Commanders' Message

As we enter this Christmas Season, we should be thankful for all we have accomplished as a post. We have held successful fundraisers, renovated the bathrooms, and completed many other tasks. Now it is time to prepare for Christmas itself and to consider what we can do for friends and others.

The membership program is going very well at this time, but we cannot let our guard down or rest on our progress thus far. We need the help of every member in the post to contact and encourage all the members that have not yet renewed their memberships to do so as soon as they are able. We are very close to reaching our goals at this point; however, we do not want any members to fall into delinquent status on January 1, 2020.

To encourage interest in our post by its members, I would like to announce that we will be scheduling a Friday Night Dance at the Post; the first dance will be on Friday, January 31, 2020. All active members of the post are invited to attend. We will have a DJ playing music. So please come out and have some fun at the Post. You may bring your favorite adult beverage with you to enjoy.

In January, we will have a Brunswick stew sale with preparations on January 17^th and sales on January 18^th. Please submit your pre-orders as early as possible and tell your friends and neighbors about it, as well.

In keeping with the spirit of this season, I want to thank all post members and executive committee members for all of their hard work and support this year. I wish all of you and your families a Merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Years!

For God & Country, Mike Donnelly

Vice-Commander's Report

I had never heard the following until our Veterans Day program. I found it to be somewhat moving. 

I AM THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; my name is “OLD GLORY.”

I fly atop the world’s tallest buildings; I stand watch in America’s halls of justice, I fly majestically over great institutions of learning, I stand guard with the greatest military power in the world. Look up! And see me, “I stand for peace – honor- truth, and justice. I stand for freedom. I am confident; I am arrogant, I am proud when I am flown with my fellow banners, my head is a little higher, my colors a little truer, I bow to no one!!! I am recognized all over the world; I am worshiped – I am saluted – I am respected. I am revered – I am loved, and I am feared! I have fought in every battle of every war for more than 200 years: Gettysburg, Shiloh, Appomattox, San Juan Hill, the trenches of France, the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome, the beaches of Normandy, Guam, Okinawa, Tarawa, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf and a scores of places long forgotten by all, except by those who were there with me, I was there!! I led my sailors and marines. I followed them. I watched over them; they loved me!!

I was on a small hill on Iwo Jima; I was dirty, battle-worn and tired but my sailors and marines cheered me, and I was proud!!!

I was at ground zero in New York City on September 11^th as cowardly fanatics attacked America. I was raised from the ashes of once-proud buildings by brave firefighters. Heroes who risked their lives to save others, showing all that America, although blooded, will never be beaten. Those who would destroy me cannot win, for I am the symbol of freedom, of one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

I have been soiled, burned, torn, and trampled on the streets of my own country, and, when it is by those whom I have served with, in battle, it hurts.

But I shall overcome for I am strong! I have slipped the sure bonds on earth, and from my vantage point on the moon, I stand watch over the uncharted new frontiers of space. I have been a silent witness to all of America’s finest hours, but my finest hour comes when I am torn in strips, to be used as bandages for my wounded comrades on the field of battle, when I fly half-mast to honor my soldiers, and when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving mother at the gravesite of her fallen son or daughter.

I am proud!!!! my name is “o l d g l o r y” long may I wave dear God; long may I wave.

I hope this means the same to you as it does for me. Don’t forget monthly dues, if you haven’t paid. Get those orders in for the January stew sale.

Have a Merry Christmas, see you next year!

Doug Wilbourne

Auxiliary Notes

First, I want to say “Thank You” to everyone who came and helped with the Christmas Tea Party/ALA 100^th Birthday Celebration. Our guests said they greatly enjoyed themselves.

Next, a reminder of the Leadership Training workshop, which is on January 18, 2020. Durham Unit 7 will be hosting at Durham Post 7, Durham, NC, at 10 am. I encourage you to attend this training, this a great learning tool to help you understand the American Legion Auxiliary programs and for questions that you may have about them. If interested, please let Carolyn Donnelly know.

The December Executive meeting is December 9, 2019. We will be doing the mid-year reports at this meeting. There is No December membership meeting.

The January Executive meeting/Sew & Craft Day is January 13, 2020, at 10 am, held at Post 52. If you have any school supplies which you are collecting please bring them to this meeting or the December Executive meeting so we can give them to Myrtle Satterwhite so she can give them to the schools.

The January Membership meeting is January 28, 2020, at 5:30 p.m. held at the Franklinton Senior Center.

December Birthdays: Myrtle Satterwhite and Carolyn Rohrer.

In closing, I want to wish everyone Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! If traveling please stay safe.

For God and Country! In the Spirit of Service, not Self
Carolyn Donnelly District 6 & Unit 52 President

Trailer Raffle

If you have not returned your tickets, there is still time to get your tickets in for the December 17^th drawing for this 5’x10’ utility trailer.

If you haven’t renewed for 2020,

Brunswick Stew Sale

Get your pre-order in for quarts of our famous Brunswick Stew sale on January 18, 2020. Quarts are $8. Call/text Steve @ 919 727-0087 or email Stephen.ijames@gmail.com, giving your name, phone number, and number of quarts to reserve.