Commanders' Message

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope you all were able to share love and laughs with your families over Thanksgiving, and now look forward to the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is through the Christian faith that our Founding Fathers birthed our Country. As I write this column today, it was 106 years ago to the day (November 20, 1919) that The American Legion Post 52 in Franklinton was "birthed" or chartered under the principles of Duty, God, and Country.

Please join us for the Franklinton Christmas Parade on Thursday, December 4, starting at 1900. For those who would like to ride in the parade with our vehicle entries, meet at the Post at 1730 for movement to lineup. Auxiliary Unit 52 will welcome us back from the parade at the Post around 2000 for hot chocolate, coffee, and dessert. Our very own Legionnaire Brodie Green, who just recently received the Key To The City from Franklinton Mayor Art Wright, will be the Grand Marshall of the parade and ride with Police Chief Davis at the front of the parade!

I invite you to Franklinton Veterans Memorial Park on Saturday, December 13, at 12:30 for the 3^rd Annual Wreaths Across America Ceremony, sponsored by the Franklinton Women's Club. Post 52 will hold the ceremony to kick off wreath laying at Fairview and Evergreen Cemeteries directly after the ceremony. The Post has donated 10 wreaths to cover some of the Post 52 members' graves. Many Post 52 Legionnaires are resting in these cemeteries. If you know of a Legionnaire there, please come out to make sure they are honored. In total, the Women's Club has fundraised over 175 wreaths.

I look forward to hosting our post officers and Auxiliary Unit officers at the joint Post Executive Committee Meeting (PEC) on Tuesday, December 16, at 1800. As tradition, I will thank my officer team with a nice meal and a short meeting to wrap up 2025. All Post and Auxiliary Officers are invited (with a spouse or guest), and I will extend special invitations to Legionnaires and Auxiliary Unit members who are not officers but have given their time and talents to serve on committees. I am thankful for our Legion Family officers who work hard and care deeply about our mission.

As we enter 2026, we need to begin identifying officer leadership for the April election. I have been blessed to serve you as Commander for three terms. The challenge has helped me grow as a man and as a Legionnaire. I will not be seeking re-election as your Commander in 2026-2027. Still, I hope you will elect me to another officer position so I can continue learning new duties and become a better Legionnaire.

A break from Commander will allow me to catch my breath and let other capable Legionnaires have a chance to grow and be blessed as I have been. Most of all, it will give me some time to focus on Post Committees that have had a hard time securing 100% leadership, but, in my view, are most important to our mission: Americanism and Fundraising. With less overall responsibility, I hope to lead and build these vital committees, create a solid team, and get Post 52 back into schools and into the business community that never says "no" to our requests for support. If you allow me to serve, I will, just in a different capacity.

Merry Christmas. Happy New Year. Veterans are stronger as a Legion

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

Vice-Commander's Report

It's been a wonderful month of fun activities for all ages at Post 52. The Frankenfest event on October 25 was a great time, and we enjoyed lots of smiling young faces. Scott Vickers led the event, as six individuals signed up with an interest in membership. Kate Tomlinson, Joe Dillehay, and Steve Ijames assisted Scott. Jim Bracknell and other Post members visited our Post 52 tent. We had a couple of "Out of this World" Aliens handing out candy and American Legion comic and coloring books for our local youth to learn about America and our organization.

Ed Ortiz and Todd McPhetridge led our team assisting District Commander Karen McFadden at the Granville County Veterans Health and Resource Fair on Saturday, November 1, at the Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center. Three veterans signed up to receive information about our Post. We invited them to our Veterans/Family Day event, and two attended, taking home applications.

As of November 12, our 2025-2026 Membership stands at 157. Post 52 is at 83% overall. Our next goal is 85% membership (161) by February 11, 2026. We have welcomed eight new members this year. Our latest member is Air Force veteran Sonya Jackson, sponsored by Ed Ortiz. We need to continue to strive to reach 100%. Please renew, bring a prospective member to the Post, and participate in our Legion recruiting events.

Honorary Life Membership has been approved for our American Legion members who have served for over 40 years. Eight Post members, with a combined total of 416 membership years, will be honored during our November 29^th Membership meeting. This meeting is our first Saturday morning Membership Meeting, held at 9 am. Please come out and congratulate these Folks, as they are well-deserving of this honor.

We will be doing our "Famous Brunswick Stew" fundraiser in January – please don't hesitate to join us by cooking a Turkey, helping during prep day, or pot-filling/stir day, or even by sitting and socializing. We have opportunities for everyone – please reach out to the command team (Chris, Greg, or me) to volunteer where interested.

"Be selfless and serve"

George Miller - 1^st Vice Commander Post 52 - gmiller20189@gmail.com

Chaplain's Corner

Greetings to everyone in the name of King Jesus.

By the time you read this, Thanksgiving will be over. As you can see, the world is getting worse. I encourage you to write down things you are grateful for (blessings). As an old hymn said, "Count your blessings, name them one by one". When we focus on what God has done, it overshadows all the bad. I know there are big things. Remember things we take for granted. Such as the air you breathe, running water, and your eyesight. I'm convinced I can't write a book long enough to name all the blessings.

Christmas is coming, as we celebrate the most significant gift of all, Jesus. A king gave everything to people who hated him. That is mind-blowing. As Christ followers, we have the opportunity to give generously. I challenge you to find people to be generous to. By helping people and loving them, we actually show God's love. God chooses to use people. Children are important, but don't forget the elderly. They have wisdom we need to know.

I pray the Holy Spirit interprets my words so you can understand what I believe God is saying. In Jesus' name, amen.

Todd McPhetridge – Chaplain Post 52

Auxiliary Unit 52 Report

First, I want to say thank you to all the members of Franklinton Auxiliary Unit 52 for taking the time to volunteer at the events Post 52 and Unit 52 held throughout the year, which made these events very successful. Be sure to give your volunteer hours to Velinda Moore so she can record them.

The first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, December 2, 2025, is recognized as Giving Tuesday, and it would be an excellent time to give to one of your favorite organizations.

The meeting for December 18, 2025, has been cancelled as we will be joining Post 52 PEC for a joint Christmas meal on December 16, 2025, at 6 pm, held at the Legion Post. The next members' meeting will be on January 15, 2026, held at the Legion Post at 6 pm.

Congratulations, Franklinton Auxiliary Unit 52, on meeting our membership goal for 2025-2026 with 35 paid members, for 102.94%!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

In the Spirit of Service Not Self - Carolyn Donnelly - Unit 52 President

BRUNSWICK STEW SALE

January 10, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.

All quarts $12.00 (Cash) or $12.60 (Credit/Debit Card).

Reserve your quarts.

Call/text Steve at 919 727-0087.

COMMUNITY NEED/OUT-REACH

Please donate new, adult male clothing items (i.e., T-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, underwear, socks) to the Post. We will donate the collected items to the Addiction Recovery Center in Henderson, a residential substance abuse treatment program. Items can be left in the Post facility's foyer. 

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