|
Post
Home
Contact
Information
Commander's
Welcome
Post
Events / Calendar
Newsletter
Programs
Membership
Club
Facilities
Honor Guard
Auxiliary
S.A.L
Charitable
Fund Raising
Legion
Preamble
Links
Photos-Recent
Events
News
Flash
| Changing
your address ? Please leave new address at the club or mail to:
American
Legion Post 56
P.O.
Box 1056
142
N. Broadway
Albert
Lea, MN 67007 |
|
|
American
Legion Post 56 Monthly Bulletin
May
2008
|
|
Commander's
Message
Congratulations
to “Our Legionnaire of the Year” - David Olson. David is
involved with the Honor Guard, serves as a Trustee on the Executive Board, and
is always willing to help with other Legion Programs.
The Legion also recognized the 50 and 60 year Members of the Post. The
following are 50 year members - Richard Hoium, Ralph Johnson, Kenneth
Jones, George Jacobs, Hilmer Opp, and Andrew Sanders.
60 year member is James O’Berg.
In February the Legion applied for a Grant with the Worth County Development
Authority for $5200 to purchase a new stackable double oven for the kitchen.
Middle of April we received a phone call and we were asked to attend a
meeting at Diamond Jo to receive our Grant. We will receive $3,843.75.
The difference we have to come up with ourselves, maybe a fundraiser.
We need to purchase the stove before we receive the Grant.
1st District Convention will be held at Wabasha, the weekend of May 16 & 17.
If there is anyone that would like to attend, please contact the Board and
we will make arrangements for you.
The American Legion is responsible for Memorial Day. If there is anyone
out there that know of a retired or active Military person that would do the
speech at Graceland Cemetery, please contact me at 373-1568. Help will be
appreciated.
There is this organization from the St Paul area by the name of “Serving our
Troops”. They are planning a Steak Dinner for the troops in Kosovo on
June 1st. They also will be serving Dinner to the families at the Mayo
Civic Center in Rochester with a two-way video link for family to speak directly
to their loved ones. Entertainment will also be provided, all at no cost.
Freeborn County has many Troops over there. More information to come
later.
I am still working on My Commanders project. Hoping to complete it within
the next couple of weeks. Still short a few hundred dollars.
For God and Country
Commander Post 56
Gary Anderson
|
|
|
|
Club
Update
Hello
Everyone!!!!
First; congratulations to Pat Johansen, who was named
employee of the month for the month of April, she is a great asset,
and answered the phone every time we needed her. I hope you
have had a chance to stop by and say Hi! The legion is fast becoming
the place to be with new menu items, mega bingo, and Karaoke. As
we continue to improve our kitchen and the menu I want to thank
everyone who has given their thoughts and suggestions. They are all
appreciated. I am in amazement as I watch the passion that
many members have for their club, it is these people who help and
donate their time to small projects around the club that really
helps. We are in the process of planning a Smelt and Burger feed for
Saturday June 7th, this is to help raise money for the purchase of a
new oven for the kitchen. Diamond Jo Casino has given us about
$3,800 towards the purchase so we are about $2,000 short of making
the purchase. We will be closed Memorial Day, in honor of those who
have served. As you prepare for summer may your travels be safe.
Todd
Utpadel
Club Manager
Thought For The Day
“It is easier to build children, then to repair adults”
|
|
|
|
F.Y.I.
In
the last post publication I used comments by Albert Lea Tommy (in
reality, the Tribune’s Editor Burt May) who saluted the
veterans of Post 56 and VFW Post 447 for their part in creating
what’s now Pickerel Lake County Park. However, one aspect of
this Albert Lea Tommy column was absolutely wrong. He referred
to the Post members as the “American Legion Boy”.
Okay, let’s do some logical thinking. Nearly all, if not
all, the members in 1939 were World War I veterans. Let’s
say some area boy, age 17, enlisted in the Armed Forces in 1918.
By 1939 he would be 38 years old and a Post 56 member. Since
when could he still be a mere boy?
Maybe he was a boy when he went into the U.S. Army, Navy or Marine
Corps; when discharged he was a man, period.
Yet, in that era the stupid word boy was used to describe a member
of the armed forces or a veteran. Part of this can be based on
the strange word “doughboy” once used to describe an American
Soldier. A more sensible way to use the word doughboy is to
have it preceded by the word Pillsbury.
Another version of this is the weird use of the phrase “soldier or
sailor boy”. Thankfully, this silly soldier or sailor boy
foolishness has finally died out.
Ed Shannon
Editor
|
|
|
|
Auxiliary
News
We
hope these April showers bring May flowers. It is the thought
of Spring that keeps us Minnesotans going all winter, right?
April has been a busy month for us. At our April 2 meeting our
nominating committee offered us a full slate of officers, as
follows: President - Pat Johannsen, First
Vice-President - Janet Scherb, Second Vice-President - Karen
Luttrell, Executive Board - Ange Larson and Wanda
Christensen. At the May meeting we will be open to any further
nominations and then elect the officers for the coming year.
April 2 was a busy day for us. Besides the evening meeting,
which we held in the Century 21 Meeting Room next door, we held our
spring luncheon at noon. It was very successful and we
profited over $1,000. Thank you to all that helped and
donated.
The end of March we nicely filled 10 boxes to be shipped to our
troops overseas. We appreciate receiving names and addresses
for these shipments because we cannot just send “to any
soldier”.
Monday April 7 we gathered officers and committee chairs to file our
annual reports. Although we don’t seek publicity along the
way, we like to inform our members of where our hard earned money
goes. Over $1,000 was donated to 13 different organizations
helping children and youth. $951 was donated to 11 community
service projects, including a donation to Crime Victims Crisis
Center for the billboard on Main Street proclaiming, “It
shouldn’t hurt to be a child”. Did you see our name on it?
$1,428 went towards veterans affairs and care. We spent
$670 on sending 2 girls to Girls State. $1,200 went towards
two scholarships and other support of education. And over
$1,000 went to various projects and supplies. This proves our
unit is active and hardworking and as your president, I thank
everyone of you who has helped in any way.
Memorial Day will be celebrated on Monday, May 26, with our American
Legion honoring those that have died. Fly your flag! Attend
the services! Show your patriotism and gratitude for those who
have served.
Our May meeting will be at 7:00 pm, Wednesday May 7, with board
meeting at 5:00 pm on Monday, May 5. Now get outside and enjoy
SPRING!
For God and Country
Joyce Rhody, Auxiliary President
|
MEMBERSHIP
The 2008 membership renewals are still coming in but we have a few more to go.
We are now at 1019 which is 95% of our total paid up membership renewal
goal. A big thanks to those members that have made reminder calls to the
ones that have not paid their membership. Also remember to continue
seeking out new members. Sometimes all it takes is just asking someone if
they would like to become a member. If you have sons that could be a SAL
member or daughters that could belong to the Auxiliary, ask them to join.
Thanks again and see you at the Club!
1st Vice - Membership Chairman
Dave Mullenbach
|
|
|
|
|
Taps
RICHARD V. BAGAASON
Born July 25, 1924. Died April 14, 2008. He served
during World War II in the U.S. Marine Corps and was a member of the
American Legion, VFW, Elks and Eagles.
ESLIE O. BERGSTROM
Born Jan. 26, 1933. Died April 15, 2008. He served
in the U.S. Navy and was a member of the American Legion, VFW and
Sertoma Club. Eslie served as a bugler of the Veterans Honor
Guard for over 20 years and was a Legionnaire of the Year.
BRUCE R. WALLACE
Died Dec. 16, 2007, in Medford, Ore. Born Aug. 3, 1917. He
served during World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps and was a
member of American Legion Post 56.
RICHARD G. WASMOEN
Born Nov. 23, 1929. Died March 22, 2008. He served in
the armed forces during the Korean War and was a member of the
American Legion.
|
|
Dollar-A-Month
(D.A.M.)
Chuck and Carol Smith In Memory of Sue Borland
Robert and Doris Miller In Memory of Sue
Borland
Bob and Betty Guenther In Memory of Cecil Roban
Don and Elaine Ehrich In Memory of Darryl
“Nig” Lee
Orvis and Betty Rake In Memory of Henry Schafer
Ethmer and Marlene Wright In Memory of “Nig”
Lee
Marjorie Neve In Memory of Alton Neve
Jim and Linda Gries In Memory of Bill Hammer
Arnold and Emma Levisen In Memory of Earl Levisen
Eileen Schmitz In Memory of “Nig” Lee
Ruth Strand In Memory of “Nig” Lee
Joyce Zeller and Beth Goodman In Memory of Sue
Borland
Joyce Zeller and Beth Goodman In Memory of
Marlene Tautges
Shirley Strand In Memory of Eslie Bergstrom
Vonnie Oftedahl In Memory of Eslie Bergstrom
Margie Mackay In Memory of Eslie Bergstrom
Bill and Lavonne Christenson In Memory of
“Nig” Lee
Bill and Lavonne Christeson In Memory of Sue
Borland
Robert Knutson In Memory of Billy Paul
Larry and Janice Lestrud In Memory of “Nig”
Lee
Carol and Chuck Smith In Memory of “Nig” Lee
Darryl “Nig” Lee Family In Memory of “Nig”
Lee
Dorothy Harty In Memory of “Nig” Lee
Izzy Lee In Memory of “Nig” Lee
Vern and Shirley Strand In Memory of “Nig” Lee
Paul and Marlene Skophammer In Memory of Robert
Skophammer
Lois Wasmoen In Memory of Richard Wasmoen
Honor Guard
Margie Mackay In Memory of “Nig” Lee
Dale Siefert Family In Memory of Dale Siefert
Steve Hoelscher Donation
Bill and Lavonne Christenson In Memory of Eslie
Bergstrom
Roger and Jeanne Naylor In Memory of Eslie
Bergstrom
Marilyn Claassen In Memory of Lester Van Wey
|
|
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 June issue will be the Wednesday following the
post meeting. This will
be the deadline policy in the future!
|
|
Veterans
Memorial Update
As of April 23 a total of 2,453 of the paver bricks and 46 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 sponsorships!
|
|
Post
447 VFW and Auxiliary meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of every
month at the American Legion Post 56 Clubrooms @ 7:00pm. Come and
join VFW Post 447.
Veterans
helping Veterans.
|
| Note: Content from
this page is edited from American Legion Post 56 monthly newsletter
bulletin. |
|
Book
Your Upcoming Special Event
with
Todd 373-7993 |
|
| Social
Hall & Kitchen available at no charge to non-profit organizations
for fundraisers or meetings. |
|
|
