DECEMBER 2008
Post Commander, Frank Molina
Auxiliary President, Deirdre Nye
SAL Commander, Kim Scott
ALR President, Michael Smith
Lead Bartender, Jeff Sweet
Bingo Chairman, Barb Klein
Adjutant, Don Aiton
Editor, Karen Goodman
DECEMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Meetings
Auxiliary Meeting, Dec 3, 6:30p
E-Board Meeting, Dec 10, 7p
Marine Corps League, Dec 8, 7p
ALR Meeting, Dec 13, 9a
SAL Meeting, Dec 17, 6:30p
Post Meeting, Dec meeting is cancelled
Special Events
Early Bird Dinner, Dec 7,
Blind Vets, Dec 13, 10a
Christmas Lights Parade, Dec 13
Children’s Xmas Party, Dec 14,
Club Xmas Party, Dec 24, 6-8p
Post New Year’s Eve Party, Dec 31, 8p-Mid
Pot Luck, Monday, Dec 1, 6:30pm - Bring a dish to share. Our theme this month is Baked Potato Bar. We will have door prizes too. Bring a gently used coat or blanket for an extra door prize ticket!
Pool Night, Every Tuesday @ 6:15p. Happy hour drink prices for all players. The entry fee is $5. Cafe Legionnaire is open and will serve pool night specials.
Karaoke, Every Thursday @5:30p. And it’s Taco Night too!!!
Bingo, Every Friday, Doors Open @5p, Early Birds @6:30p, Regular Games @7p. Enjoy Café Legionnaire’s Friday Fish!
Play SLINGO every Saturday 3-5p, sponsored by the SAL. SLINGO is a face paced casino style game, played at the bar. You can smoke, drink, watch the game, choose your favorites tunes on the jukebox or order a meal while you play.
Our own Café Legionnaire, operated by Jim and Brenda, is open Tuesday, 6-8p, Wednesday thru Friday, 11a - 8p, Saturday, 9a – 8p (Breakfast 9 – 11a) and Sunday 2-6p.
Tombstone Happenings
Fort Huachuca Christmas, Walk thru historic homes decorated for the holidays, Dec 7, 1-4, on Post.
Tombstone Light Parade with Santa, Dec 13t, 7p. The post will participate in this parade. It will start on 6th and Allen.
FROM THE POST COMMANDER
For God and Country
Frank Molina
Well, here we are at the end of November. Thanksgiving is here and at this time I would like to wish all Post 24 Legionnaires and families a safe and happy thanksgiving. And to all of our service men and women and their families who are serving our country, happy thanksgiving.
Also, a special thank you goes to our Post 24 Color Guard and Legion Riders for the wonderful job they did on a very cold and windy Veteran’s Day parade day in Douglas, hosted by Post 11, SAL.
“Time To Remember”
Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old alike.
And today may be the last chance you get to hold your loved ones tight.
Take time to say “I’m sorry”, “Please forgive me”, “Thank you” or “It’s OK”,
For if tomorrow never comes, you’ll have no regret about today.
FROM THE AUXILIARY PRESIDENT
Deirdre Nye
It is December and some of us are still in shorts. November was a great month. On the 24th of November we were given the keys to our Veterans Center, at the "Old Food Bank " at 121, 4th Street. Cleaning, repairing, painting etc., starts the 1st of December. If any one is interested in helping please call Deirdre Nye at 457-3752 or e-mail meat dnyednye@gmail.com .
It would be great to have many of our members at our December 3rd meeting. One of our executive board members has stepped down for personal reasons. We will be voting on a new E-board member.
The Legion has asked the Auxiliary to bring desserts for the December 7th Early Bird dinner. Drop off your favorite dessert by at least 3:45pm. Dinner begins at 4:00pm.
On December 8th at 9:00am the decorating committee will be putting up Christmas decorations at the Legion. All members are welcome to help and have fun.
On December 9th at 6:30pm the Auxiliary will be stuffing Christmas stockings for the Children's Christmas Party. All are welcome to help.
The Children's Christmas Party is on December 14th from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. We are expecting at least 150 children and need many volunteers.....the more the merrier. The Ladies Auxiliary is asked to please bring finger food, cakes and cookies.
January 4th will see the beginning of the Auxiliary’s next fundraiser, "SLINGO". TheSons of Legion host SLINGO on Saturdays. The Auxiliary will be hostingon Sundays, 3-5p, at the Post in the bar. Volunteers are needed. We need 3-4 persons per week for about 2 ½ hours. Those who do not have a bingo background clearance, please ask Barbara Klein, Sandi Freeman or Deirdre Nye for information.
We thank the kitchen for the wonderful Thanksgiving dinner and the Auxiliary members for the excellent deserts.
The Auxiliary wishes Post 24 and all of Tombstone residents a Merry Merry Christmas.
FROM THE SAL COMMANDER
Kim Scott
We are please to announce the great success that Saturday SLINGO has given to us. Thank you for your support. Please volunteer 2 ½ hours of your time, just one Saturday every 4-6 weeks is all that is asked. You’ll have great fun too.
VETERANS AFFAIRS
Susan Schubert
We are extremely pleased to announce that the Tombstone City Council, at their November meeting, approved the Legion's lease of the front two rooms of the old food bank space for a Veteran's Outreach Center. Thanks to everyone who made this possible, especially Don Aiton, George Barnes, Jim Burns, Dusty Escapule, Frank Molina, Deirdre Nye, Bob Zohlmann, and all past and present members of the Tombstone City Council. We are busy now patching walls, painting, and rushing to get ready for a Grand Opening Ceremony.
We still need desks and other office furniture. If anyone wishes to donate something like that, just give a call to Susan Schubert at 255-1960. And look for the announcement of our opening ceremony.
WILD WEST DETACHMENT
MARINE CORPS LEAGUE
Bill Pakinkis
The Wild West Detachment Marine Corps League meets every 2nd Monday of the month at 7p. Membership is open to all Active Duty, Reserve, retired or former Marines and FMF Navy Corpsmen. For more information contact Detachment Commandant at 378-2120, or Past Department Commandant, Bill Pakinkis at 457-3511.
MARINE CORPS LEAGUE
Bill Pakinkis
The Wild West Detachment Marine Corps League meets every 2nd Monday of the month at 7p. Membership is open to all Active Duty, Reserve, retired or former Marines and FMF Navy Corpsmen. For more information contact Detachment Commandant at 378-2120, or Past Department Commandant, Bill Pakinkis at 457-3511.
POST AND UNIT NEWS AND VIEWS
Dues are due for all members by 12/31/08. They can be dropped off at the Post or can be mailed in care of the American Legion, PO Box 247, Tombstone, 85638.
The Early Bird Dinner, open to all members who have paid their dues by 11/11/08, will be held Sunday December 7, 2008, 4PM – 7 PM. The dinner menu will include roast pork, red skinned potatoes with gravy, green beans, roll and butter. Please sign the sheet on the side bar by Dec 2 or call 457-2273. Our kitchen needs a rough count of heads. Guests may attend at a cost of $7.50. Please bring your membership card.
The Blind Veterans, from the Tucson VA will be visiting our Post and our Town Saturday December 13th, 10a. Trust me, volunteering to help with their visit will be the most rewarding time you spend during this season of giving and cheer. Help our Post make their visit a most memorable one.
Tombstone’s Christmas Lights Parade, with Santa, will be held Saturday December 13th beginning at 7p. Our own Color Guard and Legion Riders will be in the parade this year. Come down to town and cheer them on.
Our Annual Children’s Christmas Party will be held on Sunday December 14, 2-4p. Food, entertainment and presents will once again add joy to the children of our Post and community.
The Annual Post Christmas Party will be held on Wednesday December 24, 6-8p. As always, Post Members (no guests please) are invited to share holiday drinks and pot luck. Please bring in your favorite holiday appetizer, finger food or dessert.
Post 24 will be sponsoring a New Year’s Eve Party at the club. Snacks, hats, whistles and a DJ will be a part of the fun. Bring in the New Year with your friends and family at your favorite Post. The fun will begin at 8p. Look for more information at the Post and online at http://post24az.blogspot.com/ .
New Key Cards will be available for $1 beginning 1/1/09.
Don’t forget…Holiday Mail For Heroes http://www.redcross.org/email/saf/ . Cards should be postmarked by 12/10/08. Check out our blog or the Red Cross web site for more information.
The History of Christmas
Christmas, An Ancient Holiday
The middle of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Centuries before the arrival of the man called Jesus, early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter. Many peoples rejoiced during the winter solstice, when the worst of the winter was behind them and they could look forward to longer days and extended hours of sunlight.
In Scandinavia, the Norse celebrated Yule from December 21, the winter solstice, through January. In recognition of the return of the sun, fathers and sons would bring home large logs, which they would set on fire. The people would feast until the log burned out, which could take as many as 12 days. The Norse believed that each spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf that would be born during the coming year.
The end of December was a perfect time for celebration in most areas of Europe. At that time of year, most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter. For many, it was the only time of year when they had a supply of fresh meat. In addition, most wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking.
In Germany, people honored the pagan god Oden during the mid-winter holiday. Germans were terrified of Oden, as they believed he made nocturnal flights through the sky to observe his people, and then decide who would prosper or perish. Because of his presence, many people chose to stay inside.
Saturnalia
In Rome, where winters were not as harsh as those in the far north, Saturnalia—a holiday in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture—was celebrated. Beginning in the week leading up to the winter solstice and continuing for a full month, Saturnalia was a hedonistic time, when food and drink were plentiful and the normal Roman social order was turned upside down. For a month, slaves would become masters. Peasants were in command of the city. Business and schools were closed so that everyone could join in the fun.
Also around the time of the winter solstice, Romans observed Juvenalia, a feast honoring the children of Rome. In addition, members of the upper classes often celebrated the birthday of Mithra, the god of the unconquerable sun, on December 25. It was believed that Mithra, an infant god, was born of a rock. For some Romans, Mithra's birthday was the most sacred day of the year.
In the early years of Christianity, Easter was the main holiday; the birth of Jesus was not celebrated. In the fourth century, church officials decided to institute the birth of Jesus as a holiday. Unfortunately, the Bible does not mention date for his birth (a fact Puritans later pointed out in order to deny the legitimacy of the celebration). Although some evidence suggests that his birth may have occurred in the spring (why would shepherds be herding in the middle of winter?), Pope Julius I chose December 25. It is commonly believed that the church chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival. First called the Feast of the Nativity, the custom spread to Egypt by 432 and to England by the end of the sixth century. By the end of the eighth century, the celebration of Christmas had spread all the way to Scandinavia. Today, in the Greek and Russian orthodox churches, Christmas is celebrated 13 days after the 25th, which is also referred to as the Epiphany or Three Kings Day. This is the day it is believed that the three wise men finally found Jesus in the manger.
By holding Christmas at the same time as traditional winter solstice festivals, church leaders increased the chances that Christmas would be popularly embraced, but gave up the ability to dictate how it was celebrated. By the Middle Ages, Christianity had, for the most part, replaced pagan religion. On Christmas, believers attended church, then celebrated raucously in a drunken, carnival-like atmosphere similar to today's Mardi Gras. Each year, a beggar or student would be crowned the "lord of misrule" and eager celebrants played the part of his subjects. The poor would go to the houses of the rich and demand their best food and drink. If owners failed to comply, their visitors would most likely terrorize them with mischief. Christmas became the time of year when the upper classes could repay their real or imagined "debt" to society by entertaining less fortunate citizens.
An Outlaw Christmas
In the early 17th century, a wave of religious reform changed the way Christmas was celebrated in Europe. When Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England in 1645, they vowed to rid England of decadence and, as part of their effort, cancelled Christmas. By popular demand, Charles II was restored to the throne and, with him, came the return of the popular holiday.
The pilgrims, English separatists that came to America in 1620, were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result, Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed in Boston. Anyone exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings. By contrast, in the Jamestown settlement, Captain John Smith reported that Christmas was enjoyed by all and passed without incident.
After the American Revolution, English customs fell out of favor, including Christmas. In fact, Congress was in session on December 25, 1789, the first Christmas under America's new constitution. Christmas wasn't declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870.
Irving Reinvents Christmas
It wasn't until the 19th century that Americans began to embrace Christmas. Americans re-invented Christmas, and changed it from a raucous carnival holiday into a family-centered day of peace and nostalgia. But what about the 1800s peaked American interest in the holiday?
The early 19th century was a period of class conflict and turmoil. During this time, unemployment was high and gang rioting by the disenchanted classes often occurred during the Christmas season. In 1828, the New York city council instituted the city's first police force in response to a Christmas riot. This catalyzed certain members of the upper classes to begin to change the way Christmas was celebrated in America.
In 1819, best-selling author Washington Irving wrote The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, gent., a series of stories about the celebration of Christmas in an English manor house. The sketches feature a squire who invited the peasants into his home for the holiday. In contrast to the problems faced in American society, the two groups mingled effortlessly. In Irving's mind, Christmas should be a peaceful, warm-hearted holiday bringing groups together across lines of wealth or social status. Irving's fictitious celebrants enjoyed "ancient customs," including the crowning of a Lord of Misrule. Irving's book, however, was not based on any holiday celebration he had attended – in fact, many historians say that Irving's account actually "invented" tradition by implying that it described the true customs of the season.
A Christmas Carol
Also around this time, English author Charles Dickens created the classic holiday tale, A Christmas Carol. The story's message-the importance of charity and good will towards all humankind-struck a powerful chord in the United States and England and showed members of Victorian society the benefits of celebrating the holiday.
The family was also becoming less disciplined and more sensitive to the emotional needs of children during the early 1800s. Christmas provided families with a day when they could lavish attention-and gifts-on their children without appearing to "spoil" them.
As Americans began to embrace Christmas as a perfect family holiday, old customs were unearthed. People looked toward recent immigrants and Catholic and Episcopalian churches to see how the day should be celebrated. In the next 100 years, Americans built a Christmas tradition all their own that included pieces of many other customs, including decorating trees, sending holiday cards, and gift-giving.
Although most families quickly bought into the idea that they were celebrating Christmas how it had been done for centuries, Americans had really re-invented a holiday to fill the cultural needs of a growing nation.
For more on the history of Christmas, visit the History Channel at http://www.history.com/
Myths and Lore of Mistletoe
Mistletoe and Christmas, what other holiday tradition brings such a smile to the faces of men and women of all ages? It wasn't always this way. For at least 3,000 years, mistletoe was gathered in midsummer and was burned as part of a Celtic ritual.
Mistletoe was considered sacred by virtue of its occurrence on oak trees (a rare occurrence in Europe), a sacred tree and a symbol of strength and immortality.
The plant was ceremoniously cut with a golden sickle by Celtic priests and caught on a white cloth so as to avoid touching the ground. This ceremony coincided with the winter solstice and thus began the winter celebration.
Mistletoe was also used to welcome the new year and to ward off evil. Mistletoe was hung over a baby's cradle to prevent theft from fairies, and it was believed that mistletoe promoted dreams that unlocked the secrets of immortality. When hung in the home, mistletoe symbolized purity and strength and promoted happiness, romance and peace. In fact, custom called for enemies meeting beneath the mistletoe to throw down their weapons and embrace.
Mistletoe also was believed to possess medicinal properties. When worn, mistletoe had the extraordinary powers of warding off demons and witches while protecting the wearer from fits, fever, tremors and poison. On top of all that, it was thought to promote fertility. It was even used as a treatment for convulsions and nervous disorders (even though mistletoe is very poisonous!). It also had some use as a vasodilator and sedative until the 1950s. Modern medical research has shown that mistletoe has promise for treating some cancers, hypertension, vertigo, epilepsy, palsy and cardiovascular ailments. Research has also confirmed that it is, in fact, very poisonous, so alternatives were developed and mistletoe--the miracle drug--disappeared.
Because of its association with pagan ceremonies, mistletoe was banned from Christmas ceremonies by the Church. A common medieval belief held that mistletoe was the wood used to make the crucifix. Cursed, mistletoe was no longer welcome on earth and was doomed to live as a parasite growing on trees. It was not until the 17th century that people became more open about their fondness for mistletoe. Kissing under the mistletoe came about because of the belief that mistletoe's curative powers would cure a broken heart and soothe the differences between quarreling lovers.
Mistletoe is primarily a tropical plant, some growing up to 30 feet tall. The mistletoe of Christmas tradition grows in Europe and Asia, and a dwarf mistletoe, one of the world's smallest vascular plants, can be found in some conifers of Western North America. In Tennessee, only one mistletoe species is common, Phoradendron leucarpum.
Mistletoe is a thief. It's scientific name, Phoradendron means "thief of the tree" in Greek. To understand why, look at the life of American mistletoe. Mistletoe is semiparasitic; that is, while it has green leaves that provide some energy, it meets many of its energy needs by sucking the lifeblood from its host, usually oaks, elms and poplars.
The roots of the mistletoe never reach the ground. Roots enter the host tree, robbing it of necessary water and minerals. Actually, mistletoe has developed a very specialized tissue with the shape of a bell (called a haustorium). This bell-shaped structure grows into the host tree and combines with the living tree. Mistletoe survives by starving the host tree, sometimes to death. For this reason, mistletoe is sometimes known as "the vampire plant."
In addition to a host tree, mistletoe needs a way to pollinate its flowers and a way to spread its seeds to the branches of trees. While insects pollinate mistletoe, spreading of the seeds is a most interesting process. In Europe, the mistle thrush bird carries the very sticky one-seeded fruits to other host trees. Then, after consuming the berries, it regurgitates the seeds into branch crevices--an excellent place for mistletoe seeds to germinate.
In North America, birds avoid the immature fruits which are bitter, hard and contain poisonous compounds. Instead, they eat and disperse the mature fruits which are still hard to digest. The resulting unharmed seeds take root in the new host tree.
In Australia, mistletoe fruit is winged and is dispersed by the wind. And dwarf mistletoe may have the most interesting means of seed dispersal of all. The fruit seems to be explosive; the sticky seed, shaped like a small missile, may travel up to 60 feet at speeds of up to 80 feet per second before sticking to a new host! In fact, a product called birdlime, a sticky substance smeared on trees to catch birds, is made from the berries of mistletoe. After the seed lodges in the new host tree branch, it grows into a yellowish-green plant up to three feet long. Its dense leathery oval- to lance-shaped opposite leaves (about two inches long) mask the small pale flowers that appear in compact spikes (male and female flowers are found on different plants). The plants grow slowly and generally survive as long as the host does.
Every year, mistletoe is collected and used as a Christmas ornament, and every year, children and family pets become ill from the poisonous berries. We don't use mistletoe to ward off baby thieves or to promote dreams of immortality anymore. For some reason though, kissing under the mistletoe has survived through the ages; it probably will for a long, long time, too.
By Andrea Brewer Shea and David Duhl
SICK CALL
Please remember in your thoughts and prayers those that are sick, residing in extended care facilities, are housebound or are in hospital. A special shout goes to Gary Garrard, who will be having more surgery, our dear Ralph and Evelyn Holder (we miss you so much), Dee Lucas, Gary Case and Laura Keeney.
IN MEMORIUM
Thankfully, there is nothing to report at this writing.
Happy December Birthday
Leroy Colomy and Evelyn McNabb Harrison, Dec 2, Kim Plett, Dec 4, John McDaniel, Dec 5, Katie Sherman, Dec 8, Juan Esquer, Dec 9, Cheryl Braden, Dec 15, Bev McCan, Dec 16, Ron Cole, Joseph Fox, Carol Leach and Dee Dee Molina, Dec 18, Tony Perotti, Dec 21, John Satterfield, Dec 25, Barbara Lanham, Dec 29, Mike McKay, Dec 30, Joe Harvey and Steve (Sha Na Na/Snake) Washburn, Dec 31.
WE NEED YOUR HELP
The frost is on the pumpkin and many kids in southern Cochise County will not have a coat to wear to keep them warm on the way to school.
Don Aiton and Karen Goodman will be collecting clean, gently used and new coats, all sizes, all ages, both genders, at the Monday Dec 1 Pot Luck.
We will deliver these coats to the Douglas Fire Department. Please help to keep our children warm this winter. Clean blankets will also be accepted!
FOR SALE
Fireball Model A, Compact Disk Jukebox…60 ½” x 35 7/8” x26”, 313 lbs. Output Power: 360 Watts, Protection: Short Circuit Shutdown 100°C, Frequency: 60Hz/50Hz, Maximum Power Consumption: Standby 300 Watts/Max 340 Watts.
No Warranty, No CD’s, Disk Changer is New, As Is-Needs Some Work (CD’s Skip), Best Offer. Contact Commander Frank Molina at the Post, 457-2273.
FROM THE EDITOR
Karen Goodman
If you would like to have a copy of the newsletter emailed to you, send your email address to karengoodman66@msn.com or leave the information at the Post. The same can be said for information, articles or commentary you wish to publish. Deadline for the December Newsletter will be Dec 26.
Please follow the Post news and photos on our blog at http://post24az.blogspot.com/
