Newsletter

American Legion Post 56 Monthly Bulletin

July 2007

Commander's Message

Hello - Post 56 is recycling again.  It’s time to reflect on Arnie’s time spent as our Commander.  His first term was spent on redecorating the lounge from ceiling to floor making it more attractive for us to enjoy.  Total money raised for this project was $11,400.  That same year heating and air conditioning had to be replaced.  There was a new-used walk in freezer installed in the basement.  This past year his project was installing air purifiers in the lounge.  We also had to replace the freezer and refrigerator in the kitchen.  He had great support but when you see him, tell him THANK YOU!  Also a big thank you to all the Legion family members for their financial help for these projects.

July will be another busy month.  July 3rd the Post will be serving brats and burgers.  Sunday July 8th a breakfast from 8 am - 12:30 pm.  Monday July 16 a pork chop dinner for our local National Guard unit as they will be deploying for Kosovo (check out radio and newspaper later).  On July 22nd the regular Legion breakfast from 8 am - 12:30 pm.  A big event is on Saturday July 28 - a sweet corn and brat feed starting at 4 pm until everything is gone.  This event is to raise funds for the 1/4 of the money needed to pay for the new uniforms for the Honor Guard which is about $4,000.

I am looking forward to working closely with the Legion Auxiliary and S.A.L.  I am starting a suggestion box so if you have any questions or ideas about the American Legion or local Post you can write, call, or e-mail me at these addresses: 1704 Plainview Lane, Albert Lea, MN; 373-1568; gsanderson1568@charter.net.  So make sure you leave your name for response.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July

For  God and Country!

Gary Anderson

Club Update

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

Join us July 3rd before and after the parade.... burgers and brats outside, cold beverages inside.  July 4th - Happy Fourth of July - the club will be closed.  July 7th - Paul Knutson entertains us with his Elvis Show in the lounge from 7 pm - 11 pm.  July 9th - board meeting at 6:00 pm.  July 17th - the post meeting will be on a Tuesday this month at 7:00 pm.  July 22nd - Post breakfast serving 8 am - 12:30 pm.  July 25th - ARC Burger Feed.  July 28th - Sweet Corn and Brat feed followed by Tom and Max playing all your favorites in the lounge from 6 pm - 10 pm.  And please don’t forget to join us for Karaoke every Friday July 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th, its always lots of fun.

Have a great month

Heidi Watson
Food and Beverage Manager

F.Y.I.

Two very recent events really added a special touch for the veterans in Freeborn County.

The first came on Memorial Day with the afternoon dedication of the Freeborn County Veterans’ Memorial near the corner of East College Street and South Broadway Avenue.  This special salute to the veterans of the past and present was enhanced by the excellent speech by Al Brooks Sr., the participation of our governor, Tim Pawlenty, and all the other fine contributors to this dedication ceremony.

The second event took place on Saturday, June 9.  Post 56 sponsored a bus which took a group of veterans and their spouses to St. Paul for the dedication of Minnesota’s World War II Memorial in front of the state’s capitol building.

According to one of the Twin Cities newspapers, there were about 22,000 people attending this fairly well organized dedication.  During the day there were 4,700 special medallions created by Jostens which were awarded to the eligible World War II veterans.

Despite the fact that I went into the U.S. Army as a draftee in 1945 as a resident of Oregon, I take pride in being a recipient of one of those medallions.

The form I filled out clearly emphasized the Oregon connection.  Yet, I was given the medallion by a very nice young lady.
Sadly, this state memorial, like the national version in Washington, D.C., is about two or three decades too late for all too many now deceased veterans of that war.  This gives real meaning to the old saying, “Better Late Than Never”.

Ed Shannon

Editor

Auxiliary News

“Summertime..................and the livin is easy”....................well, at least we don’t have to shovel snow.  This wonderful summer weather is what gets us through the Minnesota winter, right?

I hope you were at the dedication of our Veterans Memorial on Memorial Day.  Albert Lea did itself proud.  After the regular memorial services in the morning, the Auxiliary hosted a lunch at the Legion Hall and served over 300 people.  My husband (a WWII vet) and I rode in the parade down to the Government Center. There was a very impressive dedication service for our beautiful new memorial.  A veteran spoke of how proud he is to serve his country and governor Pawlenty praised our community for its dedication to our veterans.  Cake and coffee at the Legion Hall afterwards concluded a full and remarkable day of dedication.

Then, on Saturday June 9, a bus load of people from here went to St. Paul for the dedication of the new World War II Memorial on the Capitol Grounds.  Over 22,000 people attended, including over 4,000 World War II vets.  They were well treated, as each received a special medallion on a red, white and blue ribbon (like an Olympic medal).  The committee and volunteers did a magnificent job of handling that many people, providing plenty of bottled water, chairs everywhere, and a good sound system that let everybody hear the dedication ceremonies.  It is too bad it took 60 years to get it there, but it is a splendid memorial.

Friday June 15 we held our installation of officers for both the Legion and the Auxiliary, after a fine meal.  We were happy to have the new District 1 President Louise Kleiboer to do the honors of swearing in the following officers for 2007-2008; Joyce Rhody, President; Wanda Christensen, 1st Vice President; Pat Johannsen, 2nd Vice President; Vonnie Oftedahl, Secretary; Rita Anderson, Treasurer; Dorothy Snider, Chaplain; Liz Kaplan and Joy Bergstrom, Historians; Bonnie Schneider, Sgt.-At-Arms; Ruth Strand and Ange Larson, Executive Committee.

I thank you for your confidence in me and we look forward to another good year.  There will be no membership meetings in July and August but we will be having a Board meeting soon to make plans for the coming year.

For God and Country

Joyce Rhody, President

CORNELIUS N. SLEGH
Born Dec. 13, 1922.  Died May 25, 2007.  He was a veteran of service with the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and a member of the American Legion, VFW, DAV and the Blind Veterans Association.

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

Paul Gilpin    In Memory of Edward Fosse
Mr and Mrs Bob Nistler    In Memory of Lyle Ellinghuysen
John R Peterson    Memorial to Honor Guard In Memory of Gordy Blake
Charlotte Hanson    In Memory of Ding Hanson
Clarence and Dorothy Schroader    In Memory of Robert Kuehl
Lowell and Cora Peterson    Donation
Family of Gordy Blake    Memorial to Honor Guard in Memory of Gordy Blake
Bill and Lavonne Christenson    In Memory of Millie Schultz
Bob and Shirley Indrelie    In Memory of Gordy Blake
Jackie and Brian Babey    In Memory of Cornelius Slegh
Joanne Smith    In Memory of Cornelius Slegh
Julia Slegh    In Memory of Cornelius Slegh
Mike Jensen    Donation
Duane and Eunice Hatleli    In Memory of Millie Schultz
Jon and Pat Rhiger    Donation
Gift to the Honor Guard in Memory of Cornelius Slegh

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

Veterans Memorial Update

As of June 23 a total of 2,241 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