Monthly Newsletter of The American Legion, J. B. Clark Post 149, Escondido, California

POST AND MEETING NEWS

      Commander Rene Cortez called the monthly meeting to order on Tuesday, December 18, 2007 at 6:00 PM.  Officer, committee reports, and Executive Board minutes were received.  The minutes of the previous meeting were approved. 

      Katherine Hood, President of the North County Blue Star Mothers was our special guest.  She gave a short presentation on their programs.  They have shipped thousands of packages to the troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.  She stated that in the coming year they want to start working with the American Legion to reach out to returning veterans.

Commander – Rene Cortez

      Fellow members, let me thank those of you who came fourth and supported the efforts of some of our Legionnaires to provide gifts for the children of the National Guard Army Personnel.  That was a truly wonderful event for the children of our neighbors.  The Thanksgiving dinner prepared by so many was a great success as well.  Let me also give thanks to Joe and Kathy Watt and crew for organizing this event .The Ladies Auxiliary Bazaar was also a big hit as well.  The Christmas parade was cancelled.  The 22 District Commander gave a very huge thanks for the breakfast provided by our SAL Squadron .Next up is the Ladies Auxiliary making and handing out food baskets here at our Legion Post, the date is December 15th , followed by Shoes and Sox provided by American Legion Post 149 , Palomar Voiture1406 , and VFW Post 1513.  The children Christmas party will follow at Post 149.  Before I forget, we are also having New Years Day bowl games here at Post 149 all day.  Hope to see you all there.  God Bless All Of You.

1st Vice Commander – Joe Watt

      Welcome to 2008.  This looks to be great year for Post 149.  We are going to get more involved in our community with help from some of our programs.  We are always looking for volunteers to help us with working the programs.

      I know that some of you haven't renew your membership as of yet, I hope you do so and you will retain the benefits of belonging to the Legion.  Again, look around you and maybe someone you know could join the Legion, ask them and take them to the Post and introduce them to all of us.

      And thank you to those who have renewed your membership.  I know that some of you are not residents of our community, so, why don't you find your nearest Post and give them a visit.  Remember, we are all Legion members.

2nd Vice Commander– Ralph Gustafson

      The following dates are open for someone to volunteer and put on a Friday evening dinner:  February 1, 8, and 29.  Please step forward and let me know that you will volunteer your time to cook the dinner.  Thanks to the following that volunteered & helped me with my dinner.  Irene, Art, Don, Vicki, Cindy, Cathy, and Greg washed the dishes.

Chaplain – Louis Miller

      There were no members who went to Post Everlasting so far in December.  However, Tony Farrell had surgery this month, but is home recuperating and is doing well.  Joe Petsche was home briefly, but has since returned to the hospital.  Remember these members in your prayers and remember to get in touch with me when you know of those who are ill or who have passed away.

Clubroom

      No Report

Law and Order – Carl Asher

      Letters to the Department Chiefs have been delivered and I am waiting for inputs from them by January 10th.  We can then proceed from there.

      Donations are coming in, slow but sure.  The latest to be added to the Booster Board are: Larry and Marilyn Lynch; Bill Henson; Howard and Marie Haworth and Louis and Margaret Miller.  Thank you for your continuing support of this great Post 149 program.

      The awards presentation and dinner will be conducted at Post 149 on February 23rd.  Social hour begins at 5:00 PM, Dinner at 6:00 PM, and the awards presentations around 7-7:30 PM.  Come on down and join us for this most rewarding evening.  Lanny Peterson and Howard Haworth will be providing the dinner menu, Howard's Famous Swiss Steak.  Cost is $10 per person.  I am still looking for help for the evening’s affair.  We need help in all areas.  Can I count on you?  Contact me at the Post, at home, 760-722-6768, or on line at ashercarl@aol.com and volunteer you assistance.

      We are, of course, still accepting donations.  Any amount, $5, $10 etc., will get your name on the Booster Board and on the evenings program and listed here in the newsletter.  A donation in the amount of $25 will get you a complimentary dinner for that evening.  Donate $50 and receive 2 complimentary dinners for that evening in addition to listing your name on the Booster Board, the newsletter and the evening’s program.  Please stop by our Clubroom and see the bartenders.  They will provide you with a receipt for your donation.

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American Legion Auxiliary

President – Jackie Lay

      No report.

Auxiliary Membership – Irene Gustafson

      Please welcome the following Senior members, Aloysa Jean Becker and Elizabeth A. Mier, also Junior members, Josephine and Justine Cooper.  Add their names to your roster.  We were able to meet our January 23rd target #4 date as we are 87%.  The next target date is to have 95% of goal.  As of now we are 30 members short of our goal.  So ladies, if you haven't paid you are now delinquent.

      Here's hoping you all had a blessed and happy Christmas season.  "Thanks For The Memories."

      A thought to remember, “Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong.”

Chaplain – Elda Jones

      By the time you read this, all of the hustle and bustle of the holidays will be over.  I hope all of you had a good one.  We lost two of our members; Ethel Walker who had 45 years in the Auxiliary and Irma Knuzik who had 19 years in the Auxiliary.  We have had several members who have had surgery this past month and are still in a lot of pain.  Please remember to keep them in your prayer.

      May the New Year be great for each one.  God Bless.  “When someone is grieving listen don’t lecture.”

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Sons of the American Legion

      We have transmitted 37 memberships for an average of 49%.  Please continue to renew your membership.  We need every one of you to be able to carry out our programs.  There will be no burgers on Wednesday, January 2, 2008.

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American Legion Riders

President – Woody “Gunny” Harris

      No report.

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Editor – Art Lubben

      Once again I am putting out a call for someone to take over as editor of the newsletter.  It is prepared using Microsoft Publisher 2003 so you will need a computer capable of running that program and an e-mail address to receive the articles.  If you are interested, please contact me.  I have been your editor now for about 6 years and will be able to carry out these duties much longer.

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For Those Who’ve Lost Their Heroes

By National Commander Marty Conatser

      A college senior from Michigan will soon spend another winter break without his father, a staff sergeant whose life was taken in a mortar attack in Baqubah, Iraq, on Christmas Day 2003.

      Two teen brothers in California will take a moment this holiday season to remember their Marine-pilot stepfather who was killed in an air crash in Pakistan; the oldest boy was only 12 when he tearfully described their late parent as “a hero, especially to me” at the funeral five years ago.

      Two students at the University of Illinois, a brother and sister, are about to complete their college degrees and launch their careers, knowing that their father, killed in a helicopter crash during a humanitarian-aid mission in Afghanistan, would be proud of them.

      These five young people are at the front of what is becoming a very long line: the children of U.S. service members who lost their lives while on active military duty since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Across the nation, nearly 4,000 kids today cope with that strange mix of grief, honor and sacrifice. The majority of them are not yet of college age, but within the next few years, that will change.

      The American Legion created a special scholarship program just days after 9/11 to help young people pay for college and to respect the memories of parents who made the ultimate sacrifice. Since then, The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund has captured the hearts of veterans, corporations, communities, motorcyclists and at least one country music star. One fund-raiser at a time – from the $118,000 Mercury Vehicles donated in 2005 alone (with ongoing donations, based on Legionnaire vehicle purchases) to the handful of dollars little Megan Smith of Indiana scraped together to kick off the 2006 Legacy Run – the fund continues to grow. Last summer, while country musician Michael Peterson was selling DVDs and donating half the profits to the fund, motorcyclists from across the nation were rumbling into Reno, Nev., with more than $400,000 from the Second Annual Legacy Run, blowing away their goal of $250,000.

      The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund has climbed to nearly $1.8 million en route to its first big milestone of $5 million and ultimate goal of $20 million. That sounds like a lot, but it will take a lot to significantly help thousands of young people cover the rising cost of higher education in years to come. This year, $36,000 will be distributed in equal shares among qualified applicants, chosen by The American Legion National Education Committee. Those with the greatest financial need are given highest priority, but so far, every applicant who has met the fundamental criteria has been awarded at least some of the scholarship money each year of the fund’s existence. Eighty percent of earnings is spent to provide the scholarships, 20 percent is left in to build up the fund, and 0 percent is spent on administrative costs.

            We will talk a lot in the coming months about the value of membership. In this season of giving, if you believe, as I do, that there’s value in helping the children of U.S. military personnel who gave their lives while serving our country, please consider one of the many ways to contribute, listed at right. It is, as the song says, who we are.