AMERICAN LEGION CLINTON POST 259

9122 Piscataway Road

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY......

Clinton, Maryland 20735 (301) 868-2550 Haywood V. Moss Commander

Web Site: post259.org

September Charles Lewis - Editor 2013

COMMANDER MESSAGE

DD-214 NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE: The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) has provided a website for veterans to gain access to their DD-214, and other documents from their military files. Veterans and the next of kin of deceased veterans may use a new online military personnel records system to request documents. The website is www.vetrecs.archives.gov. TUITION FAIRNESS FOR VETERANS: At a June 12, 2013, Senate hearing, “The American Legion focused on pending legislation that would qualify American veterans for in-state tuition rate at colleges, and universities, regardless of their legal residence.” The American Legion was instrumental in creating the 1944 GI Bill of Rights and the passage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill in 2008.” UPCOMING EVENTS: September 2013 - Annual Crab Feast (To be announced) November 11, 2013 Veterans Day 11:00 AM Auxiliary November 28, 2013 Thanksgiving Dinner 3:00 PM Post December 8, 2013 Children Christmas Party 1:00 PM Post December 15, 2013 Adult Christmas Party 5:00 PM Post DUES PAYMENT: The 2014 American Legion membership campaign has already begun. It seem like only yesterday we began the 2013 campaign. Again this year we are offering an early bird incentive. Ten lucky Legionnaires who have paid their 2014 dues by November 15, 2013 will be entered into a drawing for a Post-paid 2015 membership. In other words, a two year membership for the price of one year’s dues.” You may mail your dues check to us, or pay on line with a credit card at http://www.legion.org/renew.

FROM THE DESK OF THE 1ST VICE COMMANDER Gary W. Gifford comments on membership: “Your membership in our American Legion’s influence with the lawmakers on Capitol Hill is affected directly by the number of wartime veterans it represents. Although you may not be using the perks of your Post Home, your continued membership makes a vital difference in lives of fellow veterans struggling with health issues and the VA benefits they have earned through their service, also in the lives of our active duty warriors, who are balancing their obligations on the battlefield with those at home. Please continue to include your voice with those of your fellow Legionnaires by paying your $30.00 dues for 2014 today.” Yours in Legion Service, Haywood V. Moss Commander

New Members Name Service War Era Cornell Johnson USA Viet Nam Henry Thomas USN Viet Nam Delonta Hawkins USN Desert Storm Wilson Henry Moore USA Viet Nam Arthur L. Whitaker USA Viet Nam John W. Crowley USMC Korea Darilyn O. Wade USA Viet Nam Timothy Frank Sr. USA Lebanon Walter Jackson USA Viet Nam Dante R. Smith USN Panama

Post Officers 2013 – 2014

Upcoming Events

Event Leader Commander Haywood V. Moss Installation - June 2014 - Outgoing Commander

1st Vice Commander Gary Gifford S.A.L. 259 Golf Tournament – Sept 2013 – S.A.L.

2nd Vice Commander Matthews Garofalo Veteran’s Day Service – Nov 2013 – Auxiliary Unit

3rd Vice Commander George Martin Adult Christmas Party – Dec 2013 - Legion

Adjutant Robert A. Wilson

Children Christmas Party – Dec 2013 – Legion

Assistant Adjutant Vacant Super Bowl Party – Feb 2014 - Legion

Judge Advocate Elbert “ED” White St. Patrick Day Dinner – Mar 2014 – Legion

Service Officer James Woodland Upper Marlboro Day Beer Sales – May 2014 – S.A.L.

Finance Officer Richard Switzer JBA Joint Service Open House – May 2015 – Legion This event is held every two (2) years

Assistant Finance Officer – Vacant Memorial Day – May 2014 - Legion

Historian Charles Lewis Flag Day – June 2014 - Legion

Chaplain Thomas Treichel AL Golf Tournament – June 2014 - Legion

Sgt At Arms John Jackson Crab Feast – September, 2013 - Legion

Thanksgiving Feast – November 2013 - Legion

Executive Committee Jerald Thompson Joseph DeCenzo Joseph Morgan

National Executive Committee

Elbert D. White – Alternate National Executive Committeeman

The American Legion

Clinton Post 259 9122 Piscataway Road

Clinton, Maryland 20735

Phone: 301-868-2550 Website: www.post259.org

Clinton Post 259 Newsletter is published

monthly on Post 259 website We welcome your news, ideas, suggestions,

comments or questions for future issues. Drop them off at the Post – Attention

Newsletter Editor Or forward to

Clewis4544@aol.com

We need your assistance, let us know of any our

members who are sick or in the hospital

Please call (301) 868-2550

If you have moved, please contact the Post with

your new address

Auxiliary Officers Legion Rider Officers S.A.L. Officers

President: Rose Butler Director: Larry “Doc” McBean Commander: Gary Castleman

Vice President: Judith Woodland Asst. Director: Donald Ennis 1st Vice: Dave Desmarais

Secretary :Freida Skaggs Secretary: Michael Quander 2nd Vice: David Hutchinson

Treasurer: Antoinette Carr Treasurer/Safety Officer Peggye McBean

Finance Officer:

Historian: Vivian Boyd Chaplain: James Burrows Sgt At Arms: Richard (Todd) Harding

Chaplain: Sharon Franklin Road Captain: Ed Waddill Adjutant: Rich A. Walsh Jr.

Sgt At Arm:Ruth King Historian: Robert “Reds” Aliff

Gold Star: Mickey McKitrick Chaplain: Gary “GJ” Shafer

Advisor: Liz White

Verna Thompson

Barbara Theesen

Advisor: Jim Cox George Bucklew

Have You Paid Your 2014 Dues?

Drop them in the mail or drop them off at the Post

The cost for renewal is $30.00

Renew Now – Please give us your e-mail address

Need Help in Obtaining Benefits and/or Medical Care Don’t Go It Alone

Contact American Legion Post 259

Service Officer James R. Woodland Home: 301 283-6451

Cell: 301 283-5047 E-Mail: jamesr.woodland@yahoo.com

You are not alone

CHARLOTTE HALL

Post 259 held their monthly BINGO program at the home on 14 August 2013. Al Elmond and Bob

Levendusky were the post 259 volunteers with much appreciated help from Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Whitworth,

Donna Stephenson, Joan Vogel, and Laura Conner with her baby Luke.

Thanks to the Auxiliary for providing the snacks for the evening. The next BINGO will be 11 September

2013. Pictures this month include resident Harvey Greene; resident James Banks with grandson Christopher

Banks and his wife Ronisha at his bingo table; resident Robert Owens (Nationals Cap); resident Fred Miller

(Purple Heart Cap); resident Bill Olsen with volunteer Joan Vogel; and resident WWII Navy Veteran 98 year

old Conrad “Babe” Lederer being hugged by Rozanne Whitworth and Al Elmond. It is such an honor to be

associated with our WWII veterans.

Helping hands are always welcome. The rewards are priceless from a very grateful group of heroes.

Al Elmond

SEPTEMBER ACTIVITY CALENDAR Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1ST

2ND SAL Meeting 7:30PM

3RD

4th Shrimp Night 5:30PM until 7:30PM Pinochle

5th Call the Post for Special Meal Menu 301 868-2550

6th Bingo Early Bird – 7:15PM

7th

8th

9th Auxilliary Meeting 6:30pm

10th

11th

No Shrimp Night SAL Golf Tournament

12th Call the Post for Special Meal Menu 301 868-2550

13th Bingo Early Bird – 7:15PM

14th

15th

16th

Exec Comm Meeting 6:30PM

17th

18th Shrimp Night 5:30PM until 7:30PM Pinochle

19th Call the Post for Special Meal Menu 301 868-2550

20th Bingo Early Bird – 7:15PM

21st

22nd

23rd General Membership Meeting at 7:30PM

24th Legion Riders Meeting at 7:00pm

25th Shrimp Night 5:30PM until 7:30PM Pinochle

26th American Legion Riders Bar B Que Meal Call 301 868-2550

27th Bingo Early Bird – 7:15PM

28th

29th

30th

New American Legion National Commander Visitation The American Legion National Commander will address a Joint Session of the House and Senate Veteran’s Affairs Committees on September 10, 2013 at 10:00AM. The address will take place in the Dirksen Senate Office Building. Please bring your “cover” and be in place NLT 9:00AM.

AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY

CLINTON POST 259 P.O. Box 17

Clinton, MD 20735

AUXILIARY MEMBERSHIP

DUES FOR 2014 ARE NOW BEING COLLECTED If you are paying at the bar and you do not have your renewal notice, please fill out a blue card and give it and your dues to the bartender. Blue cards are

in the wooden box on the right as you enter the bar door. Dues for sr’s are $20.00 and jr’s are $4.00

Please call me if you have any questions regarding membership. 2014 dues must be paid by January 31, 2014 per department or you will be

delinquent and shall be suspended from all membership privileges. Liz White

Membership Chairman (301) 868-1612

Note The Date Change

Post 259 Crab Feast

Save this date --- October 12, 2013 --- Crabs, Crabs, Crabs More information to come – mark your calendar

We Are Still Waiting for Your Help

I WANT YOU DUTY CALL: WE NEED YOU TO BECOME A MEMBER OF ONE OF THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEES. Please contact Commander Moss at (301) 203-0885 or hvmoss@verizon.net

COMMITTEESS & DUTIES Membership Committee: Responsible for all matters pertaining to Post

membership including obtaining members, determining eligibility and reinstating members

House Committee: Responsible for all matters concerning Post rentals, hall scheduling

and janitorial services insofar as halls, kitchen, parking area and rest rooms are concerned.

Entertainment Ways and Means Committee: Responsible for all matters

concerning social activities of the Post.

Budget and Finance Committee: Responsible for administering the financial

matters of the Post including budgeting and fund expenditures.

Audit Committee: Responsible for ensuring the Post financial audit takes place every

year.

Publicity Committee: Responsible for the Post bulletin and promotion of Post and

American Legion programs.

Service and Rehabilitation Committee: Supervise all matters pertaining to

the need of comrades in the prosecution of all just claims against the United States or state governments, employment, relief, etc.

Visiting Committee: Responsible for visiting and comforting of members of the

families when sick or bereaved and visiting ex-servicemen and women in nearby hospitals.

Americanism Committee: Charged with the inspiration of patriotism and good

citizenship by arrangements of proper observance of the patriotic occasions, encouragement of patriotic and civic phases of instruction in schools, including oratorical contest in the schools and Boys State.

Athletic Committee: Charges with the promotion of physical development and clean

sports by the organization of Post athletic teams, American Legion baseball, recreation, etc.

Son of the American Legion Committee: Oversees the operations of the

Post’s S.A.L. squadron.

Child Welfare Committee: Charged with aid and service to children of veterans,

cooperating with other established agencies in the community laboring for the betterment of child conditions and in coordinating services and agencies in the community for the above services.

Defense Committee: Works with and coordinate Legion efforts with the local

defense council on matters pertaining to national, civilian and home defense.

Nominating Committee: Responsible for finding qualified members for

consideration in filling Post Officer positions.

Constitution and Bylaws Committee: Responsible for oversight of the Post

Constitution and Bylaws

Veterans Designation on Maryland Driver’s License Effective January 1, 2013, you will be able to have the word “Veteran” placed on your driver license. This was authorized by a bill passed by the Maryland General Assembly and signed into law by Governor O’Malley in May 2012. If you would like to have the word “Veteran” put on your driver license, you have two options:

a. Request it the next time your license is up for renewal (no cost to you) or b. Request it before your license is up for renewal at a cost of $20.00

Instructions Bring one of the following documents to your local Motor Vehicles Administration (MVA) Branch Office:

DD214

Honorable Discharge Certificate

Letter from the Personnel Center in St. Louis confirming veteran status If you do not have any one of these documents and you are a veteran with a discharge that is other than dishonorable, you will need to visit your nearest Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) Service Office to obtain a letter verifying your status as a veteran. To find the location of the MDVA Service Office closest to you, you can either call 1-800-464-4926 or visit the website at http://www.mdva.state.md.us/about/serviceProgram.html Once you obtain this letter, you can then bring it to your local MVA Branch Office to request the veteran designation on your driver license. Questions: Call Jerry Boden, Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs at 410-260-3841 See more at: http://servingtogetherproject.org/veteran-designation-on-driver-

license/#sthash.PXzf70e.dpuf

Sons of the American Legion Squadron 259

Annual Golf Tournament Format: Scramble Where: Marlton Golf Course

9413 Midland Turn, Upper Marlboro MD 20772

Wednesday: Sept.11, 2013

9:00 AM Shot Gun Start

$260.00 per foursome

Includes:

“Carts and Green Fee’s”

“Beer and sodas on the course”

“Food, Draft Beer and Sodas at the Post after the tournament”

American Legion Post 259

9122 Piscataway Road – Clinton MD

“Prizes for First, Second & Third place” and “Door prizes”

All proceeds going to:

The Various Programs of the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 259

Clinton American Legion Post 259 301-868-2550

Gary Castleman - Golf Chairman