Newsletter

American Legion Post 56 Monthly Bulletin

December 2007

Commander's Message

Winter is getting closer and most of you Snow Birds have left.  Enjoy your winter.  Yes, we will enjoy the snow!

Positive things are happening at the American Legion.  The past 3 months of 2007 compared with the same time period in 2006 have seen over a $4000 increase in sales at the Club.  Tuesday night $1 burger is busy.  Thursday Evening Dinner is picking up, we are seeing more of you.  Friday Night Bar Menu and Karaoke is our Bread and Butter.  A Special Thanks to Laurie and Bruce for providing Karaoke.  This has been expanded into Thursday evening from 7-11 pm for your enjoyment.  Please stop and sing along either evening with Laurie.  The weekends are filled with Wedding Dances or Christmas Parties.  Also we are seeing the younger Veterans joining the Post.  Welcome and make yourself at Home.

I want to Thank our speakers for Veterans Day.  Company 1st Sergeant Ole Olson and Colonel Rodney Peterson.  Both are from the Freeborn County Area. Big Thank You to the DAV for their $1,000 donation to the American Legion.  THANKS

December will be a very busy month. We will need extra volunteers' to get the projects completed.  Please signup.

Delivering Poinsettias to our Veterans that are in Nursing Homes.  Dec. 15, 10 am starting at Legion.

Ringing Bell for Salvation Army Monday, Dec. 17, at Nelson's Market from 10 am till 8 pm.

There will be a special New Years Eve Dinner and Music at the club.  New Years Day, Tom and Jerry's served from 9 am till 1 pm with Bar Menu.  Closing 4-5 in the afternoon.

Keep our troops in mind.  The Post is going to send Phone Cards to our Local National Guard Unit in Kosovo for Christmas.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Anderson's to our American Legion Family and Staff.

For  God and Country!
Commander, Gary Anderson

Membership Dinner

I would like to thank all the members that have already renewed their membership for the period of July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008.  The American Legion Post #56 paid up membership is currently at 874 which is 84% of total membership.  For those that haven't yet renewed their membership it would be very much appreciated if you could do that before the end of the calendar year 2007.
 
Remember to continue to ask your friends, neighbors, relatives or even new acquaintances if they would like to join.
 
Dave Mullenbach
1st Vice - Membership Chair

Club Update

Seasons Greetings!

The Holidays are here.  Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are looking forward to a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year with your family and friends.

We would like to extend a warm welcome and thank you to all the various companies hosting their holiday parties up here this month.

On to business:  Dec. 5th - Auxiliary meeting and Pot Luck at 6 pm.  Dec. 10th - Board Meeting at 6 pm.  Dec. 13th - Try out our Thurs. Nite Karaoke, 7 pm - 11pm.  During this time we are offering one dollar off a pitcher of beer.  Dec. 17th - Post meeting at 7 pm.  Dec. 23rd - Post Breakfast serving from 8:30 am - 12:30 pm.  Dec. 27th - again join us for Thursday Nite Karaoke.  Laurie’s always fun and playing from 7 pm - 11 pm.  Dec. 31st - Join us for a Special Nite of dining and dancing.  We will be offering a Special Dinner Menu serving from 5 pm - 8 pm.  Followed by the great music of Arlan and Butch in the Lounge from 8 pm to close.  Jan. 1st - join us for Tom and Jerry’s from 10 am to 1 pm.  It is always a great way to spend time with your family and friends.

Don’t forget our Friday Nite Karaoke with Laurie - Dec. 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th.  It’s always a wonderful time.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

Heidi Watson
Food and Beverage Manager

F.Y.I.

Veterans of the Albert Lea area can take pride in again having an outstanding program on Nov. 12.

 As a prelude for the observance of Veterans Day, KSMQ in Austin (Channel 15 on regular sets and Channel 2 on the local cable system) had a special television program with strong emphasis on south Minnesota.  Because of my comments in last month's newsletter, I was contacted by Shawn Martin of KSMQ to locate Lee Park in Shoreland Heights.  This was pretty hard to do because the park is in a rather obscure part of the city and he was calling from Austin.  Finally, with the assistance of Geri McShance Murtaugh, Pat Stumme of the KSMQ staff was able to locate the park and take three photos.

I had no idea just what Shawn had in mind until I saw the program on Nov. 11.  One of the Albert Lea folks interviewed was John R. Peterson who knew 1st Lt. John Anthony Weber.  This part of the telecast became rather emotional.  As I've already explained, Weber was killed in action during World WAR II.  The flagpole and bronze plaque on a boulder in the center of Lee Park or Lee Circle Park was placed there in 1943 to honor the memory of the U.S. Marine pilot who grew up in a nearby home.

I'm strongly advocating that a logical name change for this part of the city's landscape to Weber Park.  All that's needed is the approval of the city's park board, maybe the city council, and a new sign.

Again, let's hope the more logical park name change from Lee to Weber becomes a future reality up in Shoreland Heights.

There's an added detail regarding Lt. Weber which needs updating.  In the past I've pointed out that he's a part of three memorials in Albert Lea.  One is in the Shoreland Heights park at the far end of Lee Place.  Another is the memorial in St. Theodore Cemetery.  The third is on the memorial at Graceland Cemetery. And the fourth and the latest is the new veterans' memorial at the Freeborn County Government Center.

Ed Shannon

Editor

Auxiliary News

It has been a busy fall season for your American Legion and Auxiliary.  Our Salad Luncheon on October 31, Halloween, was a huge success and netted us a nice profit.  I guess the "spooks" didn't scare anybody away and we hope our guests were amused by the costumes and Halloween decor.

Veterans Day was November 11, which fell on Sunday so was celebrated on Monday the 12th.  We feel we honored it well with the parade to the Government Center with a program there, followed by the lunch at the Legion Club, served by our Auxiliary.  We were pleased to have a full house and inspired by the 30-year veteran who spoke so glowingly of our troops.  Saturday night, November 10, the weekend of Veterans Day was observed with a fine dinner offered in our dining room with a great choice of entrees.

The District Department Fall Conference was held in St. Cloud October 26-28. Second Vice President Pat Johannsen and I drove up for the Friday session.  There were some good informative workshops.  One, in particular, reminded us that the community work we do in helping others, be they veterans or not, is good publicity for our organization.

 Saturday November 3, Pat and I went to the Leaders Workshop at the Legion in Austin.  Past Presidents and parliamentarians gave us great tips on how to conduct meetings, do's and don't's for running an organization and suggestions on increasing membership.

What do past presidents do?  They meet once a year, here at the club, enjoy a nice dinner, and contribute food for the local food shelf.  Thursday night November 15 (they convinced me I am a past president as well as a present president!)  and of course we had a  little fun too.  You should see the crazy gifts won, playing Bunco!

Our next meeting will be the annual Christmas Party on Wed. Dec. 5.  It is a potluck, with the men invited, so we will eat 6 pm.  The Albert Lea High School Chorale will sing for us and that is always a treat, having those beautiful young people exhibit their singing talents.

At 7 pm we will have our regular business meeting.  The Board will meet at 5 pm Monday December 3rd.  January is a good month to stay at home and there will be no meeting.

May your holidays be blessed with happy family gatherings!

For God and Country

Joyce Rhody, President

 

New Years Eve Dinner Prime Rib     $15.95 Walleye     $15.95 Shrimp     $13.95 Chicken Parmesan     $11.50 50's 60's Music by Arlen and Butch Country Western For Reservations call (not required) American Legion 373-7993

 

Debt Elimination: Thank you to the 83 members and friends that have donated to the Post 56 Debt Elimination Fund.  Our barrel is filling up and currently is at $24,291 however the goal is still $120,000.  Remember, it is never too late to donate.  Thank you and have a Blessed Holiday. Arnie Mulso, Debt Elimination Coordinator

ALDEAN J. BROWN
Born Feb. 7, 1926.  Died Nov. 10, 207.  He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was the commander of Post 56 in 1955-56.

ROGER M. JERGENSON
Born July 31, 1924.  Died Nov. 9. 2007.  He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a member of the American Legion.

EARL A. LEVISEN
Born Aug. 10, 1921.  Died Oct. 21, 2007.  He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a member of the American Legion and VFW.

WILLIAM HENRY PAUL
Born Aug. 6, 1922.  Died Nov. 17, 2007.  He served in the U.S. Army during both World War II and the Korean War and was a member of the American Legion, VFW and DAV.  He was also a member of the VFW Color Guard.

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

Tom and Sandy Norby    In Memory of Bud Bolinger
Lou Ryan    Donation
Mel Mathies    In Memory of Bud Bolinger
Dorothy Harty    In Memory of Mavis Schultz
Odean and Gerri Berg    In Memory of Past Commander Aldean Brown
Allen and Muriel Engen    In Honor of Duane and Eunice Hatleli 50th Anniversary
Jim and Judi Olson    In Honor of Duane and Eunice Hatleli 50th Anniversary
Richard Hoium    In Memory of Bud Bolinger
Glen and Leann Juveland    In Memory of Aldean Brown

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

Veterans Memorial Update

As of November 21, a total of 2,399 of the paver bricks and 45 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!  

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