Commanders' Message

Fellow Legionnaires – I am proud to say that our Oratorical contestant, Gabriella Dangler, was the Division I winner and will be heading to Post 155, at 613 East Gold St., Kings Mountain, NC for the State contest, to be held on March 4, at 1:00 PM. Gabriella was presented her Division I Trophy, Certificate, Medal, and Check by our Division I Commander, Carolyn Rogerson, at our February Meeting on the 28^th of February. We also used this time to have Gabriella give her prepared oration, as this will be the last time before the State Contest. (Updated 5 March – Gabriella did her best and can be very proud of her performance, but she will not be proceeding to the National Contest in Indianapolis. Thanks to all for your support and encouragement.)

While attending the Mid-Winter Conference at the North Raleigh Hilton, I was able to get with the Auxiliary Membership Chairperson, Judy Stancil, with reference to re-forming our Auxiliary Unit. She gave me applications and brochures for our ladies to use. I gave these to the ladies that were at our February meeting so that they can get the ball rolling. They are planning an organizational meeting to coincide with our next meeting on March 28^th. So if your wives, daughters, nieces or other female relatives are interested in joining, they may want to come to this meeting.

Wyatt McGee and the Nominating Committee are filling in a slate of candidates for the 2017-2018 year. Nominations will be held at our March meeting with the election to be held at our April Meeting. If you are interested in holding an office please step forward and let the committee know. Also, nominations will be taken from the floor. The only stipulation being, the person most be in attendance and agree to their name being submitted. A list of all offices and duties is available as part of our bylaws: http://americanlegionpost52.org/ByLaws20140325/ByLaws.html#ARTICLE_VII. Please review and serve where you can.

Our 98^th Birthday and Awards Banquet will be held on Saturday, March 11 starting at 6:00 PM, with dinner at 7:00 PM. Cost will be $5.00 per person. Please join us as we celebrate our birthday and recognize members of our community for jobs well done. I hope to see you there.

One final item: we turned in 15 lbs of pull tabs for the Ronald McDonald House. Thanks to all who participated in saving and donating to this cause.

For God, County and the American Legion, George G. Tracy

Vice-Commander's Report

Each year in March we celebrate two different occasions. The first being the Birthday of the American Legion. This year we celebrate 98 years as an organization serving our veterans, their families, our community and our nation. The American Legion has had a positive impacted on millions of Americans over the years and who knows how many in the years to come. WOW.

Secondly the American Legion recognizes the sacrifice of those on our home front that contribute to our quality of life by recognizing individuals from Fire, EMS, Law Enforcement, Community Service, Soldiers, and the American Legion family that go above and beyond in their service to our Community and Country. We all should be thankful for these individuals who work so hard to make our communities a Safe and Better place for all our citizens. So make plans to come out and enjoy a good meal and show your support for what these people do. Saturday, March 11th, 6:00 pm, at Post.

Be sure when you see any of these folks to make an effort to Thank them for their service.

Also I still get questions concerning your Free Life Insurance. I would like to remind all members that if you have Not Called to Activate your Free Life Insurance Policy please do so by calling 1-800-235-6943. If you have been a member for over 5 years and have not called to Renew your policy you must do so.

Please remember to purchase your American Flag from Post 52 or On-Line at emblem sales. You will not buy a better quality flag for the price, period. When purchasing on line at Emblem Sales remember to register it to Post 52, North Carolina.

It’s not hard to do, Thank a veteran for their service to our nation and also invite them to come and enjoy a meal with us.

For God and Country, Harvey Satterwhite

Chaplain's Corner

Prison Baseball

Acts 16:17 This girl followed Paul and the rest of us shouting, "these men or servants of the most high God who are telling you the way to be saved. "

Baseball season is here again, two teams, nine players on each team, nine innings, three outs in one inning. Three strikes and you're out.

The rules of baseball were adopted in 1857 by the first baseball convention of New York. Although the game was played throughout the country, they had different rules. Our State magazine, several years ago, told us of how the Southern and Union soldiers served their spare time during the Civil War in 1862. At the Salisbury prison in North Carolina, they wrote, that the batters were called the strikers, the pitchers were call hurlers. All the players wore dark blue trousers and caps, except the hurler, he wore tan trousers and a homemade straw hat. The northern rules were mostly applied. It was not an out to catch the ball on the first bounce. It was not out who throw the ball and hit the base runner. One boy from Texas was not allowed to play because he kept hitting a runner with the ball time and time again until the runner received bodily injury. Another soldier hid the ball and wouldn't allow anyone else to touch it. The game was played one day a week, usually Sundays. It provided amusement, exercise, diversion, even some camaraderie among prisoners and guards alike. You could see smiles on the faces of the men. Usually they showed fear, stress, even death.

The Bible tells us that Paul and Silas were in prison. They were singing hymns and praying to God. Suddenly there was a violent earthquake. At once all the prison doors flew open and everybody's chains came loose. The magistrate who had stripped, beaten, and thrown them in prison, ordered them to be released the next morning. He escorted them out of the city in peace.

Now may God with love and peace be with you and your family. In Jesus name, Amen. Bill Kimbrough

Annual Awards Banquet

and

98^th Legion Birthday Celebration

Saturday, March 11^th, 6pm

Full course meal will be served
$5 per person

We will award and recognize the following honorees:

• Emergency Medical Technician
• Fire Service Officer
• Law Enforcement Officer
• Soldier of the Year
• Community Service
• Legionnaire of the Year

We need you to be there on the 11^th of March to
show our appreciation for these
men and women who serve our community