Commanders' Message

Happy New Year! 2025 has the makings of an excellent year for The American Legion Post 52 and our Country. I hope you made a New Year's resolution and plan to stick to yours and succeed! I resolve to serve Post 52 better than I did in 2024. There is always something to improve on and learn from. There is always a "next level" possible. My goal is to devote myself to the Post (you) fully through the end of my term in May. Looking back on 2024, I see that WE have done a lot. I applaud the Post Executive Committee (PEC) for not giving up on our mission when there was a restructuring of leadership. Instead, you devoted more of your time and leadership to continuing the mission.

Just like the military, the Post needs leaders to step forward. There are some fine examples of dedicated leaders among our ranks. Please consider helping your Post by being nominated for a Post Officer position. The Nomination Committee will be working to gather nominations for all positions, and you will vote for the nominees in April.

Officer positions are: Commander, First Vice Commander, Second Vice Commander, Adjutant, Finance Officer, Chaplain, Parliamentarian, Historian, Seargent At Arms (3 positions), and Executive Committee Rep (3 positions at-large).

Please let the First Vice Commander or me know if you want to serve your Post in a leadership position. If asked by the Nomination Committee to be nominated, please prayerfully consider the request. If you say, "I don't have the time to be an Officer," or "I can't lead people," or "I do better just helping whenever I can without a commitment," then I want you to listen to yourself and chuckle. These quotes are my own. When asked to serve, I've said these thoughts to former Post Officers over my 16-year membership. For many reasons, I know not every member has it in themselves to serve as an officer. But for those who can physically serve, I encourage you to take that leap of faith and try it. Yes, like me, there will be times you say, "I have no idea what I am doing" or "What have I gotten myself into?". That is when you will see senior Legionnaires coach and mentor and help you learn the ways of The American Legion. Ultimately, you will succeed, the Post will be enriched for generations to come, and you will become a better person. You will surprise yourself! Please say "Yes".

The new year starts our Americanism / Youth initiative. The kick-off is the Post Oratorical Contest on Saturday, January 18 @ 10:00 am at Post 52. Please come out to support our orator, Victoria Sema. Victoria was outstanding last year, winning at Post and District level and finishing runner-up for Division 1. With another year of life and maturity behind her, she will be even more outstanding and has an excellent shot at winning the Department contest! Come see Victoria, encourage her, and feel good that your American Legion maintains its oratorical tradition. We will need Legionnaires to participate as timekeepers, judges, and escorts to ensure our contest is run in a manner Victoria deserves.

It is not too early to talk about Tarheel Boy's State, which will be held the week of June 15-21 at Catawba College (Salisbury). This year, the application process has begun online at tarheelboysstate.org/apply. Applicants must be current high school juniors. Post 52 is looking to pay tuition for two delegates. Learn more about this time-tested, steeped-in-tradition program at tarheelboysstate.org. If you know of a candidate, please contact me or the First Vice Commander with their parent's information.

Remember always the Four Pillars of The American Legion: 1) Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation, 2) National Security, 3) Americanism, and 4) Children & Youth. We start 2025 immediately focused on #3 and #4. That is OUR mission.

Chris Smith, Commander Post 52 csmithforest@gmail.com

Chaplains' Corner

A message from the past (January 2017)
Happy New Year

Matthew 5:2 "and he began to teach them saying-"

Abraham Lincoln has been described as one of America's greatest leaders. He possessed all these abilities, which included boldness, flexibility, capacity for risk, the ability to communicate, character, tact, courage, honesty, decisiveness, caution, humor, modesty, hard-working, forgiveness, responsibility, resilience, inspiring by lesson and example, to admit, to learn from mistakes. Speaking the language of people and responsibility to posterity. Even his enemy, the dubious New York Times, after they had questioned his leadership, looked back on his record and admitted he was independent, self-poised, steadfast, and you always knew where to find him. He was a true hero.

Another new year has begun in 2017. We may not be a hero, as Abraham Lincoln was, but we have a good chance to be as the one sitting on the mountain side teaching and saying-

Matthew 5:3-12 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst, for their righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Great is your reward in heaven."

Now, may God with love and peace be with you and your family. In Jesus name, Amen. Bill Kimbrough

Vice-Commander's Report

Happy 2025! I think each of us has remarked at some point in our life, "How time flies, " or "where did the year go." Just think, twenty-five years ago this year, the entire world was worried about Y2K (the Year 2000) and the collapse of all things driven by technology, and yet here we are. For one hundred five years, your American Legion Post 52 stood strong and active during the Great Depression from 1929 to 1939, World War 2, The Korean War, The Vietnam War, The Gulf War, The Global War on Terrorism, and many economic upturns and downturns. Through your support, we continue to preserve the legacy of the POST 52 founders.

We are thankful to all members who renewed their membership and ask those who have not to please do so before December 31. Please get in touch with me if you have any questions or concerns.

As a reminder, the membership year begins annually on January 1 and ends on December 31, regardless of what time of year the member enrolls. For example, if a member joins in April or any time during the year (out of cycle), the membership will expire on December 31. Members who renew their membership before December 31 are considered current and will remain current for the following calendar year. The same applies to a member who wishes to become a Paid Up for Life (PUFL) member; they must have paid their current annual dues before applying for lifetime membership.

RENEWAL PROCESS:

(1) Mail $45 to American Legion POST 52, P.O. Box 61, Franklinton, NC 27525

(2) Pay in person to one of our many POST 52 Officers

(3) Pay online (Membership Number Required) https://mylegion.org/PersonifyEbusiness/Membership/Renew,

Joe "Scott" Vickers - 1^st Vice Commander - joseph.vickers.gm@gmail.com

Auxiliary Unit 52 Report

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and the New Year is filled with many blessings!

As the Unit enters the New Year, we will resume our Sew Day on the first Sunday of the month on January 5, 2025, held at Post 52 from 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm. Also, the Unit Executive Committee will be open to everyone on Thursday, January 9, 2025, instead of January 2, 2025. The Unit membership will be on January 16, 2025. Both meetings are at Franklinton Post 52 at 6:30 pm.

The Unit will host the Post-meeting breakfast on January 25, 2025, at 9:00 am. Please help if you can.

If you have not paid your 2025 membership dues by December 31, 2024, you are now considered delinquent and not a member in good standing. If you have any questions about your membership, please get in touch with Vice President/Membership Chairman Velinda Moore.

I am ending my column by saying thank you to everyone in the Unit for helping us have an excellent 2024 with your time to serve our Veterans, their families, and the Franklinton community.

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

Brunswick Stew Sale

Brunswick Stew sale on Saturday, January 11, 2025, from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm.

All Quarts are $10 each.

To pre-order your quart(s) of our famous stew
call/text Steve Ijames at 919 727-0087 or email stephen.ijames@gmail.com, providing your name, phone number, and number of quarts you want to reserve.

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