Commanders' Message

As we end our election year and begin another, I want to thank all members who made this year a success. Every member and your support of the American Legion are what continue to make the American Legion the largest and most successful veteran's organization in the world. I ask that you work with and support the new leadership as you have supported the past leadership.

I would be out of character if I did not mention membership. We have almost met our department goal on membership but need your help. We have several Members who have not renewed, and we are reaching out to them to check on them and see how they are doing.

Our new membership year is just around the corner, starting 1 July 2023. Please help the American Legion reduce waste by renewing your membership after you receive your first renewal notice.

There are several ways you can renew: 1) By Mail, 2) By Going online to MyLegion, 3) By Bringing it to our July Meeting, and 4) By Becoming a Paid Up For Life (PUFL) and forgetting it. "I became a PUFL, and I No longer get Notices." Whichever option you choose, please consider renewing your membership in July.

Did You Know 12 years ago, Post 52 was able to carry (8) Vietnam Veterans to Charlotte to the "Vietnam Veterans Home Coming." We had breakfast and lunch with those guys and had a great day of fellowship with them. Reach out to any Veteran you know and Thank them for their service.

Be sure you keep up to date with the Legislative issues that the American Legion is working on daily. Our National Commander was in Washington in February, addressing Congress concerning these matters. These issues are critical to our Veterans and Active-Duty Armed Forces. You can see a list of these at https://www.legion.org. This ability makes me proud to be a member of an organization that continues to address veteran and active-duty issues. Be sure you are in touch with your local politicians on these matters. You can also go online and stay in contact with them.

For God & Country, Harvey Satterwhite, Commander

Vice Commander's Message

What a great Membership Meeting on March 28! I am guessing some 40 attendees are on the high end of estimation. We had some MIA members reengage, and we had some new members. We had the NC Department Commander Mike Donnelly, who is a member of Post 52! We had some Auxiliary Unit 52 members present. Let's keep up the turnout and great spirit-building. Yum, yum, excellent meal too! Thank you, Harvey and Steve.

We are still working to engage about 20 members that have not paid dues for 2023. At this juncture, we will not meet our 2023 membership goal and maybe barely be at 90% for the year. While it is not my nature to not meet a goal or challenge, it is my nature to be satisfied that those men and women that did renew want to be a part of Post 52 instead of those that have not renewed after our continued efforts to contact them. Face it – The American Legion might not have value and purpose for every veteran at this moment. Post 52 can only keep being the welcoming and supportive Post it is known to be. Maybe they will return.

Finally, I want to thank those members that stepped up for nomination as 2023-2024 Post Officers to be elected at the April Membership Meeting. Some new faces – Great! Some experienced faces – Great! We still welcome nominations until voting commences. A strong leadership team coupled with active and supportive members is the only way to continue and win our mission of supporting Veterans and our community. Hooha!!

Chris Smith, 1^st Vice-commander

Chaplains' Corner

Harry Flynn, a Vietnam Veteran who would have been the next department Commander, has died, probably from Agent Orange-caused cancer. He is one of many, and the admission that Agent Orange exposure is hazardous has arrived decades too late.

For the first time in military history, we replaced individuals, NOT units, and we, nor any military, have ever done this again. Your replacement would arrive, and within 48 hours, you were out of the jungle and home: tired, hungry (maybe emaciated), too much to drink, no buddies to unwind with, ZERO SUPPORT for PTSD, and no acknowledgment that PTSD existed in Vietnam.

While selling auto parts, a customer asked me if I was a veteran. I responded yes and said, "Do you want brake quiet with the brake pads?" Quietly having lunch in my car, I realized it had been twenty-two years before anyone said, "Welcome back." The American Legion has asked what to do for Vietnam veterans. It's too late for parades, cancer research, or anything else. It's just too late! No military has ever, or will ever, repeat the mistakes inflicted on the Vietnam veterans. This knowledge cost Vietnam Veterans dearly. A belated respect for Vietnam Veterans can be done. Let us delete "Thank you for your service;" and recognize all veterans with "Welcome Back."

Keep the Faith, Harry Barrick, Chaplain

Auxiliary Unit 52 Report

Thank you to all who submitted Service Hours and Money Spent for the calendar year 2022-2023. You have until 4/10 to submit any additional Service time, and you can email it to me at alaunit52franklintonnc@gmail.com. Any format that I can understand is fine; I will contact you with any questions I have. To date, we have, as a Unit, logged over 1000 hours of Volunteer Service and donated more than $10,000 as individuals; the monetary donations do not include those made with Unit Funds. 57% of Service hours benefitted Veterans, and 38% helped Military Families. We have also nominated a local teen for the ALA Good Deeds award. Members, you have done phenomenally this year.

We need to be thinking about and planning for Girls States candidates. Also, we will take nominations for the 2023-2024 Unit Officers at the April Meeting on 4/20. Elections will be held at the May Meeting.

There are a lot of upcoming events that I need to make sure you are aware of:

• Our next Executive Board Meeting will be on April 6th at 6:30 pm at the Post.
• Our next Members Meeting will be on April 20th at 6:30 pm at the Post. This will include nominations for the slate of Officers for the 2023-2024 year.
• Officers for 2023-2024 will be elected at the May Members Meeting on 05/18.
• Poppy Distribution will occur on 05/27 at various locations.

Thank you for all you do to support our Unit and our Veterans!

Velinda Moore, Unit 52 President

Division 2 News

April is the Month of the Military Child. The American Legion Auxiliary emphasizes protecting, caring for, and supporting children and youth, particularly those children of veterans and military families. "Purple Up! For Military Kids" day to show support for our nation's military children on April 15, 2023, is a special day honoring our youngest heroes. Purple symbolizes the combined colors of all five branches of the military: Army, green; Coast Guard, blue; Air Force, blue; Marines, red; and Navy, blue.

The Military Child's Table Ceremony is a unique program involving the Auxiliary Junior members and the younger Sons of the American Legion inspired by the POW/MIA remembrance table ceremony. Our military daily answers the call to service as they defend freedom worldwide, and that service often comes with a great personal sacrifice for the service member and their children.

The Military Child's Table Setting Ceremony includes:

• The potted flowering plant symbolizes that a military child may flower and flourish where they are planted
• The hand spade recognizes that they may be transplanted to a new place in the world at a moment's notice
• The birthday hat and unlit candle, along with the baseball and glove, and ballet slippers, represent special occasions that are missed
• The family photo depicting a child with their uniformed parent demonstrates our country's strength
• The final touch to the table setting is the American flag to remind us that families are united in their commitment to national service, home or away.

In the Spirit of Service, not Self, Carolyn Donnelly
Division 2 President/Unit 52 Membership Chairperson