Newsletter

American Legion Post 56 Monthly Bulletin

December  2005

Thank you to all that participated in Veteran’s Day programs whether at the schools, Court House or the Legion.  Thanks again to our speakers of Col. Kip Gore and Retired Major Ron Gabrielson as their messages were of great interest and benefit to the veterans and the public.  Another thank you goes to Bayview Funeral Home and ING Financial for helping sponsor “The Great Pretenders” on November 12^th as everyone had a great time.

December brings us closer to the end of the calendar year but a time to remember the celebration of the Christian message of Christmas.  Also, December 7^th is National Pear Harbor Remember Day and the signing of the Bill of Rights on December 15^th.  Another important date locally is Thursday December 15 to help ring the bell for the Salvation Army at Nelson’s County Market from 10am until 8pm.  Sign up at the club.  

Say what do you have to say about signing up a new member?  Let’s get it done soon as our numbers are far behind last year.  I know you can help us if you ask.  I thank you.  

Next year is Albert Lea ’s Sesquicentennial celebration and each month has a theme.  Well military as been given January so we get to kick things off.  If you know something that might help or work let me know but here is what we have so far.  Saturday January 7^th is an open house at the Armory, January 14^th is a display and recruiters at Northbridge Mall and January 28^th is a display and appraisals of military paraphernalia at American Legion Club.  This is a brief summary.  

Arnie Mulso, 1^st Vice

LEGION HERITAGE

There have been several men named Elmer Peterson who have lived in Albert Lea.  And one of these men, Elmer R. Peterson, served as the 11^th commander of Post 56 in 1928-1929.  He was born in 1893 in Bell , Iowa and grew up in Pine City , MN .  Peterson served in the U.S. Navy during World War I, attended Carlton College in Northfield and graduated from Harvard Law School in Cambridge , Mass.  

Peterson came to Albert Lea in 1923.  He served as both city and county attorney and had a private law practice.  He had also been a member of the Board of Governors of the Minnesota State Bar Association, a member of the Naeve Hospital Board of Trustees and belonged to the 40 & 8.  Elmer R. Peterson died on October 18, 1978 and is buried in Graceland Cemetery .  

Several doctors have been commanders of Post 56, and the first was named Wilfred P. Freligh.  He was the post’s 12 commander and served 1929-30.  He was born in 1887 in Stillwater and received his medical degree from University of Minnesota in 1913.  

During World War I Dr. Freligh was a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Medical Corps with the American Expeditionary Forces for eight months.  

Prior to coming to Albert Lea in 1922, this doctor was associated with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester and also practiced medicine in Terre Haute , Ind. For a short time Dr. Freligh was a surgeon and very active with county, state and national medical groups.  He was also involved with Naeve Hospital , the Chamber of Commerce, Elks, Country Club and YMCA.  The doctor died on February 28, 1954.

Club Update

Well it’s nearly Christmas so hurry in and book your Christmas parties.  This month Laurie will be with us every Friday as always with a special night here at the Legion on New Years Eve.  And of course on New Years we will have a very special menu, so come in for a fantastic dinner.  A few other things to mention, on December 11^th the Albert Lea Tiger Sharks will be hosting Dad’s Belgian Waffles here from 8am to 1pm.  Also on Saturday December 17^th we will be hosting Tom and Max for some great music and a bite to eat.  Remember December dates are filling up fast so hurry in to book your Christmas parties.

Jason Kennedy

Food and Beverage Manager

As I am writing this the wind is blowing and snow is flying everywhere.  I guess winter has arrived.  

My hope is that you had a wonderful and enjoyable Thanksgiving.  We have so much to be thankful for.  

The Auxiliary Board will meet on December 5^th at 5:00 pm at the club.  Our next Auxiliary meeting will be on December 7^th at 7:00 pm.  A potluck supper will be held prior to the meeting at 7:00 pm (men included).  The Albert Lea High School Chorale will sing for us at 6:30 pm.  I hope to see many of you there for good “eats” and wonderful music.  

There is no meeting in January.  

A big THANK YOU goes out to so many people: to all who donated salads for our luncheon on October 26^th and to all of the people who helped to set-up, serve and clean up; to those who furnished bars and helped set-up and serve at the Membership Supper on November 5^th; and those who helped set-up, serve and clean up on Veteran’s Day on November 11^th.  Without each of you these events could not be held.  Again, “Thank You!!, you are all very much appreciated.  

We are again decorating a tree at the Art Center.  Our theme is “Support Our Troops”.  The trees at the center will be open to the public beginning November 25^th.  Please put this on your schedule as it is well worth seeing.  

Second membership notices have been sent out by the National Legion Auxiliary.  If you have already paid your dues - Thank You.  If not, please send them as soon as possible to Joyce Olson - 1930 Wilby Road.  Thank you - we need everyone’s support.  

The Auxiliary celebrated their “86^th” Birthday on November 10, 2005.  Hopefully this wonderful organization can continue serving our Veterans.  

Here’s a heads up on an upcoming event:  

January 21^st: Mid-winter conference held here in Albert Lea.  The Executive Board will meet at 9:00 am with the Regular meeting held at 10:00 am at the club.  The women will meet after lunch from 1-3 at a place to be announced.  

“Let Freedom Ring”

See you at the club!  

God Bless,

Bonnie

FYI   

All too often during my research into the past of this area I’ve encountered references to the members of the nation’s armed forces during World War I and even World War II as being boys.  

Now it’s certainly true that some of these alleged boys may have then been 18 or 19 years old.  Yet, they had completed rugged basic training.  Some were soon killed or wounded in hostile action, and many served the nation and coped with a multitude of brutal living conditions.  

Yet, for all too many years popular terms used were to “salute our boys in blue” (the Navy), “our brave boys over there” and “all the boys in uniform”.  Incidentally, some of these boys in uniform were commissioned officers and senior enlisted personnel who had been in the armed forces for two, three and even four decades.  

Right about here one could ask a very logical question.  When does a boy become a man?  One way is to say the big transition comes with a high school or college diploma; take your choice.  Another answer could be based on the ages of 18 or 21.  That one obviously relates to a birth date.  Still another answer would be based on just one incident.  And my favorite answer is based on completion of basic training.  

Another factor we could add to all this concerns the women in uniform.  These ladies weren’t girls, gals, broads or any other term equally as stupid.  They were and are equally important members of our nation’s armed forces.

Ed Shannon, Editor  

SAL Officers

Commander........................Jeff Elseth

Vice Commander................Tom Baas

Sergeant At Arms...............Scott Rasmussen

Adjutant.............................Bernie Priebe

Chaplain............................Mike Bennett

Membership Director..........Jack Briggs

VETERANS’ MEMORIAL UPDATE

As of November 21, a total of 1,166 of the paver bricks and 22 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!

Taps 

Clyde Dilling

Born January 19, 1923.  Died November 16, 2005.  He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a member of the American Legion, VFW, Crossroads Campers and was a scout master.  

Curtis Larson

Born August 20, 1920.  Died November 9, 2005.  He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and was member of the American Legion, VFW, Eagles and served on the Hayward Township Board.  

Edward Petersen Jr.

Born November 3, 1928.  Died November 8, 2005.  He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was a member of the American Legion, VFW and Eagles.  

David Steltzner

Born June 14, 1947.  Died November 10, 2005.  He served in the U.S. Army during the Viet Nam War 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

Post 447 VFW 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 Jason  373-7993