Commanders' Message

Fellow Legionnaires – I would like to thank all of you for your support, thoughout the year, for the many programs and activities of your Post. I know that our Post seems to always have something going on, where we are asking you for your time and/or your money. Well that is the curse and the blessing of belonging to an active Post

Between now and the end of the year is no exception. We have a Brunswick Stew sale, a Trailer Raffle, Frankenfest, Veterans Day Celebration, Reverse Raffle, and Christmas for our nursing home veterans. Now while all of this is going on, we are looking for candidates for: Fireman, Policeman, EMS, Soldier, Legionnaire, and Community Service Persons of the year, that we can honor in March at our Birthday and Awards Banquet. Also, school has started and we have started working with the youth and the school system to find participants for the Oratorical Competition, Boys State, Girls State, Student Trooper and the School Medals programs.

All of the above are reasons that I joined this Post instead of one that doesn't give back to the commuinity. Is it work? Yes. But it is a labor of love. Love for our veterans and our community.

Not all of what we do requires a commitment of time and/or money. Something as simple as saving your aluminum pull tabs for the Ronald McDonald House, or submitting a name and address of a North Carolina Serviceman, so they can receive a Christmas care package from Operation North State.

While our Auxilary has only resently been formed, they have provided much needed help and support for what we are doing as a Post. They are an intrigal part of our family. I know that many of you were happy to see and partake in the bake sales at our resent events. YUMMY. I have had nothing but positive feedback from those who have purchased bake goods. Keep up the good work.

On the next page is a list of times and dates of our upcoming events. You will be receiving information in the mail about our Reverse Raffle. The tickets will be going on sale this month. The cost of a ticket is the same as last year, $50.00. The drawings will take place on December 9^th, at our Post, from 2:00 PM until all tickets are drawn. There will only be 200 tickets sold. Prizes are as follows: $50.00 to the first ticket drawn, $125.00 every 10^th ticket, and the Grand Prize to the last ticket drawn will be $2,500.

At our last meeting I shared information on the work of the DPAA (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency) and posted on our bulletin board a list of remains that have been identified during September. With the last report released September 29^th, there were 5 more names added to the list, giving a total of 27 for the month. They are from the following periods: WWII - 21; Korea - 4; and Vietnam - 1.

The American Legion Commemorative Coin has been approved for minting in 2019. Thanks to all who helped drum up support for this effort. I will keep you informed as information becomes available over the next year.

Duty, Honor, and Country - George G. Tracy

Auxiliary Notes

Our bake sale at the Fish and Oyster Fry on Sept. 22 was another success. Thanks to those terrific bakers and those that help serve. Our first Executive Meeting will be held at the home of Linda Kerensky at noon on Monday, Oct. 9. Remember that anyone can attend this meeting! Also, there is a District 6 workshop in Durham on Oct. 14. Contact President Carolyn Donnelly if you would like to attend. Have a great month. Our next regular meeting will be on October 31^st, starting at 5:30 pm, at the Franklinton Senior Center. Invite a friend! Our Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/NCALA52/.

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

Vice-Commander's Report

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 Membership 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 dues early 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 Post leadership tries very hard to process all dues as quickly as possible to keep renewal notices from being mailed by National.

Veterans Day as well as our Post Family Day will be here before you know it. Make plans now to attend Saturday, November 11th, 11:00am – 3:00pm. Veterans Day Ceremony followed by Food, Games, and Fellowship for the whole family and friends. Lets pack the house. Hotdogs, Hamburgers and the trimmings will be served.

As a reminder All Paid Members on or before Nov 10 will be entered into a drawing and (5) members will be awarded cash or prizes.

Your Post leadership is asking for your help. We know people move or change phone numbers. To help us communicate with you we are asking you 1) If you are receiving your Magazine from Department & National then your address is correct 2) if you are not sure we have your correct phone # on file please go on line to My Legion to confirm or contact one of your Post Officers or Mail us your current contact information so we can confirm our records are up to date. This information is Not Shared with any other entity.

Thank You! I want to thank a special group of people that usually go unnoticed for their efforts. They spend a lot of time behind the scenes in preparation for Fundraisers, Meetings, Funerals, and Post activities. Yep you guessed correct if you said your Officers, Executive Committee and Committee Chair’s. When you see one of these people shake their hand and thank them for their commitment to our Post and its future.

For God and Country - Harvey Satterwhite