!

Veterans Memorial Update

As of July 19 a total of 2,280 of the paver bricks and 43 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 sponsorship!  

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