Post 24 Newsletter, Tombstone, AZ: December 2008

POST 24 NEWS AND VIEWS
JANUARY 2009

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

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Meetings
Auxiliary Meeting, January 7, 6:30p
ALR Meeting, January 10, 9a
Marine Corps League, January 12, 7p
E-Board Meeting, January 14, 7p
SAL Meeting, January 21, 6:30p
Post Meeting, January 28, 7p
District 3, January 11, 1:30p, at Post 24

Pot Luck, Monday, January 5, 6:30pm - Bring a dish to share. This month’s theme is Soup and Sandwiches.

Pool Night, Every Tuesday @ 6:30p. 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 and beginning Sunday Jan 4, every Sunday 3-5p sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary! SLINGO is a fast 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.

Café Legionnaire is open Tuesday, 6-8p, Wednesday thru Friday, 11a - 8p, Saturday, 9a – 8p (Breakfast 9 – 11a) and Sunday 2-6p.

FROM THE POST COMMANDER
For God and Country
Frank Molina
Our Legionnaire Christmas has come and gone and the New Year is fast approaching. I would like to wish all Post 24 Members and their families, all veteran’s, in and out of uniform, and their families, Beautiful Holiday’s and a Very Happy New Year.

As all of you know, it is easy to be swayed from Peace and Goodwill as we hear about war in foreign countries and disagreements between people right here in our own Post. The fact is that none of us know, but we must have faith, not fear. We must favor love and not hate. And we must have Peace and Unity.

FROM THE AUXILIARY PRESIDENT
Deirdre Nye
December allowed the sun to stay in our Cowboy Town. Isn’t Tombstone a great place to be, here in the high desert!
Our Legion looks wonderfully festive thanks to Chairman Sandi Freeman and the very artistic Decorating Committee, which seems to grow every month. It cuts time and work in half leaving more time to enjoy. Thank you all.

The Auxiliary has always kept a box in the bar area for small luxury items and toiletries to send to our Troops. This December we sent many packages to Tombstone’s own in Iraq including Anthony and David Lopez. The Wild West Detachment Marine Corp League have taken the "Twins" under their wing. Thank you Marines. There are now two boxes in the bar area, the Auxiliary will still be collecting for others in combat areas.

One thing I know for absolute, Unit 24 has the best cooks in Arizona. The deserts brought to the Early Bird dinner were magnificent. That is why we always have so many members at our Pot Luck dinners the first Monday of the month. Potluck in January is on the 5th. The theme is winter soup and sandwiches.

The Blind Veterans from the V. A. Hospital in Tucson visited on the 13th of December. It is always a pleasure accompanying them around our Town "Too Tough to Die". Every year at Christmas Time, The American Legion gives them a festive bag of goodies, hats, shirts etc., I think our Newsletter Editor gets as much fun buying their holiday favors, as they get receiving them. They always have so much fun they all want to return. If you have not had the pleasure of being with them yet, look out for the sign that says, "Rita and the Vets are coming, we know you will enjoy every minute with them.

The Children's Christmas Party on the 14th of December was a great success. Second Vice President Sandi Freeman waved her fairy dust and it was magic. There were so many members helping serve the Children of Tombstone, thank you so much everyone. We gave out 91 stockings and 91 envelopes with $5.00 in each, along with an eight foot table full of stuffy toys.

The sign up sheet for The Auxiliary's "Slingo" will be at the end of the side bar. Our first venture will be Sunday the 4th of January and every Sunday thereafter, God willing. We are told that we need at least 4 people. The Sons of The Legion have found it to be a great fundraiser, I am sure that we will also.

It has been wonderful getting to know and working with the great Members of Unit 24. I look forward to helping our Veterans and Community with those Members that can, and those that cannot, please let us know what we can do for you. Thank you all for CARING AND SHARING.

Have a Magnificent and Happy New Year and God Bless.

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
The veterans outreach program, which got underway in July of 2008 is happy to report that it has presented six, long overdue, applications for benefits to the VA, as well as assisting numerous veterans gain needed access to the VA health care system. In addition, we have assisted many others with information, state benefits, and more. Also, because of your support, the new outreach office, tentatively named the Veterans Outpost, has nearly everything it needs to get underway. Thanks especially to Cary and Darla Davies, Donald Nye, Jim 'Cookie' Deichman, Barbara Klein, Yogi Bear, Sencie Patchin, Gene Simpson, Jim Bugg, and the Sacred Heart Thrift Store who donated both skills, strong arms, and stuff. The only thing we are missing is some type of floor covering. Thanks to everyone for your support and assistance in getting the word out.

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.

POST AND UNIT NEWS AND VIEWS
New Key Cards will be available for $1 beginning 1/1/09.

Our annual golf tournament will be held March 8, 2009, at the short course in Benson. Volunteers are needs for this committee. See Mike Stout for more information.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS
Effective Jan 1, 2009
License Plate Holder Law - State law* requires that the state name at the top of Arizona license plates must be visible. Any license plate holder or cover that prevents the license plate from being clearly legible, is in violation of this new law.

Off-Highway Vehicle Decal - A new off-highway vehicle decal is required to be purchased each year for operation of any vehicle operated on unimproved roads, trails and approved use areas not suitable for conventional two-wheel-drive vehicular travel. Examples include: All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV), trail motorcycles and dirt bikes. This does not apply to pickup trucks, SUVs, cars and other recreational vehicles.

DISTRICT 3 NEWS
Sencie Patchin
The District 3 Meeting in January will be held at Post 24 on Jan. 11, 2009 at 1:30PM. The Department Of Arizona, President Vicki Zwall will be making her official visit to District 3. Hope to see you all there.

On Jan 17th Unit 52 will be hosting a leadership workshop in Sierra Vista at post 24. It is an 8 hour course. From 8AM to 4PM. It is a worthwhile course and hopefully those of you who have not attended a leadership course will attend. Please call Sherrie at 458-6830 for more information or call Sencie at 457-3749.

On February 21, 2009 District 3 will be hosting an Initiation Tea at Post 24 from 1-4PM. Please call Sencie at 457-3749 for more information.

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 shout out goes to Gary Garrard, Ralph and Evelyn Holder, Dee Lucas, Gary Case, Laura Keeney, and Mary Musich who is recovering from knee surgery. Take care of those ankles, especially Grace Steiner and Sue Furnas.

IN MEMORIUM
Thankfully, there is nothing to report at this writing.

Happy January Birthday
Rachael Parra 1/2, Lil Thibeault and Joe Turley1/4, Jack Weeks, James Christian and Nancee Condon 1/8, Gloria Vandenbroeck 1/14, Dwight Stumph 1/15, Cody Gilberg 1/16, Aidan Goodman 1/17, Ann Shull 1/18, Richard Perry, Colette Ross and George Timmons 1/21, David DuBois and Vic Walker 1/22, Louis Herod 1/24, Chick Warren 1/25, Roy Zeagler 1/27, Jeff Sweet 1/28

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 February Newsletter will be January 29.

Please follow the Post News and photos on our blog at http://post24az.blogspot.com/ Check out the blog for Member party pictures.

Auld Lang Syne
The song Auld Lang Syne is sung at the stroke of midnight in almost every English-speaking country in the world to bring in the new year. At least partially written by Robert Burns in the 1700's, it was first published in 1796 after Burns' death. Early variations of the song were sung prior to 1700 and inspired Burns to produce the modern rendition. An old Scotch tune, "Auld Lang Syne" literally means "old long ago," or simply, "the good old days."

"Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne."
- Robert Burns, Auld Lang Syne

Luck For The New Year
Traditionally, it was thought that one could affect the luck they would have throughout the coming year by what they did or ate on the first day of the year. For that reason, it has become common for folks to celebrate the first few minutes of a brand new year in the company of family and friends. Parties often last into the middle of the night after the ringing in of a new year. It was once believed that the first visitor on New Year's Day would bring either good luck or bad luck the rest of the year. It was particularly lucky if that visitor happened to be a tall dark-haired man.

Traditional New Year foods are also thought to bring luck. Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good luck, because it symbolizes "coming full circle," completing a year's cycle. For that reason, the Dutch believe that eating donuts on New Year's Day will bring good fortune.

Many parts of the U.S. celebrate the New Year by consuming black-eyed peas. These legumes are typically accompanied by either hog jowls or ham. Black-eyed peas and other legumes have been considered good luck in many cultures. The hog, and thus its meat, is considered lucky because it symbolizes prosperity. Cabbage is another "good luck" vegetable that is consumed on New Year's Day by many. Cabbage leaves are also considered a sign of prosperity, being representative of paper currency. In some regions, rice is a lucky food that is eaten on New Year's Day.