Sunday, May 31, 2009

POST 24 NEWS AND VIEWS, JUNE 2009

Post Commander, Frank Molina
Auxiliary President, Deirdre Nye
SAL Commander, Chuck Klein
ALR President, Michael Smith
Lead Bartender, Jeff Sweet
Bingo Chairman, Barb Klein
Adjutant, Don Aiton
Editor, Karen Goodman

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Meetings
Auxiliary Meeting, June 3, 6:30p
E-Board Meeting, June 10, 7p
ALR Meeting, June 13, 9a
SAL Meeting, June 17, 6:30p
Post Meeting, June 24, 7p
Convention, June 19-21, Glendale AZ

Pot Luck, Monday, June 1, 6:30pm - Bring a dish to share. The theme is hot and cold salads.

Shuffleboard Night, every Monday night @ 6p, except for Pot Luck night. Entry fee $3.

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! Bingo will be dark in July.

Play SLINGO, Saturday 3-5p, sponsored by the SAL and Sunday 3-5p sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary.

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

Flag Day Ceremony will take place Sunday, June 14, 2008, at 6:30p in the rear parking lot.

A Salute to the Buffalo Soldiers, June 12-14, presented by the Tombstone Chamber of Commerce.


POST COMMANDER
Frank Molina

In recognition of outstanding Leadership and Service, as a member of The American Legion, benefiting our Community, State and Nation, I, Frank Molina, Commander of the American Legion, Post 24, Department of Arizona proudly announce the selection of Michael Stout for Legionnaire of the Year, 2008 – 2009. Michael’s dedication to the Post and it’s members is extraordinary and beyond expectation.

Mike has served as First Vice Commander since 2007, has served on the executive board and is a member of the American Legion’s Forty and Eight. He is a member of the Post Color Guard and co-chaired our golf tournament committee. He works tirelessly for Bingo and for our Blind Veterans of Tucson. Mike formed a Cub Scout Unit, supported by the Post. If someone needs a ride to a doctor appointment or if the shed needs cleaned, Mike will make it happen. He is our general “go-to” guy when you need something done, and he gets it done, quietly and efficiently.

Congratulations Michael on this well deserved honor!


AUXILIARY PRESIDENT
Dierdre Nye

May was a good month for our Auxiliary here at Roy Fourr in Tombstone. Our new officers are Deirdre Nye, President. Sandi Freeman, 1st Vice President. Susan Schubert, 2nd Vice President. Ann Graves, Chaplain. Lillian Hritz, Historian. Ann Bliss, Sargent at Arms. Jerre Johnson, Treasurer. Sandy Wilson, Secretary. Mary Jo Burns, E-Board. Phyllis Deloia, E-Board.

Our weekly fund-raiser Slingo has been a great success thanks to our Slingo Chairman Ann Bliss, and the many dedicated members that have enabled our coffers to gradually fill again. Please ladies sign up to work Slingo as we will continue with our efforts throughout the summer.

May 15th found many branches of our Post escorting the Historical Remains of over 50 Cavalry and Infantry Soldiers and dependants, from 1860 to the 1884 that were found in Tucson during excavation. They were to be re interned at The Veterans Cemetery in Sierra Vista the next day, it was wonderful to see so many motorcycles in attendance. The American Legion Auxiliary was also thanked for their escort services.

Walter J. Meyer students from the 4th and 5th grade entered The Auxiliary’s Poppy Poster Contest. Thank you for your winning Posters, Gabriella, Sonnie, Izzie, Kayla, Sylvie and Analysia. We were able to display them in the Post Office thanks to the great temporary Post Master James. He is scanning them to make stamps so the parents can purchase them, as well as the large American Legion Auxiliary poster that was a conglomerate of all of the children's posters along with the poem In Flanders Field. Poppy donations were astounding, thanks for a magnificent effort Ladies. The donations will help our Veterans and their families. Thank you every one.

It was wonderful to see so many veterans signatures on the P.O.W. car that was parked in front of The American Legion Post 24, during our Memorial Day Ceremony.

This year we were able to give out seven Scholarships. They are; Amanda Hatfield graduating from Buena high School for $500.00, Katherine Young and Dakota Sands were given $500.00 Scholarships at the Tombstone High School Graduation, also at the Tombstone High School, recipients of four $250.00 scholarships went to Justina Davis, Lauren Devere, William Don Dickey II and Natanya Lund. We wish them all well in their adventures as adults.

Well done and thank you to Dee Dee Molina, decorating Chairman and her Committee, the Post looks very Patriotic.

It is not too early to remind every one of our upcoming Annual Balloon Pop over the 4th of July weekend. Watch for flyers and times. This is a fund-raiser with all proceeds going to The Children's Christmas Party. We are starting to collect prizes and raffle donations. Please drop off items C/o The Auxiliary or contact Sandi Freeman at 508 2737.

Our next meeting will be June the 3rd. We will be going dark for July and August. We will resume meeting in September. Pot Luck however will continue throughout the summer, June’s pot Luck theme is hot and cold salads.

Due to many unseen circumstances our fund-raiser “Bizarre Bazaar” has been moved from the Spring to the Fall. We will be voting on an exact date at our next meeting.

The Delegates representing our American Legion Auxiliary Unit 24 at Convention are. Deirdre Nye, Sandi Freeman, Susan Schubert, Ann Graves, Ann Bliss and our member Sencie Patchin who is not only a Unit Past President she is our District 3 President.

God Bless


ALR PRESIDENT
Michael Smith

The next ALR meeting is 13 JUN at 0900
We had a great turn out for the Historical Soldiers Interment Service and Observance on 15 and 16 May. Due to the ALR Post 24 support, we were presented with a commemorative flag from the era. We have some very good photos on our web page from the Historical Soldiers Interment Ride. The link is…http://www.azlegionriders.org/

VETERANS AFFAIRS AND REHABILITATION
Susan Schubert

Thanks to a grant from the Ft. Huachucha Thrift Store, The Veterans' Outpost has a phone! 457-2232. Call anytime as the phone will be forwarded to a competent person if no one is in the office.

The Sierra Vista VA Clinic was originally designed and staffed for a caseload of 2000 patients. Their current caseload is 6000 patients. This may help us understand why appointments are being set for what feels like the far future. But, it doesn't solve the problem. If you feel you need to be seen by a physician sooner than your scheduled appointment, there are several options. 1) Call the clinic and ask to be put on a waiting list for a cancellation with your doctor. 2) Call the clinic and speak to the Triage Nurse about getting seen sooner. 3) Call the VA Hospital in Tucson and speak to the Patient Advocate. If none of this helps, your only options are to wait, or to go to the emergency room at the Tucson VA. Of course, you alone can make this decision based on the severity of your symptoms. By all means, if you cannot make a scheduled clinic appointment, call to reschedule. Someone is waiting to take your spot.

One person at the Sierra Vista VA Clinic that a patient can get in to see almost immediately is Bob Pilcher, the new VA Addiction Therapist. He is also extremely responsive about calling back. With his permission, here's how to contact him: call 459-1529 and ask for him by name, or extension 3474.

If you, or someone you know has been adversely affected by Agent Orange please call me at the Veterans' Outpost. The Order of the Silver Rose wishes to honor you, even if the VA doesn't recognize your injury. I am preparing to send our Tombstone area applications to the Order and do not wish to leave anyone out.

DISTRICT 3 PRESIDENT
Sencie Patchin

The District Officers remain the same for 2009-2010. They are President Sencie Patchin, Vice President Jennie Molina, Chaplain Ann Graves and Historian Sherrie Tucker.

The next District Meeting will be held in Douglas on July 12, 2009 at 1:30PM. Installation of Officers will be held at this time.

Don’t forget Convention in June 19, 20, 21, 2009, at the Renaissance Hotel, 9495 W Coyotes Blvd, Glendale 623-937-3700.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful and productive year and that you all are looking forward to another rewarding year.

Sincerely,
Sencie Patchin
District 3 President
2008-2009

POST AND UNIT NEWS AND VIEWS
A motion was made to allow the Food Bank to have a fund raising dance/party with no charges on September 12th. Motion passed.

A motion was made to make BINGO dark for the month of July. Motion passed.

Discussion: The 2nd vice will receive bids to have signs made and posted, (3) “PARKING FOR AMERICAN LEGION CUSTOMERS ONLY”. Please remember, Bartender, Kitchen, Adjutant and Commander parking spots are for those individuals only. Please be courteous, do not park in these assigned spaces.

Four students were evaluated for scholarships in the amount of $200.00. The recipients are, Brock Willsey, Natanya Lund, Amanda Hatfield, and Lauren Devere. A motion was made and passed and was approved by the general membership.

Discussion: Doc, from the thrift store, is seeking support for a youth band for Tombstone. The Legion has pledged support of this worthwhile endeavor.

HAPPY JUNE BIRTHDAY
James Fought and Carol Ramsey June 3, Harry Bouton and Julia Goodman June 4, Kathy Smith June 6, Steve Phillips and Gene Simpson June 10, Tom McClure June 12, US Army (1775) June 14, William Charon and Ron Rogers June 15, Jake Gessner June 16, Elaine Perry June 22, Dick Bauer June 23, George Jones and John Escarcega June 25, Sharon Harris June 28, Cathy Traywick June 29.

SICK CALL
Van Curtis has recently had a stoke. A sign up sheet is at the club to volunteer to take Van to doctor appointments. Please remember Van, Evelyn Holder and John Satterfield in your prayers.


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 Newsletter will be June 26. Please follow the Post News and photos on our blog at http://post24az.blogspot.com/

Reports received from Post and Unit Officers after the Newsletter deadline will be published in the blog only.


In Remembrance of Flag Day
Presented here are poems that have been assembled with a patriotic heart for all.
Additional flag information can be found at http://www.usflag.org/


The Republic From "The Building Of The Ship"
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Thou, too, sail on, O Ship of State!
Sail on, O Union, strong and great!
Humanity with all its fears,
With all the hopes of future years,
Is hanging breathless on thy fate!
We know what Master laid the keel,
What Workmen wrought thy ribs of steel,
Who made each mast, and sail, and rope,
What anvils rang, what hammers beat,
In what forge and what a heat
Were shaped the anchors of thy hope!
Fear not each sudden sound and shock,
'Tis of the wave and not the rock;
'Tis but the flapping of the sail,
And not a rent made by the gale!
In spite of rock and tempest's roar,
In spite of false lights on the shore,
Sail on, nor fear to breast the sea!
Our hearts, our hopes, are all with thee,
Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears,
Our faith triumphant o'er our fears,
Are all with thee, - are all with thee!

THE FLAG GOES BY
Henry Holcomb Bennett
Hats off! Along the street there comes
A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums,
A flash of color beneath the sky:
Hats off! The flag is passing by!
Blue and crimson and white it shines,
Over the steel-tipped, ordered lines.
Hats off! The colors before us fly,
But more than the flag is passing by.
Sea-fights and land-fights, grim and great,
Fought to make and to save the State:
Weary marches and sinking ships;
Cheers of victory on dying lips;
Days of plenty and years of peace;
March of a strong land's swift increase;
Equal justice, right, and law,
Stately honor and reverend awe;
Sign of a nation, great and strong
Toward her people from foreign wrong:
Pride and glory and honor,--all
Live in the colours to stand or fall.
Hats off! Along the street there comes
A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums;
And loyal hearts are beating high:
Hats off! The Flag is passing by!

O Flag of our Union
O flag of our Union,
To you we'll be true,
To your red and white stripes,
And your stars on the blue;
The emblem of freedom,
The symbol of right,
We children salute you,
O flag fair and bright!

*A poem taught in American classrooms nearly a century ago.
Reprinted 1995 by AMVETS, 4647 Forbes Boulevard, Lanham, Maryland 20706-9961


RAGGED OLD FLAG
Johnny Cash
I walked through a county courthouse square,
On a park bench an old man was sitting there.
I said, "Your old courthouse is kinda run down."
He said, "Naw, it'll do for our little town.
"I said, "Your flagpole has leaned a little bit,
And that's a Ragged Old Flag you got hanging on it.
He said, "Have a seat", and I sat down.
"Is this the first time you've been to our little town?
"I said, "I think it is."
He said, "I don't like to brag,
But we're kinda proud of that Ragged Old Flag."

"You see, we got a little hole in that flag there
When Washington took it across the Delaware.
And it got powder-burned the night Francis Scott Key
Sat watching it writing _Oh Say Can You See_.
And it got a bad rip in New Orleans
With Packingham and Jackson tuggin' at its seams."

"And it almost fell at the Alamo
Beside the Texas flag, but she waved on through.
She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville
And she got cut again at Shiloh Hill.
There was Robert E. Lee, Beauregard, and Bragg,
And the south wind blew hard on that Ragged Old Flag."

"On Flanders Field in World War I
She got a big hole from a Bertha gun.
She turned blood red in World War II
She hung limp and low by the time it was through.
She was in Korea and Vietnam.
She went where she was sent by her Uncle Sam."

"She waved from our ships upon the briny foam,
And now they've about quit waving her back here at home.
In her own good land she's been abused --
She's been burned, dishonored, denied and refused."

"And the government for which she stands
Is scandalized throughout the land.
And she's getting threadbare and wearing thin,
But she's in good shape for the shape she's in.
'Cause she's been through the fire before
And I believe she can take a whole lot more."

"So we raise her up every morning,
Take her down every night.
We don't let her touch the ground
And we fold her up right.
On second thought I DO like to brag,
'Cause I'm mighty proud of that Ragged Old Flag."

Monday, May 25, 2009

Memorial Day 2009

American Legion Members meet at the Tombstone Cemetery at 6am and placed flags and poppies on the graves of veterans and Legion Members.

Memorial to Roy Fourr and all Veterans

American Legion Firing Squad, left to right, Anthony Molina, Russ Freeman and Chuck Sperry.



Bugler and Firing Squad Commander Chuck Klein


Color Guard, left to right, Sandi Freeman, Ann Bliss, Jeff Badger, Al Jepsen, Barb Klein and Don Aiton.





Unit President Dierdre Nye and Chaplin Anna Graves place a wreath at the Veterans Memorial.






Color Guard Tony Perrotti and Don Aiton stand ready prior to the 11am service at the Post.






Post Chaplin Dick Perry leads a prayer.







District President Sencie Patchin provides opening emarks.







Unit President Dierdre Nye provides additional remarks.










Post 24 firing squad and the 21 gun salute.










Taps.











Unit Chaplin reads the closing prayer.












Thank you Post and Unit 24 participants for a memorable and touching tribute to our veterans.














Saturday, May 16, 2009

Historical Soldiers' Relocation Ceremony









Our American Legion Riders' joined forces with numerous groups to ecsort the remains of soldiers from the 1860's to the 1880's who died protecting the then Arizona Territory. The escort took place from Tucson to the Southern Arizona Veterans Cemetery on May 15. An internment ceremony took place the next day. Approximately 200
bikes road the course, leading the flag draped remains which were carried in 2 large trucks. Each casket was draped with the 35 star flag of the period.

Here are some pictures of the 2 day event.