May 2020 Newsletter€¦ · served at most funeral luncheons for Veterans when held at the Post,...
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American Legion Post #28 Issue #1188 May 2020 Charles A. Conklin Post #28 Newsletter published monthly by Charles A. Conklin Post #28 of the American Legion P. O. Box 439 ~ 700 S. Harbor Avenue ~ Grand Haven, MI 49417-1743 ~ www.grandhavenlegion.org Legion Janet E. Fonger, Post 28 Commander [email protected] Gary Doublestein, 1 st Vice Commander Rick White, 2 nd Vice Commander Larry Lambert, Adjutant Cyndy Wierenga, Finance Officer Duane Smith, Chaplain TBD, Judge Advocate Freddy Smith, Sergeant-at-Arms Dennis Siron, Historian Garrett Veihl, Service Officer Larry Lambert, Service Officer Hoyt Fonger, Service Officer Ray Ribbink, Executive-at-Large Freddy Smith, Executive-at-Large Jim Vette, Executive-at-Large John Bilski, Past Commander AUXILIARY Darlene DeHaan, President [email protected] Melanie Riekels, 1 st Vice Pres. Diane Janusch-Johnson 2 nd Vice Pres. Ginny Hebert, Secretary Michele Stetts, Treasurer Linda Gieske, Historian Pam Medendorp-Peck, Chaplain Barb Kelly, Sergeant-at-Arms Kathleen Edwards, Membership Sal Ross Berens, Commander [email protected] Hans VanHorssen, 1 st Vice Commander Charlie Chittenden, 2 nd Vice Commander T.L. Lowe, Finance Officer Al VanDam, Chaplain Charlie Chittenden, Historian Steve VanderWall, Sergeant-at-Arms Scott Kelly, Membership Paul Kubicek, Adjutant Jeff Warner, Past Commander Legion riders Gerald Keen, Director [email protected] Charles Potter, Assistant Director Chase Kamhout, Sergeant-at-Arms Diana Arens, Secretary Larry Foose, Treasurer TBD, Chaplain Sally Kemme, Membership Chair post Manager Lori Pulciani (616) 842-5310 Hours: Mon. – Fri. 1pm – 10pm Saturday 12pm – 10pm Sunday 1pm – 7pm COMMANDER’S COMMENTS Operation KP is almost to the finish line! Checkout the numbers to date…. Total Fundraising Donations: $225,957.65 Total project cost (to date) $227,972.15 Shortfall: $ -2,014.50 Chair plaques are now available for 8 low deck chairs only (upstairs deck area). Please note that all plaque engraving is on hold until new guidance from Governor Whitmer regarding COVID-19 and Michigan business operations. We look forward to our deck opening soon and seeing your loved one honored and recognized with a chair plaque. The plaques for the outside deck chairs will be a bit different as they will be made to withstand the weather. Words cannot express how grateful I am to our donors for supporting the kitchen project. You might think that during the Michigan “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Executive Order issued by Governor Whitmer, all would be quiet on the Post 28 front. Not so! With the COVID-19 crisis at hand and upcoming election of Officers for Michigan Posts, the American Legion Department of Michigan passed Emergency By-Laws guiding Michigan American Legion Posts with their elections of Post Officers. The Department Emergency By-Laws give Post Executive Committees two (2) options for conducting Post elections. The first option, and option "strongly urged" by the Department and National was to pass a resolution maintaining the status quo and keep current Post Officers in place for another term. Both the Department and National have done so, given COVID-19 uncertainties. The second, and possibly a more complicated option regarding fairness and transparency, was to hold elections for Post Officers in one or a combination of three ways: 1) conference call or video teleconference with all members (Legionnaires) in good standing to obtain nominations for Officers and vote for Officers, 2) conduct the election by email where all members (Legionnaires) in good standing nominate candidates through email, then vote for candidates by email or 3) conduct a mail-in ballot election, where members (Legionnaires) in good standing are mailed a ballot to nominate candidates, then mail their nomination ballot back to Post. Then, members in good standing are mailed another ballot of candidates to mail back with the member's vote for nominees (candidates). Please note that the Post Commander does not have a vote on items before the Executive Committee except in cases of a tie vote. The majority of the Post 28 Executive Committee voted down the Department’s and National’s recommendations to keep the status quo and instead expressed the desire to conduct a mail-in ballot election to keep with tradition of our Officers going through the “chairs”. Post 28 Adjutant, Larry Lambert explained that the Department's Emergency By- Laws supersede our Post’s by-laws and therefore a vote by the membership to approve the cost of a mail-in election is not required. Continued on p. 3
Transcript of May 2020 Newsletter€¦ · served at most funeral luncheons for Veterans when held at the Post,...
AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1188May2020
Charles A. Conklin Post #28 Newsletter published monthly by Charles A. Conklin Post #28 of the American Legion
P. O. Box 439 ~ 700 S. Harbor Avenue ~ Grand Haven, MI 49417-1743 ~ www.grandhavenlegion.org
LegionJanetE.Fonger,Post28Commander
[email protected],1stViceCommanderRickWhite,2ndViceCommanderLarryLambert,AdjutantCyndyWierenga,FinanceOfficerDuaneSmith,ChaplainTBD,JudgeAdvocateFreddySmith,Sergeant-at-ArmsDennisSiron,HistorianGarrettVeihl,ServiceOfficerLarryLambert,ServiceOfficerHoytFonger,ServiceOfficerRayRibbink,Executive-at-LargeFreddySmith,Executive-at-LargeJimVette,Executive-at-LargeJohnBilski,PastCommander
AUXILIARY
DarleneDeHaan,[email protected]
MelanieRiekels,1stVicePres.DianeJanusch-Johnson2ndVicePres.GinnyHebert,SecretaryMicheleStetts,TreasurerLindaGieske,HistorianPamMedendorp-Peck,ChaplainBarbKelly,Sergeant-at-ArmsKathleenEdwards,Membership
Sal
RossBerens,[email protected]
HansVanHorssen,1stViceCommanderCharlieChittenden,2ndViceCommanderT.L.Lowe,FinanceOfficerAlVanDam,ChaplainCharlieChittenden,HistorianSteveVanderWall,Sergeant-at-ArmsScottKelly,MembershipPaulKubicek,AdjutantJeffWarner,PastCommander
Legion riders GeraldKeen,Director
[email protected],AssistantDirectorChaseKamhout,Sergeant-at-ArmsDianaArens,SecretaryLarryFoose,TreasurerTBD,ChaplainSallyKemme,MembershipChair
post Manager
LoriPulciani(616)842-5310
Hours: Mon.–Fri.1pm–10pm Saturday12pm–10pm Sunday1pm–7pm
COMMANDER’SCOMMENTS
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OperationKPisalmosttothefinishline!Checkoutthenumberstodate….TotalFundraisingDonations:$225,957.65Totalprojectcost(todate)$227,972.15Shortfall:$-2,014.50
Chairplaquesarenowavailablefor8lowdeckchairsonly(upstairsdeckarea).PleasenotethatallplaqueengravingisonholduntilnewguidancefromGovernorWhitmerregardingCOVID-19andMichiganbusinessoperations.Welookforwardtoourdeckopeningsoonandseeingyourlovedonehonoredandrecognizedwithachairplaque.Theplaquesfortheoutsidedeckchairswillbeabitdifferentastheywillbemadetowithstandtheweather.WordscannotexpresshowgratefulIamtoourdonorsforsupportingthekitchenproject.YoumightthinkthatduringtheMichigan“StayHome,StaySafe”ExecutiveOrderissuedbyGovernorWhitmer,allwouldbequietonthePost28front.Notso!WiththeCOVID-19crisisathandandupcomingelectionofOfficersforMichiganPosts,theAmericanLegionDepartmentofMichiganpassedEmergencyBy-LawsguidingMichiganAmericanLegionPostswiththeirelectionsofPostOfficers.TheDepartmentEmergencyBy-LawsgivePostExecutiveCommitteestwo(2)optionsforconductingPostelections.Thefirstoption,andoption"stronglyurged"bytheDepartmentand NationalwastopassaresolutionmaintainingthestatusquoandkeepcurrentPostOfficersinplaceforanotherterm.BoththeDepartmentandNationalhavedoneso,givenCOVID-19uncertainties.Thesecond,andpossiblyamorecomplicatedoptionregardingfairnessandtransparency,wastoholdelectionsforPostOfficersinoneoracombinationofthreeways:1)conferencecallorvideoteleconferencewithallmembers(Legionnaires)ingoodstandingtoobtainnominationsforOfficersandvoteforOfficers,2)conducttheelectionbyemailwhereallmembers(Legionnaires)ingoodstandingnominatecandidatesthroughemail,thenvoteforcandidatesbyemailor3)conductamail-inballotelection,wheremembers(Legionnaires)ingoodstandingaremailedaballottonominatecandidates,thenmailtheirnominationballotbacktoPost.Then,membersingoodstandingaremailedanotherballotofcandidatestomailbackwiththemember'svotefornominees(candidates).PleasenotethatthePostCommanderdoesnothaveavoteonitemsbeforetheExecutiveCommitteeexceptincasesofatievote.ThemajorityofthePost28ExecutiveCommitteevoteddowntheDepartment’sandNational’srecommendationstokeepthestatusquoandinsteadexpressedthedesiretoconductamail-inballotelectiontokeepwithtraditionofourOfficersgoingthroughthe“chairs”.Post28Adjutant,LarryLambertexplainedthattheDepartment'sEmergencyBy-LawssupersedeourPost’sby-lawsandthereforeavotebythemembershiptoapprovethecostofamail-inelectionisnotrequired. Continuedonp.3
AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1188May2020
Ihopethatyouandyourfamilymembersarewellandremainingoodhealthaswedealwiththisunprecedentedtime.IwanttosharethecurrentsituationregardingtheSonsoftheAmericanLegionhereatPost28.Eventscurrentlyaffected:
• BingoatGrandRapidsHomeforVeterans–May7(Cancelled),willberescheduledatalaterdate.
• SALAnnualGolfOuting–May23(Cancelled),hopetorescheduleSummerorFall
• StateSALConventioninSouthgate–June5-7(Cancelled)
• CornHoleTournament–Hopetoreschedule
Asyoumayhavealreadyheard,undertheurgingoftheAmericanLegionDepartmentofMichigan,the2020conventionsandelectionshavebeencancelledandwearetomaintainthestatusquooftheexistingofficersuntilnextyear’selections(2021–2022).PleasecontinuetomonitortheGrandHavenAmericanLegionwebsitetoseewhenthePostwillreopen.OneofthefirstagendaitemsfortheSALwillbetoopenthedeck.IlookforwardtothedaywecangetbacktonormalcyatthePosttocelebratethekitchenrenovationandseeingyouallagain.StaySafe/StayHealthy ServingVeteransandtheCommunity RossBerens,SALCommander
SAL AUXILIARY
TheA.L.R.willhaveavirtualmeetingonMay7th@7:00p.m.onZoom.Tojointhemeetingusethefollowing:
URL:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81542509195 Post28LegionRidersDirectorGeraldKeen.
LEGION RIDERS
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"Normal"ismostcertainlyVERYdifferentforeachofour1600+Auxiliarymembersandtheirfamilies,andI’msureeachofuscouldwriteasmallbookatthispointaboutsomeveryuniqueexperiencesduringthequarantine!IamhopingthatMaybringssomesemblanceofthepreviousnormalbacktoallofus,butmeanwhilestayhealthy,andpleasekeepprayingforeveryoneaffectednegativelyinanyway,aswellasthoseonthefrontlines!KEYDATES:• May4-8:TeacherAppreciationWeek–2020Themeis
'TeachersareOutofThisWorld!'• Wearedonating$1,000eachtoSpringLakeSchoolsFood
BankandGrandHavenWeekendBackPackFoodPrograminhonorofourteachers,sincetheycaredeeplyabouttheirstudentswhodonothaveenoughfoodathomeduringthisverychallengingtime!Inaddition…o OurEducationChairwoman,MelanieRiekels,wouldlike
tochallengeourmemberstosendanemail,FBvideo,Instagrammessage,etc.tothankatleastonespecialteacherwhoiscontinuingtoeducateremotely!
o Pleasesharewhatyoudid(emailMelanieRiekels([email protected])orme([email protected])/messagemeonFacebook)sothatIcanpostonourAuxiliaryFBpagetoshareyourexpressionsofappreciation!
• May22:NationalPoppyDay–PleasechecktheAuxiliaryFBpageforspecificplans.
• May25:MemorialDay–TBD…Manyactivitieswillbedonevirtually,sopleasewatchthePost28websiteandourFBpagefordetails).
• May26:Junior(5:45-6:45pm)andSeniorAuxiliaryMeetings(7pm)–PleasecheckourFBpageclosertothedatetogetthestatusofthesemeetings!
ThismonthIwouldliketohighlightsomeonefromAuxiliarywhodoesnotneedanintroductionforanyonewhohasspentatimeatthePost!MicheleStettsissomeonewhohasandcontinuestofaithfullyserveinmanycapacitiesforAuxiliary(andforthePost)!MichelehasbeenourPastPresident(2013/14–2015/16),MembershipChair(2005–2013),andcurrentlyservesasourTreasurerandChairwomanoftheCommunityServiceProgram.ShehasservedatmostfuneralluncheonsforVeteranswhenheldatthePost,Auxiliarycateredevents,aswellasshevolunteersforeveryMeatloafdinner.ShecreatesthemonthlyPostNewsletterandservedformanyyearsontheBuildingandGroundsCommittee.OverthepastyearshehasresearchedinformationoneveryoneofourUnit28PastPresidents,andcreatedbookswiththephotosandinformation,whichwillbetreasuredformanyyearstocome.I’mguessingherdetailedandthoroughapproachtoeveryjobshedoesisaresultofher35-yearcareerasamathteacher!Itisreallydifficulttogetaphotoofhersinceshedoesn’tliketohaveherphototaken,soifanyonecangetonegoingforward,youhavesucceededwheremanyhavefailed!Sincewecouldnotmeetinperson,IaskedMicheletowriteaboutwho/whatinspiredhertojointheAuxiliary,aswellastobesoinvolved.Fromthehistoryshehaswritten,itisclearthatherparentsleftahugelegacywiththePostandwithher.Readherstory…onpage5.
DarleneDeHaan,President&PRChair
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PoppyPosterWinners
(moreonpage5)
AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1188May2020
Around The Bar
OPERATIONKP
Commander’sCommentscont’d.
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SueThompsonEdithTomandlJohnRosemaJohn&MichelleStrainerMaryLandgrenRonald&DeniseNuismerLeon&KathleenMazurekLester&CathieVanallsburgJo&YvonneKramerMerle&LindaHansonRandall&MichelleBurnettFrederick&PatriciaAltDavidKaucheckGerald&SondraVanderWallBernardWadeWilliam&DeborahPolanicThomas&ElizabethDeaterNancyEmmerichPhilipGalbaviGeorgiaGillespieEdwardRoberts&NancyBauerThomas&AnnWassmannJamesLeetTrustJoseph&LyndaBozinCecil&MaryMcDonaldSharonYonker
TheOperationKPFundraisingCommitteethanksthefollowingdonors,aswellasseveralanonymousdonors,fortheirsupportofthePost’sKitchenRenovationProject.
Asyouallknow,duetotheCoronavirusweshutthedoorsonMarch16th,2020.Nowit'sMayandwe'restillunsureastowhenwewillreopen.Butduringthistime,andinanticipationofreopening,thePosthasbeencleanedandsanitizedfromtoptobottom.WearereadyforyouwhenthePostreopens.Howabout"WelcomeBack"drinkspecialswhenweopenthedoors?Staytunedformoreinformation.Thebarstaff,Richie,Kyle,CJ,Kaleena,Chelsea,Maryandmyselfmissyouallandlookforwardtoseeingyousoon. Lori,PostManager
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BruceBylJeffBeukemaGloriaDraegerWillaimHenryVaneeNoreenSayranianRaymond&RuthPeulerRobert&JudyFlemingJames&MarilynRushNelsonEisengaMaryBorchersMark&AbigailMontsingerGerald&KathleenFisherConnieCarlsonScottDrolemaFrederickVaas,Jr.Gregory&CathtyMeyersKennethEnnengaRobert&MarilynnDougallBurtonWoltersMaryKayAlquirePhilipYoungJanYurkowski&MicheleYasenakSteelFormingSystems,Inc.Roger&LindaEnnengaHowardMillerCarolHarden
Electionof2020-2021Post28LegionOfficers
Duetothepandemicsituation,thePost28Officerselectionfor20-21willbebymail.AllPost28Legionnaires(veterans)ingoodstandingwillreceivethreemailings–1)acallfornominations,2)aproposedballottochallengethenominees’credentials,and3)theOfficersBallotforelection,whichisduebackbyJune2.Pleasecheckyourmailinthecomingweeks.
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Commander’sCommentscontinued…PleasereadtheinformationsenttoMichiganAmericanLegionPostCommandersandAdjutantsbytheAmericanLegionDepartmentofMichigan:michiganlegion.org/assets/misc/2020misc/lettertopostapril132020-finalpackage.pdfPleasevisitthePost28FacebookpageandourPost28websiteamericanlegiongh.orgforregularupdatesandimportantinformation.Stayhealthyandlookingforwardtoournewnormalandawarmandvirusfreesummer. CommanderJanet
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Ifyouknowofanyonewhoshouldbeaddedtothislist,orwouldbenefitfromacallfrommeastheirChaplain,pleaseletmeknow@[email protected],or616.502.1555.InHisandYourService,Duane"Smitty"Smith,ChaplainGeorgeBryant,WalterPedersen,Jim“Jimbo”Land,GeorgeBennett,CharlesDavis,KenKelly,CarlKuzyk,MikeEy,DarrelMyers,JimVetteandallofourLegionfamilywhoaremourningthepassingoflovedones.
SICK CALL
KitchenphotosbyChrisPetras
AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1188May2020
Honor guard It’sPoppyTime!HelpSupportOurVeterans
NationalPoppyDayisMay22,2020.Now,morethanever,ourveteransneedyoursupport.PleaseconsidermakingadonationtotheAuxiliary’sPoppyFund.Onehundredpercentofyourdonationssupportveterans,activedutypersonnel,andtheirfamilies.MAILinadonationto:ALAUnit28ATTN:PoppyFund700S.HarborDr.GrandHaven,MI49417(CheckspayabletoALAUnit28)OR….PAYONLINE,anytime,withacredit/debitcard:Gotowww.americanlegiongh.org,clickontheINFOmenu,selectDONATE,thenchoosePOPPYPROGRAM. Thankyouforyoursupport.
Inanormalyear,theHonorGuardfromAmericanLegionPost28inGrandHavenparticipatesinanaverageofonefunerala
week.TheHonorGuardgatherstohonorservicemenandwomenbyprovidingMilitaryHonorsforthedeceased.In2018-2019theHonorGuardparticipatedin60servicesandin2019-2020,63riteswereconducted.Totalman-hoursfor2018-2019were3,262.For2019-2020,3,247.05hourswerespent.Anyhonorablydischargedveteranisworthyofmilitaryhonorsbasedonhis/herservice.Onedoesn’tneedtobeamemberoftheAmericanLegion.Ourpost(thelargestintheStateofMichigan)hasmorethan25memberswhocanbecalledupononamoment’snotice.Ifavailable,activedutymilitarymembersparticipatebyfoldingandpresentingournation’scolors,sometimesdrivingasfarasfivehourstoshareinhonoringthedeceased,andattimesparticipatesinthreetofourservicesaday.TheHonorGuardismadeupofaCommanderfortheDay,ColorGuardandaFiringTeam.Ourownmembersoractivedutyservicemenandwomenwillunfoldtheflag,ourfiringteamwillfirethreevolleysfollowedbytaps,afterwhichthecolorsarepresentedtothefamilyofthedeceased.AfteranindividualsalutefromtheHonorGuard,themembersretreat,thefiringteamleaderpresentstheriflecartridgesfromtheday’sfiring,andtheGuardoffersonefinalsaluteasthefamilyleavesthefacility.Wearefortunatetohavea“live”BuglerasanactivememberofHonorGuard.ThePostChaplainmaybecalledupontoconductthememorialserviceoragravesideceremony.TheHonorGuardalsoprovidesafinaltoastwithparticipationofthefamilyatthePost,atwhichtimeournationalflagandtheappropriatebranchofserviceflagareraisedafterbeingathalfstafffortwenty-fourhours.Inadditiontohonoringourfallen,theHonorGuardparticipates,alongwiththeVFWandothercommunityserviceorganizations,intheplanningandorganizingoftheannualcommunityMemorialDayparadeandMemorialService.TheHonorGuardcoordinatesplacingaflagoneveryveteran’sgraveintheTri-Citiesarea,duringthedayspriortotheMemorialDayevents.Expendingnumeroushours,withthehelpoflocalBoyandGirlScouttroops,inplacingtheflags.Atthememorialdayevents,additionalhonorsareprovidedattheGARmonumentinLakeForestCemetery,CentralParkMonuments,andtheVeteransMemorialattheYDriveandHarborDrive.Overtheyears,ithasbecomeatraditionofPost28HonorGuardtoprovideFlagEtiquetteprogramsformostlocalschools.Inaddition,theHonorGuardpresentstheColorsatlocalHighSchoolSportingEvents.DuaneS.Smith,Chaplain&HonorGuardCommander
NEW!
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SpotlightontheAuxiliarySometimes,goodthingscanhappenduringtryingtimes.Itooktheopportunitythisdowntimeaffordedmetofinallybeginresearchingmyfamily’shistory,somethingI’vebeenmeaningtodoforyears.Well,nowI’mobsessedwithit!Ibeganlookingforancestorswhomayhaveservedinthemilitary,ofwhichIfoundtherearemanyonbothsides,andmy“tree”hasgrowntoalmost1,000members!Mygrandmother,GertrudeRescorla,hadsixsons,allofwhomserved.ShejoinedtheAuxiliaryonJune12,1946,shortlyafterheroldestsonwasdischarged.I’llbeginwithherthirdsonandmyfather,Donald“Chops”Rescorla,whoservedintheNavyaboardtheUSSNewJerseyduringWWII.DadwasaPastCommanderofPost28andwasinstrumentalinstartinguptheWednesdaynightdinners(ChopsMeatloafismyfavorite!).Formanyyears,healsocoordinatedtheChickenDinnersduringCoastGuardFestival.Hewasaproudmanandatruepatriot.But,IwouldberemissifIdidnot,atthispoint,includemymother,RuthRescorla,inmyramblings.Momoftenworkedside-by-sidewithDadinmanyPostactivities,andshewasalsoanactiveAuxiliarymember,havingservedasPresidentfortwoyearsandvolunteerDinnerCoordinatorformanyyears.DuringWWII,William“Bill”RescorlaenlistedintheArmy(May1,1944-May24,1946).UncleBillenlistedagainfortheKoreanConflictonApril2,1951andwasdischargedonJuly21,1952.RobertRescorlajoinedtheNavyduringWWII,servingaboardtheUSSAltahama.CharlesRescorlaenlistedintheNavyonSeptember20,1943andwasdischargedonAugust16,1946.RussellRescorlaattendedtheUniversityofMichiganwhereheplayedinthe1951RoseBowl.Aftercollege,heservedtwoyearsintheArmy,primarilystationedatOkinawa.GeraldRescorla(Russ’twin)servedintheNavyaboardtheUSSPiper.Mygreatuncle,GeorgeRescorla,wasaPrivatewiththeGloucestershireRegimentoftheBritishArmy.Thepoem
FlandersFieldsbecameevenmoremeaningfulwhenIlearnedthroughmyancestryresearchthatGeorgewaskilledinactiononMay8,1917duringtheSecondBattleinYpresinFlandersintheWesternEuropeanTheatre(WWI).His
nameisengravedontheArrasMemorialinFrance,whereheisburied.Hewas36yearsoldandleftbehindhiswifeoflessthantwoyears.Manyofyoumayknowmyfirstcousinonceremoved,RayRibbink.RayenlistedintheArmy,andisaPastCommanderofPost28andstillveryactiveinPostcommitteesandactivities.Mynephew,BenGlockzin,servedfouryears(inthemedicalfield)intheArmy,andcompletedonetourofIraq.HeiscurrentlyemployedasanRNattheVAHospitalinDenver,CO.Hismother(mysister),BeckyGlockzin,isanactiveAuxiliarymemberandhisfather,TomGlockzin,wasanactiveSALmember.Mymom’sbrother,Donald“Mac”Wilson,wasaparatrooperduringWWII,havingenlistedinthe
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Armyin1946anddischargedin1948.UncleMacwasanactivePost28memberandBoyScoutleader.Mybrother-in-law,MikeChaco,retiredaftertwenty-twoyearsintheAirForce.Mikeandhisfamilyhavebeenstationedaroundtheworld,includingKorea,GermanyandseveralAirForcebasesintheU.S.HeiscurrentlyworkingwiththeVAandtheStateofArizona,helpingveteranssecurehousingandjobs.Anotherbrother-in-law,RickBehm,servedintheArmyduringVietnam.RickisaLegionnaireandmarriedtomysister,Deb,whoisanAuxiliarymemberandaformerPost28waitress/bartender.Rickisretiredandlivinghisdreamlifeofhuntin’andfishin’“upnorth”nearTraverseCity.Myfather-in-law,MichaelStetts,wasaNavyman,servingaboardtheUSSColumbusduringWWII.Mikewasaquietmanandnevertalkedabouthisservice.Infact,Ineverknewhewasaveteranuntilhisfuneral,whenmilitaryriteswereperformed.Thesearejustafewofmyrelativeswhoservedinthemilitary.IchoosetohonorthembybeinganactivememberoftheAuxiliary. MicheleStetts[Sidenote:IalsohadseveralancestorswhofoughtfortheUnionduringtheCivilWar.Oneinparticular,mygreatgreatgrandfather,AsaWilson,enlistedintheArmyimmediatelyaftertheCivilWarbrokeoutinApril1861,andservedforalmostthreeyears.HewasplacedinCo.Eofthe20thIllinoisVolunteerInfantry.Hewasinvolvedinseveralwell-knownbattles,andhisnameisengravedonaplaqueinsidetheIllinoisMonumentattheVicksburgbattlefield.Aninterestingstory(thatIhavenotverifiedyet),passeddownbyagreatauntMary,wasthatAsawasoneofthesentrieswhostoodguardoverPresidentLincoln’sbodyasitlayinstateinSpringfield,Illinois.]
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PoppyPosterWinners
AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1188May2020
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
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Mr.PotatoHeadisintroduced.
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AlanShepardbecomesthefirstAmericaninspaceaboardFreedom7.
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ATTENTION!POSTCLOSEDUNTILFURTHERNOTICE
PleasecheckthePost’swebsitewww.americanlegiongh.org&FacebookpageforupdatesonPostmeetings&activities.
NURSESWEEK&TEACHERAPPRECIATIONWEEK
NATIONALPOLICEWEEK
EMERGENCYMEDICALSERVICESWEEK
May5
SallyRideDay
May22
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