Commanders' Message

Fellow Legionnaires, I thank all of you who had me in your prayers after my fall from my front stoop. Other than a few broken facial bones and injury's to my pride, I am recovering quite well. I hope this letter finds you in good health and getting ready for the holidays.

The Post is currently making preparations for Veterans Day celebration on Saturday November 11, starting at 11:00 AM with a Veterans Day Program. This will be followed by lunch and fun and games. This is open to the public so bring your friends and neighbors.

For those who get email, you already know that the utility trailer was won by Thomas Abbott. Thomas is a new member of Post 52 and served in the Marine Corp. Enjoy my trailer Thomas while the rest of us will have to wait till next years’ Raffle or go to Harry Foy's and buy one.

Our next fund raiser follows close on the heels of the last one. This is our Reverse Raffle. We have sent out letters to each of you and have published details on the other side of this newsletter. Raffle tickets are $50 each and only 200 tickets will be sold.

Thanks to all who turned in their pull tabs. We donated 7.4 lbs of Aluminum tabs. Good job. There was a total of slightly over 1900 lbs donated to Ronald McDonald House at the Fall Conference.

There was a call to action released by National on October 23, requesting us to call/email our representative in both houses due to a proposal raise the cost of TRICARE. This proposal would result in higher fees for military retirees, including pharmacy co payments, which are already three times higher than they were in 2011, and enrollment costs for certain plans, such as the new Select plan, would nearly triple.

So the request was to contact your Senators and Representative to demand that they reject any proposal that would result in TRICARE fee increases for current beneficiaries, and let them know that veterans have paid for their benefits through blood, sweat, and tears many times over.

Duty, Honor, and Country - George G. Tracy

Auxiliary Notes

Good news! We were presented our Charter during the American Legion Fall Conference held in Raleigh, NC on October 21, 2017. This will allow us to move forward with our Auxiliary. Thank you to those that were able to attend the ceremony.

Upcoming events: Saturday, October 28^th, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm will be the annual Frankenfest in downtown Franklinton.The Post will be serving lunch of pork loin sandwiches, hot dogs, hamburgers fries. Plan to stop by and help our fellow Legionnaires!

The Veterans’ Day celebration will be at the Post on Saturday, November 11^th, beginning at 11:00. We have offered to make cookies for the event, so any types would be greatly appreciated!

Our October meeting is the 31^st and the November meeting is the 28^th. Both are at the Franklinton Senior Center beginning at 5:30 pm, and then to Post 52 for dinner for those that wish to attend. Please join us and bring a friend!

Our Facebook page is: https://www.Facebook.com/NCALA52/.

Shown above from left to right are: Auxiliary Department Vice President, Betty Moore; Unit 52 President, Carolyn Donnelly; Auxiliary Department President, Debbie Harris; Unit 52 Member, Velinda Basallo; Unit 52 Historian, Velinda Moore; and Unit 52 Member, Janet Tracy.

See you at our next meeting. - Adrienne O’Neill

Vice-Commander's Report

Since we last met we have several very important dates coming up. The first being Veteran’s Day in which we remember those deceased veterans and thank and honor those living veterans who have served honorably in the military - in wartime or peacetime. I thank each of you for your service to our country and for your continued support of the American Legion.

The next special day and one of my favorites is Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving Day is a harvest festival celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is a holiday to express our thankfulness, gratitude, and appreciation to God, family and friends for which all have been blessed of material possessions and relationships. Traditionally, it has been a time to give thanks for a bountiful harvest. In my opinion this holiday is quickly moving away from its original roots to more of having time off and the Christmas shopping season.

I often have members ask the question, I paid my membership dues and still received a renewal notice. This is a timing issue. National mails renewal notices 1 July, 1 October, 1 January, 1 March, and 1 May of each year. If your dues are not received at Department 30 days prior to the dates above you will get a renewal notice.

What happens when I pay my dues? Good question. The Post Adjutant processes your membership and forwards along with a check to Department. Department updates the membership database and forwards to National. The reason we try hard to collect here at the Post is to keep renewal mailings to a minimum. This helps keep the confusion and cost to our Organization to a minimum. If you receive a Renewal Notice and have not paid your dues then you should mail your dues in. Your renewal dues will be directed to the Post. Dues for Post 52 are $35.00. You Post leadership tries very hard to process all dues as quickly as possible to keep renewal notices from being mailed by National. As a reminder The American Legion membership renewal year Starts 1 July and ends 30 June of each year.   

As we approach the holidays I ask that each of you remember hose men and women that are serving in the Armed Forces and their families they leave behind. If you know if any soldiers currently serving in Iraq or Afghanistan please get me their address. We have several organizations that want to support them while deployed. 

For God and Country - Harvey Satterwhite