Commanders' Message

I want to thank all those who came out and supported our Fish/Oyster fundraiser. I also want to ask that if you did not come out and help, consider helping us on our next fundraiser. Any amount of time you can help is greatly appreciated.

Membership, as of 9/30/22, Division 1 is (1^st) in the state, District 5 is (1^st) in the state, and Post 52 is next to last in the district. We need your help to renew all members by Veterans Day in November. If we can assist you in any way, please let us know.

Members often ask, "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 each year. You will get a renewal notice if your dues are not received 30 days before the dates above. So please help us keep our organization's costs down and get your dues in when you get the first mailing.

The American Legion is still hard at work for All Veterans! Did you know about the identification and repatriation of 151 POW/MIAs this year (2022)?

Veterans Day! Scheduled Saturday, November 12, 2022, 11:00 am. Following the Service is a free meal for all, Hotdogs, Hamburgers, and trimmings. This event is for ALL Veterans and their families, so please plan to come out and join us for good food, fellowship, fun, games, and door prizes, and Invite a Veteran to join us.

Our Fall Conference will be held October 28-31, 2022, at the North Raleigh Hilton, Raleigh, NC.

We are seeking candidates for Law Enforcement, EMS, Fireman, Currently Serving Soldier, Community Service, and Employer awards. So if you know someone who meets the criteria, please get their names and phone numbers to me, Harvey Satterwhite, at 919-339-8044 or email me at htsm203@gmail.com.

While it may seem early but 2023 will be here before you know it. I ask that you consider serving in any officer positions for 2023/24. I would also ask that you give us feedback on our Post and how we can better serve our members, veterans, and community.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner. We should never forget those who are serving, especially as we approach the holidays. I ask that you continue to remember and pray for the men and women serving in the Armed Forces and the families they leave behind.

November is just around the corner. Don't forget to get out and Vote, and if I may ask, please know the candidate's platform and where they stand on matters.

For God & Country, Harvey Satterwhite, Commander

Vice Commander's Message

Membership should be on everyone's mind in October. Have you renewed your membership? If not, please make it your goal to do so in October. Remember that dues increase from $35 to $40 annually in January. Don't lose your $5. Renew by Thanksgiving to give the Department time to process your renewal before the dues increase next year!

I need each of you to help me and help your Post. First, take care of your own membership renewal. Second, ask the Legionnaire sitting beside you at our meeting if they have taken care of their membership renewal, and if not, encourage them to do so soon. Third, make it your personal mission to find at least one Veteran (acquaintance, family, or stranger) that is not a member of the American Legion and recruit them to be a member of the American Legion at Post 52. If not at Post 52, join the American Legion. We currently have only 125 of 220+ members on our roll renewed. As Veteran's Day approaches, get your renewal in and recruit a new member in honor of the Service of all other Veterans that came before us. Without them, no United States of America or American Legion would exist.

The Auxiliary is leading a food drive to support a food pantry run by Franklinton United Methodist Church. When you go to the grocery store, please consider buying a few extra items. There is a collection box located inside the entranceway at the Post. Only nonperishable foods, please. Most items need a 6+ month expiration date and do not require refrigeration. Please do what you can to support our Auxiliary Unit and help those in the community who need food items.

Chris Smith, 1^st Vice-commander

Chaplains' Corner

John 21:15-17

"When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of John, do you love more than these?' He said to him, 'Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.' He said to him, 'Feed my lambs.' A second time he said to him, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me?' He said to him, 'Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.' He said to him, 'Tend my sheep.' He said to him the third time, 'Do you love me?' and he said to him, 'Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my sheep.'"

The commandment to feed people is clear. From 2016 to 2018, Africa imported 85% of its food. Zimbabwe has gone from a major food exporting country to famine conditions and dependence on foreign food aid. South Africa is nationalizing farms. Ukraine is the world's ninth-largest wheat producer and is forecasted to be the seventh-largest exporter for the 2022/23 marketing year as of May 12, 2022. Today, in my opinion, the exportation of food from Ukraine appears questionable. This is new information for me, and I am passing it along; so you will know it. This problem is too large for us. But we can support local food banks. Let's support the Auxiliary's food bank by bringing nonperishable food items to our monthly meetings.

Keep the Faith, Harry Barrick, Chaplain

Auxiliary Unit 52 Report

Thank you to all the members who worked at the Fish Fry and Bake Sale! We were shorter in attendance than usual, but everyone worked hard. The Bake Sale totaled $309. Also, thank you to everyone who cooked and served at our very successful Post Dinner on 9/27. Everyone enjoyed the food and was excited to hear that we will provide the dinner two more times during 2022-23.

We still have several open positions within the Unit. Please consider joining us as we work to serve our Military and Veterans.

Finally, remember our ongoing food drive supporting Franklinton UMC as they support our community.

Velinda Moore – Unit 52 President

Division 2 News

Happy Fall! By the time this newsletter comes out, we will have held the Division 2 meeting. I hope you had a chance to attend this meeting to learn what other units are doing. You may want to take some of these ideas back to your Unit.

As for membership, the Southern Division, which our state is part of, is currently in 1^st place. Yahoo! We must keep having members pay their dues, as Louisiana is hot on our tail. Our theme for the Department of N.C. is butterflies, and Division 2 is known as the blue butterfly. So, if you have not paid your dues, please pay them, and let's spread those blue butterflies throughout the Division. Also, bring a friend to your unit meeting. That friend may want to join your Unit. Let's have a Blue Division.

I attended the National American Legion/Auxiliary Convention in Milwaukee, WI, in August. During the Convention, we voted to raise the National dues. The increase will take place in the year 2024. Unfortunately, the National dues will rise by $6.00 to $18.00. Therefore, the Unit dues will also need to rise to cover this increase.

I congratulate Henderson, Unit 176 in District 6, as they have achieved their goal.

Thank you. Carolyn Donnelly, Division II President

Brunswick Stew Sale

Reserve your quarts ASAP

Post 52's famous Brunswick stew goes on sale on Saturday, October 22, 2022, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm (or until sold out). Quarts are $10. We recommend you pre-order, as we usually sell out quickly.

Call/text Steve at 919 727-0087 or Tony at 919 264-1671, giving your name, phone number, and the number of quarts to reserve.

Cash Raffle

Drawing on November 19, 2022

1^st ticket wins $50, Every 10^th ticket wins $125, and the last ticket wins $2500.

Each donation of $50 earns a raffle ticket.

Mail your donation/entry to
American Legion Post 52
P.O. Box 61
Franklinton, NC 27525
Giving your phone number on your check.
You do not have to be present to win.