Newsletter

American Legion Post 56 Monthly Bulletin

December 2011

Commander's Message

Dear Legionnaires,

What a great November to be a member of Leo Carey Post 56, with all the activities, and support from our membership.  Thank you for your support, with winter coming soon we will need you more than ever.

Post 56 Honor Guard, held a meeting to organize and nominate a leadership staff to meet on a monthly basis. Thank you Bob Miller, Steve Hoelscher, and Wes Halvorson for volunteering to work with Billy Christenson, and help keep our unit efficiency at a high level.

  
Veterans Day was very special for our Post 56, as host for the day’s activities. This year is the 10th anniversary of the 9-11 attack on America, and we chose to honor our firemen, law enforcement and EMTs, as well as our Veterans, who serve us daily in our own community. Thank you to all who participated in the parade, and the flag ceremony at the Veterans Memorial. Scott Schmeltzer, publisher and president of the Albert Lea Tribune, delivered a heart felt speech honoring our veterans and our local law enforcement, firemen and EMTs. Scott received the “Defender of Freedom” award for his remarks, as the official program at the court house, which was carried live on KATE radio.

  
The noon luncheon program featured two special guests, Boys Stater Griffin Wagen and Lt. Col. Mike Funk.  Griffin told of his Boys State experiences. Col. Funk explained the plight of returning veterans attempting to re-enter the workforce.  The unemployment rate is at 30% for these veterans.

   
Wow!!! What a great Thanksgiving.  If you did not stop to have a “Tom and Jerry”, well you missed out.  What a great crowd, and much fun.  Don’t fret we will invite “Tom and Jerry” back on Sunday, New Year’s day, from 11a.m. til 2:pm, with Bears vs Vikings game to follow, with food specials after “Tom and Jerry”.  Sounds like a great line up.

December will be a very busy month at Post 56.  Don’t forget to offer a prayer on December 7th, for all those who served.  Please sign up to ring the bell for the Salvation Army at Nelson’s Market from 10 am til 8 pm on Thursday, December 8th.  Saturday December 17th, we will be delivering poinsettias to the shut-ins please sign up to help deliver, or call 373-7993.

The 4th Sunday of December is Christmas Day, and we will be having our Post Breakfast one week earlier on the 18th.  This is a great event, and continues to grow, with our $1 donations to the youth programs of the churches participating.  Last quarter we wrote checks totaling more than $1,000.  Thank you for your support.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR

Commander Mick

Auxiliary News

Auxiliary:

The Auxiliary membership is still coming in so if you haven't sent yours in please try to do it before the end of the year.  Hopefully, you as an Auxiliary member will come to a meeting to find out what is going on see if there is any area you would like to help in such as education or program and etc.  Bring a friend as the more at a meeting the more ideas we can share.

The Salvation Army red kettles will be around the community and maybe you would like to ring the bell for an hour or two. You can call the club to see any time is left on Dec. 8th or call the Salvation Army direct to file a slot.  Thanks much.

A couple of reminders upcoming is that the Post will be having their breakfast on Sunday Dec. 18th from 8am until 12:30pm which is the 3rd Sunday instead of the 4th which is Christmas.  Second, is that the Auxiliary will not be holding a meeting in January so we will see you in Feb.

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
 
President
Janet Scherb

Hello All!

Calendar of Events:

Dec. 2nd -    St. John's Christmas Party      12pm and 6pm
Dec. 4th -    Jr Gold Pancake Breakfast      8am-12:30pm
Dec. 8th -    Ring Bell for Salvation Army -
    Nelson's 10am-8pm
    Freeborn Construction
    Banquet Room 5:30pm
Dec. 9th -    Boys Hockey Fundraiser
Dec. 10th -    Community Band Concert     1-3pm FREE
Dec. 18th -    Post 56 Breakfast 8am-12:30pm
Dec. 25th -    Christmas - Closed
Jan. 1st -    Open at 11am - Tom & Jerrys 11am-2pm Food & Vikings vs. Bears

Dave Nelson, Club Manager

Volunteer Coordinator: Fran Camerer

Post 56 is host for many events and uses many volunteers so we asked if anyone could help us to call when volunteers are needed and Fran volunteer - that is what you do if you are a volunteer.  COULD YOU VOLUNTEER?  Here are some areas that we need volunteers for and maybe you could help.  Jan. 1st with Tom & Jerrys like serving, clean tables or selling meat packs;  help with breakfast on the 4th Sundays in cleaning tables or serving;  sell meat pack chances on (currently) Tues. & Wed. nights for about 2 hours;  help with bar bingo by selling tear sheets or help count money;  in Dec. ring the bell for Salvation Army and deliver poinsettias to shut ins.  help with Memorial Day ceremony/parade;  help with putting up and taking down Avenue of Flags at cemetery;  help at the fair stand in August serving food;  help with Veterans Day program/meal;  or just be on call for anything.  These are some ideas to think about before Fran calls and asks if there is something you feel you could help Post 56 with. We know not everyone call physically help but if you so feel that financially you can that is very acceptable too.  Please consider helping from time to time as it is important not only to help Post 56 but to help the community when possible.

Thank you Veterans Day parade:

American Legion, VFW, DAV, firemen, law enforcement, EMT, KC Legion of Honor, and friends of veterans

TAPS

DENNIS L. SMITH
Born August 26, 1952.  Died October 11, 2011.  Served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.  Worked at Naeve Hospital in the Biomedical Engineering Department for 26 years.  A member of VFW and American Legion.  Proudly served as a volunteer at the YMCA.

HARLEN HANSEN
Born Jan. 24, 1921.  Died Oct. 23, 2011.  Served during WWII.  Worked for the Freeborn County Highway Department as a Mechanic and Boiler Operator.  Volunteered for Meals-On-Wheels and at Lakewood Cemetery.  Member of Trinity Lutheran Church and the American Legion.

ROBERT TIETZ
Born Jan. 7, 1934.  Died Oct. 28, 2011.  Served in the Marines and Coached on the Rifle Range.  Worked for Streater Industries as a over the road trucker retiring after 34 years.

RALPH E JOHNSON
Born July 14, 1931.  Died Nov. 3, 2011.  Served in the Army during Korean War.  Worked in Farming for years.  Had a wonderful collection of Farm Toys.  Member of the Elks and Post 56.

WILLIAM THOMPSON
Born May 3, 1923.  Died Oct. 25, 2011.  Member of the Eagles, Elks, Life Member of VFW Post 447 and Post 56.  Served Post 56 in numerous chairs and as Post Commander.  Was responsible for the formation of the Caryaires.  His career was spent in the retail furniture trades and with the Albert Lea Tribune Advertising Department.

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

D.A.M. Donations

Paul/Carolyn Westrum    donation
Dean Schwarz               donation
Lowell Peterson             donation
Mervin Rhody                mem of Joyce Rhody
Paul/Ruth Levisen         donation

Honor Guard Donations

Irene Hanson            mem of Harlen Hanson
Lola Fritsch              mem of Bill Fritsch
Vern/Fern Baer        donation
Judy Menssen         mem of Allen Menssen
Family of Robert Tietz        mem of Robert Tietz
Family of Merton Munson    mem of Merton Munson
Glen/Leann Juveland          mem of Duane Morreim
Family of Duane Morriem    mem of Duane Morreim

Consider supporting Leo Carey American Legion Post 56 with a contribution to the Dollar-A-Month (D.A.M.) fund.  Whether it’s a dollar a month, or a larger donation, these funds are used to support the Post 56 club facilities, maintenance & continued growth of our organization.

If you would like to make a donation to the Post 56 D.A.M. fund, please complete the form in this newsletter and return it to Leo Carey American Legion Post 56.  You can recognize someone special by naming that person in their memory or honor.  Your contribution will be listed in the Post’s monthly flyer and on the website.

Judi Olson, D.A.M. Account Manager

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

Please thank and support those businesses and organizations which sponsor ads in the monthly Post 56 bulletin flyer:

Craig Loehr-Dave Syverson Ford, Graceland Cemetery, Jim & Dudes Plumbing & Heating, Shoff Chiropractic, MPeters Enterprises, Church Offset Printing,

Security Bank Minnesota, American Legion Post 56 Auxiliary, Christian Floor Covering, Embroider-4 Seasons Advertising, Hillcrest Cemetery, Auto Serve-Rick Loberg, Doors & Floors, ING Financial Partners-Arnold Mulso, Motor Inn Co., Bayview Freeborn Funeral Home, Scott's Office Products, GreenLea Golf Course, Nelson County Market, Century 21 O'Byrne Realty, Nick's Inc.

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

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.