Commanders' Message

I hope you and your families are doing well. Please see the information in this issue about our annual awards banquet and make plans to attend.

I was fortunate to meet our congressional representatives in Washington this past week to discuss the American Legion Legislative agenda. You need to know what our legislative priorities are for our 118^th Congress. Complete details can be found in the American Legion Legislative agenda online or at the Post in handouts.

Mental Health & Suicide Prevention, VA Healthcare Modernization, PACT Act: Implementation & Oversight, Concurrent Receipt, Guard & Reserve GI Bill Parity, GI Bill for Honorable Service, Support our Afghan Allies, Military Quality of Life, Pay the Coast Guard and Protect the American Flag,

As a reminder, our Nominating Committee is 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.

Spring is just around the corner, and we will continue to upgrade and maintain our building and grounds. When we reach out and ask for help, please consider helping your fellow Legionnaires. 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 or not a member of the American Legion. Ask how they and their family are doing. Ask them if they need any help with something. Invite them to our monthly meeting.

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

We are not at 100% on membership. We need You.

For God & Country, Harvey Satterwhite, Commander

Vice Commander's Message

Well, as our Chaplin reminded us in the January 2023 newsletter, we have made it to March, so we can make it the rest of the year! I like that thought, but Veterans' work continues year around, and we get even busier come spring with Veteran events and our own family outings, vacations, etc. We, as Post 52, have a lot to look forward to this spring. God, thank you for allowing this Post to make it to March! It does so with your overwatch and protection.

First and foremost, we need officer volunteers. Nominations are being accepted now and will go before the Post for an election vote at April's membership meeting. Just by the nature of being a Legionnaire, we are ALL qualified to serve the Post. It takes commitment, teamwork, heart, and passion to see Post 52 succeed in the future. We ALL possessed these traits in our military service/careers, and they are still inside us ALL. The By-Laws require each Post to have a Commander, Adjutant, Vice Commander, Finance Officer, and Chaplin at a minimum. Of course, we expect to have all our officer and Executive Committee positions filled because only the minimum is set for other Posts, not 52, Right?

I finish my column by thanking you for allowing me to serve as 1^st Vice Commander. I continue learning much about how Post 52 and the American Legion functions. I have much more to learn, but I am confident and committed, and I know I am in good company with other dedicated Legionnaires on the officer team. Therefore, I would ask for your vote to be Post Commander in April. It would be my honor to serve Post 52, as many others have done over the past 103 years.

Chris Smith, 1^st Vice-commander

Chaplains' Corner

For God and Country, we associate ourselves together for the following purposes." The American Legion has put God first. Lent is only a 40-day season. Officially we observe Lent by abstaining from meat on Fridays, practicing self-discipline, fasting, and giving money and/or sharing our time and talents. Forty days is too short to accomplish that. Franklin Graham was asked if he thought that a national tsunami of Christianity was near. He answered no. Franklin did believe that faith was growing. It looked like specks of pepper on the map of our Nation. Food is near and dear to me. For Lent, my speck of pepper is going to be support for another food pantry. For Lent, you find a speck of pepper that you can sustain through Lent and the rest of the year. The result will be that our Nation's specks will be bigger and more numerous next year. This "recognizes the influence of Almighty God in all worthwhile endeavors, " especially achievable ones.

I will not be servicing as Chaplin this coming year. It has been more than I am capable of managing. Please consider being Chaplin as your speck of pepper in 2023.

Keep the Faith, Harry Barrick, Chaplain

Auxiliary Unit 52 Report

We have accomplished a lot this year! Our ALA activities reporting period is from May to April. That means I will be compiling our Unit Reports to submit to the various Department Committees in about eight weeks. I need your help. I have sign-in sheets for all the projects we did as a unit, and I need all of the additional hours and money you donated on the unit's behalf. Each time and/or money donation needs to be reported by month and broken down into one of the following four categories: Veterans/Active-Duty/Reserves, Military Families, Youth, and ALA in the Community. You can bring this information to a meeting or 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.

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

1. Our next Executive Board Meeting will be on March 2^nd at 6:30 pm at the Post.
2. Our next Members Meeting will be March 16^th at 6:30 pm at the Post.
3. District 6 Meeting will be on March 18^th at Chapel Hill Unit 6. Registration will be at 9:00 am.

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

Velinda Moore – Unit 52 President

Division 2 News

American Legion Auxiliary District 6 meeting is Saturday.

Units in District 6, which includes Franklinton Unit 52, please send your Unit reports to Linda Kerensky, District 6 President. The units which are attending, please have your report ready to address at the meeting.

If you have not paid your membership dues, please pay them as soon as possible, as this helps us to support our Veterans.

We are still collecting nonperishable items, which can be dropped into the box in the Post. The food donations are taken to the Franklinton United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, which is distributed every second Saturday of the month. Please help the Franklinton community!

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