Commanders' Message

As I was preparing to write this message and as I looked at the road ahead, I sometimes have to remind myself of Who we are, The American Legion, and What we stand for. In a world where many are afraid to speak their conviction with fear of being politically correct or standing on the principles that have sustained us as a nation. I realized that in many cases, the answers to these questions have already been pondered by our forefathers. Then it dawned on me where I had seen these answers. We recite it at every meeting, Our Preamble. I want to share with you just one of its clauses.

"To foster and perpetuate a 100 percent Americanism."

Americanism is the gist of the American ideals of freedom, justice, individual rights, and unfenced-in opportunities. It embraces all the freedoms we cherish and all the rights that are guaranteed to us. It is the very opposite of hatred, bigotry, and intolerance. Americanism is the creed that has blazed the world-wide trail for justice, fair play, decency, belief in God, private enterprise, universal education, and progress in all human endeavors. It puts a premium on the virtues of loyalty, patriotism, hard work, and thrift.

This is one of eleven clauses that define the American Legion. This is one more reason why we should be proud to be Legionnaires!

If you have not activated your Free LIT $1,000/$5,000, Accidental Death Benefit, there are three ways to activate: 1 Send in the enrollment form or card, 2 Call the toll-free number, 1-800-235-6943, 3 Go to www.theLIT.com and enroll online. Once activated, keep this information with your important papers.

Veterans / Family Day will be here before you know it. Make plans now to attend Saturday, November 13th, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. Veterans Day Ceremony followed by Food, Games, and Fellowship for the whole family and friends. Invite a Veteran and their family to attend.

We still need members to help in some areas of our Post operations for 2021 – 2022. These include Vice Commander, Food Service, Americanism, Firing Squad, Fundraising, Public Relations, and Facilities & Grounds. If you are willing to help, let us know.

I am constantly asked what the American Legion can do for me. I would like to respond with one aspect of what the American Legion has done and still does each day. The original GI Bill allowed veterans to get higher education. Many before us and many of us have used this benefit. When I tried to get a dollar value, my calculator ran out of spaces. To the point since its beginning, tens of thousands of veterans have used this benefit, and there will be thousands after us that will benefit from just this one benefit that the American Legion was responsible for passing thru Congress.

Thanks to those who attended Legion College. The courses I attended were beneficial, and I look forward to getting feedback from those who attended.

A big Thank You to All who came out and helped with our BBQ Fundraiser as well as the community for helping us sell out.

100% Membership by Veterans Day 2021!!!!!!

For God & Country, Harvey Satterwhite, Commander Post 52

Chaplain's Corner - Trust in the Lord

"Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! – Isaiah 30:18

The first seventeen verses of this chapter rebuke Judah for not seeking the will of God regarding the nation of Assyria. King Hezekiah's consultants suggested that he turn to the Egyptians rather than God for help. Even the leaders of old, Moses, Joshua, and David, listened to the words of men rather than God. Just before our passage today, the prophet Isaiah announced the results of rejecting God and following the lies of men; namely, everything would be broken and collapsed (Isa 30:12-14). Judah would be like a collapsed wall or a shattered clay pot. Then the prophet subject turns from rebellion to restoration. As Judah would not wait on the Lord for deliverance, God would wait to be gracious to the nation. When the Lord waits, He loves. God is a God of love and justice! Sin results in consequences, but we can rejoice because God offers forgiveness and restoration when we repent, trusting in God to save us, turning from sin, turning to God.

Praying for all, those who are serving, who have served, and for the families represented. 

The Lord bless you and keep you all, Thomas Reid

Auxiliary Notes

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well. Would you please get your dues paid for the new year? We will start back up with both of our meetings in September. We are back at the Senior Center for our unit meeting. Please come and bring craft ideas for the Unit to do.

Karen Nowell, President Auxiliary Unit 52

Division 2 News

In June, I was elected as the American Legion Auxiliary Division II President for the Department of North Carolina.

Since then, I have done a lot of traveling with my husband, Mike, who is the 2022-2023 leading candidate for Department Commander. My trips included two Installation of Officers for two Units. It took us three hours to get to one of these Units to do their installation.

Division II is continuing with the ALA 100^th Anniversary Celebration, so the Division is doing a "100^th ALA Anniversary Wheelchair Roll for Salisbury," one of the four VA hospitals in North Carolina. We will be giving out 100 gift bags to the Veterans. The Durham VA has received its 100 gift bags. We will be packing the bags on August 14, 2021, at Salisbury Post 106 with the items we have asked the units to donate for this project.

Membership dues are now due. Even though Franklinton Unit 52 is not meeting for August, members can send their membership dues to either Grace Hendrix, Unit Membership Chairperson, Linda Kerensky, Unit Treasurer, or pay online. Renewals can be sent to the Department right away, but any new members either wait till after September 1, 2021, or if you send it to the Department, let the Department Secretary know it is a new member for 2022.

I will be traveling to the American Legion National Convention held in Phoenix, Arizona, at the end of the month.

ALA Proud, Carolyn Donnelly, Division II President