Commanders' Message

I hope you and your families are doing well. We, The American Legion, will celebrate our 103^rd Birthday and also recognize the following entities: Law Enforcement, Fireman, EMS, Soldier, Community Service, and Legionnaire of the year. These people give unselfishly, each day, to our Community, State, Nation, and The American Legion. We are thankful for those who serve to protect our Committee, State, and Nation.

The following excerpt from the article "Lest We Forget" was submitted to The American Legion by James Pelosi. "All life is sacred. At the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, JOSEPH PELOSI is engraved on the very first panel. New York City Patrolman Joseph James Pelosi died at age 27 on December 11, 1924, the first birthday of his second son, Vincent James Pelosi, my father. My dad's older brother, Louis, was only two years old. Their mother Mary was 23 when she was left alone to maintain a home and raise two infant sons. Before the funeral, my grandmother had to solicit funds from her family and friends with which to purchase a black dress."

The sacrifice of Joseph Pelosi is just one example of the sacrifices made by our Law Enforcement, Fire Fighters, and EMTs, and there are too many others.

I want to remind all of the following programs and events.
Oratorical State Final, 11:00 am, March 5^th, NC Ag & Tech State University, Greensboro, NC
Awards Banquet, Saturday, March 12^th, 6:00 pm,
Colon Furr, $1000.00, Nursing Scholarship, Applications are online or at the Post, and must be into Post, No Later Than 1 June 2022
Boys' State, June 19-25 at Catawba College
Student Trooper Program, June 26 to July 1, 2022.

As a reminder, our Nominating Committee is at work seeking out individuals to serve in all Leadership positions of our Post. I know many of you out there are more than capable of serving in some capacity. If the nominating committee asks you to serve, I hope you will consider and step up and if you are not asked, Step Up Anyway. Nominations will be accepted until the close of business on March 29^th.

Spring is just around the corner, and we will continue upgrading and maintaining our building and grounds. When we reach out and ask for help, please consider helping your fellow Legionnaires. As always, Thanks to All who continue to make our Post a better organization.

I would also ask each member of our Post to reach out to a fellow veteran, whether a member of the American Legion or not. Ask how they and their family are doing and ask them if they need any help with something.

Thanks again to all who continue to support the American Legion and our efforts to support our Veterans, their families, our Committee, State, and Nation.

We say a sad goodbye to our Chaplain, Thomas Reid, with this newsletter. Thomas has served our veterans and their families well over the past years. He has accepted a pastoral post, and he and his family are moving away from North Carolina. You will be missed, dear friend. We wish you well.

We are not at 100% on membership. If you have not paid your 2022 due, we need You.

For God & Country, Harvey Satterwhite, Commander Post 52

Chaplain's Corner

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace." – Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NIV)

As Solomon wrote this list of poetry, describing various seasons and facets of life, beautiful as it is, he also captured the dark shadows reminding us of trouble and evil. A bad aspect answers a good aspect. There is a time for everything, and usually, it is not perfect in our eyes, but God, in His mercy, always extends grace even when we have imperfect days. He is always there, and His timing is perfect, and that is something onto which we can hold. This list shows us that we need to make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil (Eph 5:16), trusting Him in all things.

This devotional will be my last as I have humbly accepted the call to Pastor a church in Eastern Kentucky where we can serve and worship with God's people. I love you all, and it has been a pleasure serving with you in our community. You have each molded my life in some way. I will commit to praying for each of you often. Farewell, and
May The Lord bless you and keep you all, Chaplain Thomas Reid

Auxiliary Notes

Hello everyone, I hope you are well. Please keep Trina, Lewis Catlett's daughter, in your prayers. We will be having our unit meeting on March 29, 2022, at the Senior Center at 5:30 pm.

Karen Nowell, President Auxiliary Unit 52

Division 2 News

I can't believe Spring is around the corner.

The Division II meeting on February 26, 2022, was a great success. There were 42 members, including the Department President, Jill Puett, the Vice-President, Mary Bartlett, and chairpersons of the Auxiliary programs. The special guest speaker, Richard Neville, gave an excellent speech about the history of the American Legion as the American Legion celebrates its 103^rd birthday in March. He tied in the American Legion Auxiliary, celebrating their 102^nd Birthday in November. Thank you to all who attended.

District 6 is now a GOAL District! Linda Kerensky is the District 6 President, and she is doing an AWESOME job. Thank you, Linda!

North Carolina is number 1 in the Southern Division and number 1 in the Nation in memberships. So, if you have not paid your membership dues for the year 2022, please do so as soon as possible. Let's keep North Carolina number 1.

All Unit Presidents start collecting reports on your unit's ALA programs to give to your District President as they need to turn in a report to the Division President due by April 15, 2022. The Division President will report to the Department President and the Leadership Team.

I hope to see you at the meetings.

For God and Country and In the Spirit of Service, not Self,
Carolyn Donnelly, Division II President