Newsletter

American Legion Post 56 Monthly Bulletin

June 2006

Commander's Message

June is already here and this will be my last Commanders Message.  New officers for the coming year were elected at the May 15 Post meeting.  They are Commander – Arnie Mulso, Trustees – Terry Vandersnick, Ron Gabrielson, Finance Officer – Dave Buhs.  The First and Second Vice Commanders positions remain open.  All other officers will remain the same.  New officer Installation will be held on June 16^th.  

Jason Kennedy, our Food and Beverage manager has taken a new job with a catering firm in Arizona .  As our Food and Beverage Manager Jason has done an excellent job, supporting the Club activities, scheduling, helping out whenever needed and always with a positive and friendly attitude.  We will miss him and wish him well in his new job.  The new Food and Beverage manager is Heidi Watson.  Heidi lives in Glenville with her husband Ron, has two daughters – Stephanie and Rhonda.  Her previous work experience includes managing a bar and restaurant.  I’m sure that she will do an excellent job, so come in and welcome Heidi to the Legion family.

Tuesday Bingo will be going away, last night will be May 23rd.  We didn’t have the participation that was needed to keep it open.  In the future we may be able to reopen if we use volunteer workers and participation projections look good.  Wednesday Bar Bingo isn’t affected and will still go on as scheduled.

My commander’s project is doing well, we will shortly be purchasing a warming and heating oven (Alto Sham) and new friers.  Hopefully this will help out the kitchen.  Also say thank you to Jan Doyle, who bought a years subscription of the Albert Lea Tribune for the Club.  Thanks Jan!

I would like to say thanks to all of the people who helped me and the Club in the past year.  I especially would like to say thanks to Bernie Priebe, Arnie Mulso and Vern Strand, who had answers to my questions.

For God and Country

Tom Henderson, Commander Post 56

Legion Heritage

Holger Jensen was the 27^th commander of Leo Carey Post 56, serving during 1944-45.  He was a lifetime resident of Freeborn County and served in the U.S. Army during World War I.  Jensen had been the manager of the basement department of the Skinner, Chamberlain store on South Broadway Avenue .  He died at the age of 80 on April 2, 1968.

Dr. Frank Garnett Folken was the 28^th commander of Post 56 during 1945-46, and the end of World War II.  He was born in Schuyler , Neb. , and graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical School.  During World War I the doctor served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy at the Great Lakes Naval Station.

The doctor and his wife came to Albert Lea in 1919.  After five years of general practice, he went to Vienna , Austria to take specialized training in ear, nose and throat medical specialties.  He then returned to Albert Lea and set up a specialized practice until retirement in 1959.

Dr. Folken was a member of three medical organizations, plus the American Legion, 40 and 8, Kiwanis, Elks and several Masonic orders.

He died on Jan. 31, 1960 and is buried at Graceland Cemetery .

Okay, we’re into the era just after the end of World War II.  Now the challenge is to find out which veteran of this particular conflict will be the first to serve as Post 56 commander.

Ed Shannon, Editor

Club Update

June is finally here and along with it wonderful weather.  And as most of you know May was my last month as your Food and Beverage Manager here at the Legion.  Also, I’d like to take this time to thank all of you for your support and the friendships I’ve received during my time here.  I’ll miss you all but of course will be back for visits.  I’ve enjoyed my time here very much.  

So on to business.  June 7^th the Auxiliary will be having their potluck supper.  June 10^th – Saturday afternoon the folks from the Marine Corps toy run will be stopping in so come in to support all the kids.  June 16^th is the Installation Supper for the 2006 Commander - Mr. Arnie Mulso, and the Auxiliary President - Joyce Rhody along with all the other officers.  Come on in and have some food and say hi to our new commander.  Now on June 17^th is the Eddie Cochran street dance in the parking lot across the street from the Club.  Have some food here then wander over for some good music and dancing.  And of course our breakfast is on the fourth Sunday which is the 25^th.  Also on Friday June 30^th the Historical Museum is hosting a Fish Fry here from 4:30-7:00 and you know what that means – the best damn fish not only in town but anywhere!  And of course don’t forget karaoke on Friday’s.  Always a good time.

And finally – I’ll miss you all and thank you to everyone for all the support.

Jason Kennedy, Formerly Food and Beverage

Welcome to summer 2006.  Great time of year with the end of school year baseball, swimming, sunbathing, mowing lawns and all that good stuff.  Well we are coming along on membership but still a few more as we are 1060 or 92.3% of goal.  Please ask someone if they would like to be a member and then bring them to the club and to a meeting – held on the 3^rd Monday of the month.  May was a busy month for activities and I thank everyone of the American Legion Family that helped out in one way or another.  June may seem like a slower month but we have installation of new officers on Friday the 16^th if anyone is interested in attending and next month I will become the Commander again.  I hope you will support the Legion club and me as we enter another year of decisions.  Your support is critical for the club to keep operating and the place needs to be kept busy.  Remember that every 4^th Sunday is breakfast from 8-12:30 so bring a friend and every Thursday night is fine dining so bring another friend – you must have more than one friend!!  Let’s get ready for the 4^th of July in Albert Lea as the parade is on the 3^rd and the fireworks on the 4^th.  Come to the club and have a good time.  Post 56 should be proud as many 1^st District Convention attendees thanked us for a great convention.  Thank you to the many helpers and members that made it a success.

Arnie Mulso

1^st Vice Commander

Memorial Day is a time when continuing on with a patriotic tradition from the past has real meaning.  Proof of this can be seen with the schedule of observances here in Albert Lea which take place at the end of May.

About the only changes which come with each year’s observance of Memorial Day are with the main speakers, some of the participants and maybe with the weather.

Most of what takes place in Albert Lea, Emmons, Lake Mills, Northwood, Wells, Alden, Freeborn, New Richland and other communities in the region each year are based on programs conceived in the era after World War I.  Since that time there have been five more major wars.  Through the years this has given even more emphasis for the observances of Memorial Day.

There’s another important factor to consider with Memorial Day.  Besides the veterans, we’re also honoring friends and family members of the past who are buried in these cemeteries.

Thus, Memorial Day is certainly the one day of the year when we can really honor the deserving deceased.

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 May 18, a total of 1546 of the paver bricks and 25 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 

Fred Hanson

Born May 14, 1921.  Died May 9, 2006.  He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and was a member of the American Legion.

Kenneth Noaeill

Born July 1, 1923.  Died May 2, 2006.  He served in both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, plus the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.  He was a member of the American Legion, VFW, DAV, Cooties, the Elks, Eagles and the Moose.

Eugene Otterson

Born May 27, 1927.  Died April 30, 2006.  He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and was a member of the American Legion and VFW.

Wilbert Pagel

Born July 9 1922.  Died May 1, 2006.  He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a member of the American Legion, the VFW and the honor guard.

Richard Sigurdson

Born October 9, 1916.  Died April 16, 2006.  He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a member of the American Legion, VFW and the Elks.

Paul Weigel

Born November 20, 1924.  Died April 22, 2006.  He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a member of the American Legion and the VFW.

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

The deadline for the July issue will be 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.

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