Banana Belt Bulletin March The American Legion Celebrating 92 years serving our veterans.

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1 Cliff Sexton Post # 55 P O Box 848 Buena Vista, CO Banana Belt Bulletin March 2011 The American Legion Celebrating 92 years serving our veterans. The American Legion was founded March 15-17, 1919, in Paris, France, at the close of World War I. Ninety- two years later we do not say Mission Accomplished, we say Still Serving America because that is what the American Legion does. It is who we are. The spirit of the Legion is much the same as it was in We serve those who served and we serve America. We produced the greatest piece of social legislation in U.S. history, the GI Bill and operate the best youth programs in America. To the American Legion rest is really a four-letter word and not in our vocabulary. Our founders didn t rest when they fought in the trenches Over There and their successors didn t rest when they defeated Hitler s Germany and the Japanese Empire, or fought in Korea or Vietnam and every other place where America s military has answered the call. The Legion is still the leading advocate for those serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and everywhere in the war on terrorism. The American Legion is the leading advocate for veteran s health care and rehabilitation, children and youth program, a strong national security policy and one hundred percent Americanism. The Spirit of The American Legion is the same as it was in Our Organization was established on four pillars and we remain true to those pillars today For God and Country

2 Commander Darryl Atherton Sr. Vice commander: Sandy Sanchez Jr. Vice Commander: Bill Buttlar Adjutant: Art Volk Finance Officer: Linda Bjorklund Chaplain: Gary Crowder Sergeant At Arms: Dean Tecklenburg Service Officer: Joe Ortiz Historian: Diane Atherton President Donna Sanchez st Vice President: Dorothy Volk Secretary: Patty Ouellette Treasurer: Linda Swanson Chaplain: Becky Daughety Historian Ruth Lambert Sergeant At Arms Nita Sooter Karen Armstrong The Banana Belt Bulletin is a monthly publication of the American Legion Post 55, P O Box 848, Buena Vista, Co Please feel free to call or any questions, comments or suggestions to: Diane Atherton ddatherton@mesanetworks.net Deadline for submissions is 4 days after each monthly meeting for publication in that month s newsletter. IF YOU WISH TO RECEIVE THE NEWSLETTER VIA CONTACT DIANE AT THE ABOVE ADDRESS. Auxiliary News and Upcoming Events We will be having our soup & dessert fund raiser Saturday March 12 from 11-2 pm at the Memorial Hall. Stop by and have lunch with us. We will also have baked goods and a white elephant sale. You can bring your items on Friday night before Bingo. Please price all white elephant items. Time to bake ladies! And thank you. We mailed 18 boxes for Valentine s Day. One box went to a wounded Marine in the hospital at Bethesda MD. We made $135 on raffle baskets at Bingo. We really appreciate the support from everyone. Our next meeting is Wednesday Evening MAR 16 dinner at 6pm and the meeting at 7pm. I will need your volunteer hours at this time too. If you are not sure, put down everything and I will sort it out later. All hours count except volunteer hours for relatives. We are looking into having a Raffle Class in the near future. If you are interested contact me. OUR ANNUAL BIRTHDAY DINNER WILL BE SATURDAY, MARCH 19 TH AT NOON. CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE WILL BE SERVED. PLEASE PLAN ON ATTENDING. Donna Sanchez, President

3 February Regular Meeting: The regular meeting of Post 55 was called to order at 1p.m. by Commander Atherton, and the opening prayer recited by acting Chaplain Reggie Nelson. Guests: Mary Menger, sons Dylan &Arron, Pete Messinger, Linda Powers, Debbie & Tim Dyer. Commanders Corner: Blue Star Banners and Certificates were presented to Mary Menger and Debbie and Tim Dyer. Mary s son Dustin is actively serving in the Marine Corps and has just completed Scout Sniper training at Camp Pendleton. Debbie and Tim s son, 2 nd Class Petty Officer Timothy Dyer, is currently assigned to the USS Lake Erie and is on loan to the US Army awaiting to be deployed to Pakistan. Pictures of their sons are proudly displayed on our Hometown Heroes Board. REMINDER DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS MARCH 13 THIS MEANS OUR MEETING TIMES GO BACK TO THE THIRD WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH AT 7PM SO OUR MARCH MEETING IS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16 AT 7PM WITH DINNER AT 6PM. WE WILL BE HAVING OUR AMERICAN LEGION BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION ON SATURDAY, MARCH 19 AT NOON PLEASE PLAN ON ATTENDING. WE WILL BE SERVING OUR ANNUAL CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE DINNER. THERE WILL BE A CHARGE OF $4 PER PERSON OR $7 PER COUPLE, CHILDREN 10 AND UNDER EAT FREE. THIS HELPS OFFSET FOOD COST AND HELPS PAYS THE DISHWASHER. THERE WILL ALSO BE A TIP JAR JUST FOR THE DISHWASHER. THIS IS A REAL BIG JOB SO BE GENEROUS. The care taker duties and responsibilities are completed as well as new rental hall agreements. Anyone interested in seeing these please let me know.

4 We will not be participating in the Rock and Gem show this year. With the City wanting additional permits and our volunteer group maxed out we just cannot continue to do this event. We will however have a booth set up at Gold Rush Days to try to promote the American Legion. We will need people to man the booth at least 2 at a time and probably 4hrs at a time for the 2 days. There will be another Honor Flight for WWII veterans in May. If you know a WWII Veteran please ask them if they would like to go on this trip. The trip is free. There is a charge for one night stay in Grand Junction and one meal but that is where we come in, we will pay this for any Post 55 member that would like to attend. Please call me for more info. We have a jar on the desk for nominations for Legionnaire of the Year. If you wish to nominate someone please fill out the form and drop it in the jar. The committee will meet at the end of our next meeting and report to me. Finance Report: Linda Bjorklund Finances are still doing well. The Memorial hall is doing well. The main hall rental has been slow. All scholarships have been paid. Emblem sales are over budget due to necessary purchases but over all we are tracking well for this time of year. Bingo Report: Linda Bjorklund Bingo is doing OK. We paid out two jackpots in one night which was unexpected but we are still doing well, and the players seem to really like the changes we have made. The verifier is working now and this will enable quicker turn-a-rounds in the games. As always we are in need of helpers on Fridays so if anyone can help just one Friday a month it can sure make it easier on those who are here all the time. From the Adjutant: We are at 146 of 158 to make 92% so far. Please keep in mind that your 2010 membership card expired December 31, so if you have not paid your dues please mail them in as quickly as possible. We have not heard from the following members ~ your 2011 dues are now due. Sara Armstrong, Albert Baldwin, Carl Fischer, Robert Fisher, Chris Hahn, Daniel Larson, Bobbie Lewis, Lewis Lowe, Elmer Olinger, Glen Paddock, Donald Schneiderman, James Shiew, Robert Smith, William Stewart, Ron Swanigan, Joshua Tharp, Tyran Tharp, Larry Williams. Remember to notify the Post if you change your address. Committee Reports: Bill Redmon reported that fireworks permits are ready to be filed with the city and the fireworks are ordered for this year s display. We will have safety training on March 20. All participating in the handling of the fireworks should attend the training. Submit your names as soon as possible. Volunteers are needed to man the gates on the night of the 4 th and to clean up the grounds the day after. We also need volunteers to collect from businesses. Please let me

5 (Bill) know if you can help any of this. We will also collect donations during the 4th parade, and have flyers posted at various establishments throughout the community. The Boy and Cub Scouts have expressed a willingness to help this year and we are certainly going to take them up on it! New Business: Welcome Members of the Post welcomed Tony Burns, after his initiation. Tony has participated in Honor Guard, Color Guard and Parades as a VFW member. We are proud to have him as an active member of our Post. District Commander Thomas Heath reported on activities at the Mid Year Conference, and reminded the membership that our District meeting will be held at our Post, May 14, at 12 noon. Cold Cuts will be served for lunch. Sick Call: Art visited Rexford Armstrong and reports he is doing well. Larry Blossom is still in Columbine Nursing Home. Good of the Order: Gary French expressed concern that Veterans do not salute the flag at parades or other ceremonies or during the National Anthem. There was a bill passed July 25 th, 2007 (sponsored by Senator Jim Inhofe) that gives Veterans and service members the right to salute the flag whether in uniform or not. We should do a better job at educating the public. After some discussion it was decided we will try to be more pro active, even run an article in the newspaper. Events March 2 Executive Board Meeting 2pm March 13 March 17 March 19 Daylight Savings Time Begins St. Patrick s Day American Legion Birthday Celebration 12 noon at the Post. Be sure to attend! Blue Star Banner Presentation

6 Our Next Meeting is WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2011 Dinner 6 pm Meeting 7 pm No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow. ~Proverb The American Legion Cliff Sexton Post 55 P O Box 848 Buena Vista, Co