Newsletter

American Legion Post 56 Monthly Bulletin

March 2009

Commander's Message

Hi Everyone:

Winter is slowly headed out of here, thank God! When the sun rays start to feel warm we know warmer weather is on its’ way. By the time you read this flyer Sandy and I should be sitting in the sun down in southern Texas relaxing. January has been better than December in terms as finically and being busy. February isn’t looking to bad right now so a big thank you to all of you who have patronized the club during these slow months. Now is the time for all of you folks who don’t go south for the winter to come up to the club and enjoy the wonderful food and events.

If you have been to the club lately you probably have notice the big signs above the bar with the commanders projects on them. The walk-in cooler floor is in bad need of repair. The inspector has told us it has to be fixed by the end of March. We are getting new metal made now and with some volunteer help we should be able to make the deadline and get that done. Also, as part of the commander’s project I have replaced the old tube type TV in the Northeast corner of the Bar area. If you would like to help out with that your name will be put on a tent card on the wire above the bar. Anyone giving more that $100.00 will get a bigger tent card with their name on it.

Congratulations to all the winners of the Super Bowl Raffle. The winner’s names are posted at the club. It was very successful for our gaming department. Wes Halverson did a good job with that and the total profit we made was $2,568.14. Thanks to everyone who helped and especially Wes.

Last month I neglected to mention Bill Neff for all the hours he has contributed to maintaining the rifles that are used by the Honor Guard for all their events. Sorry Bill and thanks for all the years of service. Also, Arnie Mulso has been putting in a lot of hours for the legion club. He has been helping Bernie Priebe with the Adjutants duties. Sometimes these volunteer jobs get overwhelming so these two need to be commended for the job they are doing. Thanks Bernie and Arnie, keep up the good work!

Thanks go out to 1st Vice Rex Stotts for organizing the 2009 membership renewal calling campaign that was held on Saturday, Feb. 14th. It was very successful and also helped get our records in order. Thanks to all the volunteer’s that helped with that. We are at 92.8 percent of our goal without the ones we got the day of the calling campaign. Thanks to everyone who has renewed their 2009 club membership.

What a great Valentine’s Day event we had at the club! The menu was excellent and the entertainment was superb. Todd will be putting together four events a year like that. Thanks Todd for what you are all doing!

Post Everlasting will be held on March 16th, it is an open invitation to all members, friends, and families of deceased members of the American Legion Post 56. Join us as we salute and honor our deceased comrades.  The dinner and meeting will start at 6:00.  Please RSVP if you plan to attend.

I hope everyone had a chance to read the articles about the “Valentines for Melvin” Army Veteran. I am sure Melvin was overwhelmed by all the attention he got on Valentine’s Day. Way to go Melvin! Thanks to the Honor Guard for delivering Cards to him and Veteran’s in some of the other local Rest Homes!

Thanks to everyone who help at the Post 56 Breakfast on Feb 22nd and also thanks to those who supported that event. With all the events that we are now having at the club it should allow everyone an opportunity to help support the club. Thanks to everyone who helps in their own way.

Watch for events that we are having for the Vietnam era Veterans from March 15th to March 29th. David Olson and Robert Levisen are doing a bang up job on that. Stayed tuned to the flyer, news media and bulletin board for details.

Keep all our Military Troops in your prayers!

For God and Country
Commander Dave Mullenbach

Club Update

A Big Thank You to everyone;

On the 18th of February, it has been a year. So if you don’t mind I would like take a moment to reflect on that year. It has been one of great change for the club. And, one with many struggles. We have tried many things some have been a success and some a failure. The promise I made to Gary and Dave was that I would give it my all. In doing so I realize I may have ruffled a few feathers. To those I apologize, that was not my intent. I am most proud of the staff we have assembled, they are hard working and dedicated.   We are constantly battling the economy, and trying to figure out ways to maximize each hour that we are open. I appreciate all of the guys who have helped in the kitchen. It helped a lot.

Valentine’s was a huge success. The next three show dates have been set.  The first will be May 23rd , and will be a salute to the Military . The next will be the September 19th, and will be a show featuring some of the great Duets in Music and the final will be December 19th a Christmas Show. If you want to purchase tickets early you can save 10% . The shows will be $50.00 per couple $150.00 for all three shows.  If you buy your ticket now you can buy all three shows for $135.00.

The cards for Melvin campaign was a huge success as we gathered over 400 cards.  He was all smiles, and very appreciative of everyone’s efforts.
Thanks For Your Continued Support;

Todd Utpadel
Club Manager

Attention Vietnam Era Veterans

Two events are in the planning stages to honor Vietnam Veterans in Minnesota. The State of Minnesota has established March 29th of each year as a special day to honor Vietnam Veterans. In addition, this year a state wide honor day for Vietnam Veterans has been planned for Saturday June 13th at the Capital Mall in St. Paul. As part of the local recognition program leading up to March 29th, area veterans are planning to display a few pictures from Freeborn County Vietnam era veterans who were assigned to military units throughout the world in any branch of service in support of operations during the Vietnam War. If you would like to share your pictures, slides, posters or memorabilia, please contact the American Legion Post 56 at 507-373-7993 and a veteran member will get back to you with further information on displays. You may also contact our coordinator Dave Olson at 507-373-0791. Your display items would be appreciated by March 10th, 2009.

Printable Version of this form  Form Sheet

F.Y.I.

Not long ago local historical researcher Kevin Savick found a Tribune column based on World War II military slang terms.  These now mostly forgotten terms were featured in the daily Albert Lea Tommy columns written by Tribune Editor Burt May and published in the April 7, 1944 issue.

Here’s the second half of these gems Burt called “war vocabulary”:

Rap It Back - Soldier pulling in his chin.
Red Lead - Catsup
Rid the Beam - This command means ‘Eyes front’ to a soldier
Second Louise - Applied to WACs with a rank equivalent to second lieutenant
Shot Down in Flames - Jilted (Also Dear John)
Shivering Liz - Jello
Boot - A new recruit
Flat Top - Name given to aircraft carriers because of their flight decks
Ripples - Noncommissioned WAVES
Sea Cow - What sailors call milk
Umbrella - Protecting screen of fighters
Stinger - What pilots call the tall gun on bombers
Pocket Battleship - This is the name of a class of battleships made by the Germans and welded to cut down its weight and increase its firepower while obeying the terms of the London naval treaty.
Quisling - A Benedict Arnold

Ed Shannon
Editor

Super Salute

Todd Utpadel, the Post 56 Honor Guard, and so many area school children and adults, plus Radio Station KATE and its listeners, deserve this Special Salute for making Valentine’s Day a really significant time for Melvin Simonson and the other veterans in the Albert Lea retirement centers.

Ed Shannon,
Editor

Auxiliary News

Happy Birthday American Legion!!!!!

On March 16th we are invited to join Post 56 as they honor their deceased members.  Dinner will be served at 6 pm.  This ceremony is known as Post Everlasting.  The Auxiliary will serve birthday cake that evening.

A special thank you to everyone who brought in Valentines.  You made many veterans feel special.  And a Big Thanks to Post 56 members who spent the morning delivering to Melvin and other nursing homes.

10 boxes were packed and will soon be on the way to our troops.

April will be our Spring Salad Luncheon.  We are still in need of chairman.  Please consider helping with this project.

March is Community Service month.  Many of you do just that.  Please let chairman Janet Scherb know what you have done so it can be included in our annual reports.

Again Happy Birthday American Legion and lets all think Spring.

President Pat

Taps

VIRGENE ENGEBRETSON
Born May 22, 1927.  Died Jan. 1, 2009.  He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a member of the American Legion.

CHESLEY FREDRICK HIBBARD
Born Nov. 13, 1931.  Died Jan. 23, 2009.  He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War and was a member of the American Legion and the Elks.

WILLIS EARL SCHEUTTE
Born Sept. 10, 1926.  Died Jan. 16, 2009.  He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was a member of the American Legion.

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

Virginia Hermanson    In Memory of Virgene Engebretson
Allen and Barbara Tullberg    In Memory of Lila Glantz
Odean and Gerri Berg    In Memory of Orrin Bye
Odean and Gerri Berg    In Memory of Gene Engebretson
Bob and Ruth Haskins    In Memory of Hody, Dave, Russell, Jack and Ding
Victor Glantz    In Memory of Wife Lila Glantz
Ray and Mary Keating    In Memory of Lila Glantz
Kenneth Nelson    In Memory of Lila Glantz
Jay and Deb Fotland    In Memory of Charles Stephenson

Honor Guard Donations
Victor Glantz    In Memory of Wife Lila Glantz
Tom Westland    Donation
Bob Wangsness    Donation
Bob and Pat Forman    In Memory of Victor Zajicek
Vernon and Fern Baer    Donation

Please 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.

The deadline for the April 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.

Book Your Upcoming Special Event

with Todd  373-7993

Texas Hold'em

 7 pm

Taco Night

5-8 pm

Burger Night

5 pm

Mega Bingo 6pm

Bar Menu 5-8 pm

7 pm Aux. Meeting

Thursday Supper

5-8 pm

(See menu above)

 Full Menu

5-8 pm

Karaoke with Laurie

starting at 7 pm

4:30 pm

Commander's

Steak and Fish

Fry

Texas Hold'em

 7 pm

Taco Night

5-8 pm

Board Meeting

6 pm

Burger Night

5 pm

Mega Bingo 6pm

Bar Menu 5-8 pm

Thursday Supper

5-8 pm

(See menu above)

Full Menu

5-8 pm

Karaoke with Laurie

starting at 7 pm

 8 am

VFW Breakfast

Texas Hold'em

 7 pm

Taco Night

5-8 pm

6 pm Post Everlasting

with Dinner

Post Meeting

7 pm

Burger Night

5 pm

St. Patty's Party

Cornbeef, Cabagge, Irish Stew & Green Beer

Mega Bingo 6pm

Bar Menu 5-8 pm

Thursday Supper

5-8 pm

(See menu above)

Full Menu

5-8 pm

Karaoke with Laurie

starting at 7 pm

Musician's Jam

Session 1 pm

 8 am Post

Breakfast

Texas Hold'em

 7 pm

Taco Night

5-8 pm

Burger Night

5 pm

Mega Bingo 6pm

Bar Menu 5-8 pm

 Thursday Supper

5-8 pm

(See menu above)

Full Menu

5-8 pm

Karaoke with Laurie

starting at 7 pm

29

8 am

Sunset

Saddle Club

Pancake Breakfast

Texas Hold'em

 7 pm

Taco Night

5-8 pm

Burger Night

5 pm