Commanders' Message

I would be remiss if I did not say "Happy Easter" to you all, even in April! Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, all humanity is given a 2^nd, 3^rd, 10^th, 100^th, and 1000^th+ chance to be a better person, a better Christian, and a better Legionnaire. We are blessed in this Country to have religious and personal freedom because of the Patriotic Veterans who came before us.

Your Post is successful because some of you volunteer to take the extra step of serving as an officer. I want to thank the 2023-2024 officer team that will soon complete their service year. I know the work of these individuals has sustained this Post. Post 52 would not be a premiere Post in District 5 without their dedication. I say thank you to the officer team that is currently serving. The March membership meeting closed with the nomination of the following Legionnaires to be your 2024-2025 officer team (Post Executive Committee):

Note that the parliamentarian position has replaced the former position of judge advocate. The legal position of Judge Advocate requires the position to be an N.C. state-licensed lawyer. Also, note that many of these nominees are serving and have unselfishly pledged another year of service. I thank Scott Vickers and George Miller for stepping up and being willing to serve as first-time officers. If it were not for new officers wishing to serve and learn the business of The American Legion, the continuation of Post 52's 104-year charter would be in jeopardy.

These nominees will be elected to serve you for the 2024-2025 year at the April membership meeting and installed in May. While these officer positions are critical to fulfilling Post 52's mission to serve Veterans and the community, it is you, the remaining 200+/- Legionnaires, that are needed to not only maintain your membership but to come to meetings and events, work fundraisers, and serve on the many committees that will be formed to carry the load of the Post. The 14 officers cannot accomplish the workload alone. It takes 100% participation to achieve the mission, grow, and evolve to serve more Veterans than ever. Your Post doesn't stop needing your help once your membership dues are paid.

Finally, I want to announce that your Post 52 Legionnaire of the Year is Finance Officer / Veterans Service Officer Steve Ijames. It was an honor to present Steve with this award on behalf of a grateful Post. The Awards Banquet was a great success honoring our community's first responders and the community service person/organization of the year, Sowing Seeds NC. Sowing Seeds NC is the non-profit food pantry and ministry established by our Legionnaire Todd McPhetridge and his wife, Joni.

Go ahead and mark your calendars for Memorial Day activities, and let's be sure to have a strong presence at the Franklinton Veterans Memorial Park on Sunday, May 26, at 2:00 pm.

Chris Smith, Commander Post 52 - csmithforest@gmail.com

Vice-Commander's Report

Fellow Legionnaires, as we enter April, we are 16 members short of our membership goal for 2024. If you have not yet renewed your membership for 2024, you are now in a suspended status with no rights or voice in the Post. If you do not renew by June 30, 2024, you will forfeit your American Legion membership and have to rejoin and lose your years of service in the organization. We do not want this to happen, so please renew it now. While this is a busy time of the year for our Post with the election of Post officers this month, without renewing, you will have no vote in this election. For the legion to continue the fight in Washington, D.C., we must keep our organization strong, which requires membership at the highest level possible. If you know of any homebound legionnaire or need assistance, please let the Post officers know so we may help.

Mike Donnelly, 1^st Vice Commander

Chaplains' Corner

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock." — Matthew 7:24-25 (NASB1995)

That day will eventually come to all of us: the day that the rain falls, the day the floods come, and the day the wind blows. Each of us will go through testing and difficult days; some of us are going through these times as you read this devotion. The question is, will we be ready when that day comes? Here, Jesus tells us how to build our life on a sure foundation, the foundation that will stand till the very end. The person who puts their faith in Jesus follows Him and acts on His words their life will be on a sure foundation. Jesus is that Rock that will not be shaken. God did not promise we would go through this life without troubles, pain, or difficulty, but He did promise to be there with us through those testing times. Trust in the one true God; He will give you the strength to endure till the end. – Be blessed, and may the Lord continue to bless you.

Harvey Satterwhite, Chaplain

Auxiliary Unit 52 Report

Thank you to everyone who came to Serve at the Post Fish Fry and Bake Sale on Good Friday. It was a very successful day for the Post, Auxiliary, and the Community. We also had a very productive Sew/Craft Day in March. We plan to have these Sew/Craft Days regularly going forward. Watch the Newsletter, the Meeting Minutes, or the Unit Facebook page (www.facebook.com/NCALA52) for upcoming events.

The next Members' Meeting will be Thursday, April 18^th, at 6:30 pm at the Post. We will be taking Nominations for 2024-2025 Officers and Committee Chairpersons. Please join us and explore opportunities to serve our Veterans and the Community—one V.A. opportunity is in the Compassionate Contact program. Our VA&R will have more information on how we can serve in that capacity.

In the Spirit of Service, not Self,
Velinda Moore, Unit 52 President

105^th Birthday and Awards Banquet Winners

Shown above L to R are all award winners: Community Service - Anna Fragiorgi and Joni McPhetridge of Sowing Seeds, NC; Fireman of the Year - Sheldon Godfrey; Law Enforcement Officer of the Year - Captain Justin Hastings; EMT of the Year - Jacob Noe; Legionnaire of the Year - Steve Ijames; Post Vice Commander Michael Donnelly; and Post Commander Chris Smith.

Need assistance dealing with the Veterans' Administration? Contact our Franklin County Veterans' Service Officer, Brenda Wilkins,
at 919 496-1939.