Happy new Year!! Yes 2005 is here at least on the calendar and we better be ready to make it the best year yet. Wouldn’t it be great to have world peace with everyone getting along happen this year? Pray for it, it will help.

Do you realize that the membership year is half over. If you haven’t renewed please do so now as it will save calling in the future. Maybe you know someone new to sign up - just ask. Share the benefits but remember the 100% Americanism.

Hopefully, you will be/have joined friends for Tom & Jerry’s on New year’s day and start the year on the positive way of life. January seems to be a slow time but check the calendar of events and I’m sure you can find something to attend and share in. Please try to attend the SAL steak and ale night on Jan. 15^th.

Last month was a very busy month again for volunteers. Than God for Volunteers! The Legion rang the bell for Salvation Army at Nelson’s Foods and the kettle was full but we kept stuffing so it was a very full kettle. Thank you to all the helpers. Also, poinsettias were delivered to shut-in residents - about 130 - and again thank you to members that helped deliver them. Probably the event requiring the most volunteers was the Scott Heilman family fish fry benefit - 24 plus helpers - to feed the 535 plus supporters. Thanks especially to Legion staff and Progress Casting for their extra mile they went to support this event. Hopefully you were able to celebrate the birthday of the greatest volunteer on Christmas.

Locally the Post will be having a web-site soon and probably set up this month with the address and instruction about it in the next flyer.

For the Good of The American Legion if anyone had Legion uniforms you are no longer using could you return them as we have new Honor Guard members that could maybe use the uniform and we wouldn’t have to buy another as they are costly. Than you. Also, our Tuesday night bingo needs some additional workers - you are paid for this event - which you usually work every other week. Call Bill Christenson at the club at 373-7993 or leave a message for him. Thanks again. *Check out the T-shirt for sale at the club for $10 and place an order.

Bring a friend and join in the Great Americanism fever for 2005 at Post 56!!

Arnie Mulso, Commander

Effective right now, the new deadline for submitted material will be the 15^th of the month. The only exception will be for vital information which might come from the post meeting on the third Monday of the month Our goal is to have this flyer delivered to the members a few days before the first of the month. With this new deadline we can make it easier for Church Offset to prepare this publication and hopefully allow even more time for the post serve to move the copies through their system.

Another change we’re going to try is to have the Thursday menus published in large type as a separate section. The calendar as been looking a little cluttered, and the small type makes the weekly menu hard to read.

Thus, with this new deadline we’ll hopefully have the opportunity to wish everyone a Happy New Year!

Ed Shannon, Editor

I hope that you had a Blessed Christmas and that your New Year will be happy and healthy.

Our next meeting will be held on February 2, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. Please join us. 

Please pay your 2005 dues if you have not already done so. Don’t lose your benefits of being a part of such an outstanding organization. Than you! If you know of anyone that would be an eligible new member - sign them up too!! 

Our Soup & Salad Luncheon will be held on February 2, 2005 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. If you are called for a salad or to help, please say yes. Many ands make for a successful day. 

Our hot dish suppers will return next fall. Thanks to all who came and enjoyed the food. Thank you t al the gals that helped prepare the meals and to the men who served and cleaned up. 

Please keep our troops and their families in your prayers and also our veterans and their families. Without their sacrifices we would not have freedoms that we have today. 

Happy New Year! 

See you at the Club!

God Bless,

Bonnie

The New Year is here and another Holiday Season is past. Jan 1 (Sat.) brings Tom & Jerry’s from 10 am to 12 pm. We will also have our kitchen open from 11 am to 3 pm.

Sat. Jan. 8 the Legion will be hosting our famous fish fry from 5 pm-7:30 pm. Sat., Jan. 22 the Kiwanis Day Breakers will be hosting a fish fry from 5-7:30pm. Don’t miss the fish!

S.A.L will be hosting, grilling & bringing their annual good cheer for another Steak & Ale party Sat., Jan. 15. We will be kicking it off a 5 pm.

Comedy show is back Sat., Jan. 29. The laughs begin at 8 pm. Tickets will be $9 preshow & $10 at the door. Come to the Legion eat, drink and laugh. We will be opening the back room for food & drinks at 6 pm. Get your tickets early as we were sold out last year!

Karaoke in Jan. is Fri. the 14^th, Fri. the 21^st, and Fri. the 28^th. Laurie’s Karaoke Korner will kick off the show around 7:30 pm.

I especially want to take this time to say "Thank You" to all who helped, volunteered, and patronized our special fish fry to benefit the Heilman Family. We served 535 people in about 3 hours! Our Legion Staff did an outstanding job. Jason, Adam, Seth, Stephan, Bar & Jan - Thank You for making this a success.

Chris Hallum

Club Manager

Clair Bernard Anderson

Born Oct. 26, 1924. Died Dec. 7, 2004. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a member of the American Legion and VFW.

Herbert Arthur Lund

Born Feb. 23, 1924. Died Dec. 10, 2004. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and retired from the U.S. Army Reserve in 1984. He was a member of the American Legion and many local organizations.

There could be some confusion regarding the photos of the past commanders on the north wall of the post’s entry hall. Two men are shown as being the post’s leaders in 1919. And here’s the explanation for this situation.

One of the men pictured, Ira H. Wulff, was the post’s first leader. His position was chairman of Post 56 when it was being organized. Wulff was also the temporary commander until the first regular election. Thus, the first elected post commander was William P. Sturtz.

Next: Still more information about the post’s first two leaders in 1919.