Commanders' Message

I hope this message finds you safe and relaxed from any Labor Day travel and enjoyment you may have had with family. We recently experienced "False Fall" with a lovely week of below-average temperatures, and after hitting 101 degrees today, we have entered the "Second Summer" of North Carolina's seasons. Did you know North Carolina has 13 seasons? If you are a non-native North Carolinian, I apologize now for being warned!

The 13 seasons of North Carolina Weather are Winter, Fools' Spring; Second Winter, Spring of Deception; Third Winter, The Pollening; Mud Season, Actual Spring, Summer, Hell's Front Porch, False Fall, Second Summer, Actual Fall.

Thank you all for obtaining 50% renewal/strength in August, before the Department's deadline of September 11. Post 52 sits at 52%+, and membership renewals keep coming in. Thank you for doing your part. I would be remiss if I did not recognize our 1^st Vice Commander Scott Vickers, who has been doing a great job with membership. Under his leadership, we have seen faster renewals and more new members than in years. Thank you, Scott. The Adjutant, Bruce Lobach, has also been very busy processing the memberships and tallying our numbers. Thank you, Bruce.

I also want to mention Legionnaire Ed Ortiz for his recruiting efforts. Ed does the simplest thing – He meets a Veteran and invites them to come with him to a Post 52 meeting. It works. Over the last two membership years, my tally shows Ed is responsible for recruiting four new members to Post 52. Be like Ed – Just ask a Veteran if they know about The American Legion and invite them to a meeting or an event. I also want to thank Tom Fereza for inviting a Veteran to the August meeting. I can't say I have ever seen the Legion Hall with so many new and potential members at once. Since the start of the 2025 membership drive, seven new members lead District 5. Let's get another 7+ new members by Veterans Day!

As we head into the Actual Fall, let's do so with a renewed and invigored spirit of service to the Post and its Mission. What is that mission? Here ia how I would define our mission: The mission of Post 52 is to serve Veterans, children and youth, and our communities by being an organization that provides camaraderie among the Veteran community, inspires the next generation of young people by showing them that American values and patriotism are good and that we should never forget those Veterans and citizens that have come before us in sacrifice to obtain, hold and preserve the freedoms given to us by God and the Constitution of the United States of America.

What is your definition of our mission? It doesn't have to be "official" on record at the National H.Q. It must come from your heart, be sincere, and be executable with volunteer service where YOU lead by example. Be The One!

Chris Smith, Commander Post 52csmithforest@gmail.com

Chaplains' Corner

I share with you the following scriptures.

Proverbs 11 3:5-6 NIV: "⁵Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, ⁶in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

May we continue to look to God for his guidance and direction in our lives and trust him even when we think we know a better way. Please continue to pray for our members who are sick in health, those who have served, and those still serving our nation in the Armed forces as well as First

Responders, Law Enforcement, Fire Fighters, EMTs and their families, and I thank God daily for the blessing He gives us all. I also pray for the leadership of our community, state, and nation so that God may guide and direct them, and I ask you to also pray for them.

Harvey Satterwhite, Chaplain

Vice-Commander's Report

Let me begin by saying thank you to each of our Post 52 Legionnaires who answered the call to renew their 2025 and beyond membership in record time!  We are postured to receive the honorary Cardinal Award for attaining 50% enrollment before September 11.  This award is an outstanding accomplishment and a testament to your honorary commitment to Post 52.  Our next milestone is achieving 100% membership within 60 days or by Veterans Day, November 11, with the remaining unpaid members. WE CAN DO THIS!

On a different note, I encourage every Legionnaire to submit a Veteran Administration (V.A.) claim for military disability, even if you are unsure of the benefits you might receive.  Your VA benefits are an entitlement each of you earned for your service to our Nation regardless of the branch of service you served, Active Duty, Reserves or National Guard.  Don't hesitate to contact the Franklin County Veterans Services Officer, Brenda Wilkins, at 279 S. Bickett Blvd., Room 200, Louisburg, NC 27549, or call (919)496-1939. They are open 8 am-5 pm Monday through Friday to help you start the process.  Ensure you have a copy of your military separation documents, D.D. Form 214 or NGB Form 22 for National Guard personnel, along with military and/or civilian medical records for the claims of medical disability you wish to file.  Approved claims are 100% tax-exempt, varying from $171.23 for a 10% disability-approved claim to over $4,000.00 for a 100% disability-approved claim.  The recently approved Congressional and U.S. Presidential signed PACT ACT provides more significant opportunities for those who qualify.  V.A. may extend certain qualifying benefits to the surviving spouse.  Please do not delay; file your claim today.

"To the Colors, Joe "Scott" Vickers, 1^st Vice-Commander

Auxiliary Unit 52 Report

As I am writing this, I am in New Orleans for the American Legion National Convention.

The Membership 2025 year has begun (July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025). The 2025 membership dues are $31.00 for Senior members and $10.00 for Junior members. Vice President Velinda Moore is the Unit's Membership Chairman, and you can contact her to pay your membership dues.

Upcoming unit events:

• Sew Day, Sunday, September 8th, 2024, 1:30pm-4:30pm at Post 52
• Post 52 Fish Fry and Auxiliary Bake Sale, Saturday, September 14, 2024, 11 am-6 pm
• ALA Division II Meeting, Saturday, September 21, 2024, Registration 10:30 am; Meeting 11 am, Post Haw River 427
• Quilt Raffle on sale now, Drawing December 19, 2024

ALA Department of N.C. is selling 2025 lottery calendars for $50.00 per calendar. The last day for purchase is December 3, 2024. For more information, contact Unit President Carolyn Donnelly.

Executive meeting, Thursday, September 5, 2024 at 6:30 pm at Post 52. All members are welcome.

Members meeting will be on Thursday, September 19, 2024, at 6:30 pm at Post 52. Bring a friend!

Carolyn Donnelly, Unit 52 President

BRUNSWICK STEW SALE

October 5, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

By the quart, $10
Reserve your quarts.
Call/text Steve at 919 727-0087.

Fish Plate Fundraiser

Post 52 will sell fish plates ($10) on Saturday, September 14th, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Legionnaires will prepare for the fundraiser on Friday, September 13th, at 1 p.m.; all help is welcome with the cooking/serving on the 14th. All who can help are needed, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m

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