American Legion Auxiliary Gold Post Unit #78

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1 December 2014 American Legion Auxiliary Gold Post Unit #78 Manchester, TN Welcome to the December/January issue of our quarterly newsletter. We hope you enjoy reading about our activities and pray that it will encourage you to either continue to participate or to come on out and join the fun. Participants are asked to please submit articles or thoughts about an event to the editor as soon after it has taken place as possible (so that we re not scrambling at the last minute to try to remember details of the activities many of which are hilarious or heart-warming). Remember this is YOUR newsletter. Please send thoughts and pictures (if you have them) to the editor at Thanks! A Message from Gold Post Unit #78 President, Mel Kersey ~ 2014 was a great year for the Ladies Auxiliary. We participated in many activities. Poppy drive, fair booth, Music Festival, yard sales, and a number of Christmas festivities. Thanks to all the ladies that attended; used their abilities; and gave their time to make us so successful in I invite everyone to come join us; have some fun with other ladies that love our Veterans; and let s grow our Gold Post Unit 78 in Meetings are the 3 rd Monday of every month. We are planning a taco bar dinner for the January meal and fellowship time that begins at 6:00pm. The meeting starts at 7:00. Hope to see you there. Keep February 28 th open for a Dance at the hall. I look forward to seeing you at the meeting on January 19 th bring a friend and let s have an outstanding 2015 for our Ladies Auxiliary! ~Mel Kersey Chaplain s Corner It is sometimes with sadness that we come to the conclusion of a year in this case 2014 and realize that there are still so many things we have not yet done, so many people we have not yet reached, so many hearts we have not yet touched with the knowledge that they are loved and cared about. Notice the word yet in my statement. Yes, we have done our best - the year flew by - we reached, touched, loved and cared about many and yet there is much left to do. Please join me in a 2015 New Year prayer for continued spiritual leadership and blessings from our God, the Maker and Creator of all. I thank you, Lord, for the American Legion Auxiliary. For guidelines that include to promote peace and goodwill on earth (found in the Preamble); and to provide Service to God and Country (found in our Values Statement). For that part of the Mission Statement that reads, For God and Country, we advocate for veterans, educate our citizens, mentor youth, and promote patriotism, good citizenship, peace and security. Let us always remember that You, Lord God, are an integral part of what made and makes the ALA what it is today. Let us turn to You when we make plans; include You in our advocacy for veterans; and be mindful that without Your Presence we would not be able to model exceptional patriotism to our great United States and to its banner, the American flag. Let us not rush into righteous action without first seeking Your Wisdom, dedicating that action to 1

2 you and asking for your blessing upon it. Let us strive to be good citizens and show others by word and deed what a good citizen looks and acts like at all times. Father God, we pray for peace in our world and for a security that everyone in it may lay their head down at night knowing that Your Presence is right there with them. Let us energetically serve You, our Nation and the veterans who have so nobly served it. May we never forget their sacrifices. With Your help, Lord, let us once again commit to preach and teach the principles of Americanism.to sacrifice and endure as those before [us] have sacrificed and endured upon this principle rests the hope of the nation. (Paraphrased from the explanation of the ALA Emblem.) We love You, Lord. We love our United States of America may she continue to stand for what is right and good in humankind. May we be Your emissaries of Light into a dark world. Amen. ~ Alexis Whray E V E N T S I N A N U T S H E L L The Alvin C. York VA Hospital Carnival was held on October 1 st. Our booth involved flying balls! No kidding! We had a board with various size holes in it and the Veterans were to throw the balls into the holes. Well when the holes were missed and the balls started bouncing you can imagine what came next. We gave away snacks, candy, chocolate, fruit cups, bottled water, chips and flip flops. The best part was spending time with the Veterans who came around to visit our booth. We had some really good discussions and handed out stars to all the Veterans that came by the booth. Many thanks to Mel Kersey, Donna Daniel, Rick Jernigan, and Tom Mowbray for taking time out of their busy schedules to spend time with the Veterans. The Annual Old Timer s Day was celebrated in Manchester on October 4 th. We had a beautiful fall day to celebrate this all-day event. There was a good turnout from the community and we had representation from all branches of our Post to help at the information table that was set up in a great location right on the square. Pictured are Donna Daniel (Dept. of TN 5 th District, Reg. 5 Pres.) and Melanie Kersey (ALA Gold Star Unit #78 Pres.). Many thanks to our President, Melanie Kersey, for all her efforts during the day. She is one amazing leader, ladies! She ll not ask you to do anything that she hasn t already done. She leads by example and what an inspiring example she is! Post members stopped by and stepped out with a handshake to talk to and provide literature to those passing by that appeared to be veterans or family members. A number of Post 78 Riders participated in the parade made us proud! One of our new ALA members even tried to recruit someone to join the AL that was already a member! He gave her quite a challenge until her husband recognized the veteran and rescued her from the interrogation. Some are still laughing about that one because the veteran had previously served as a Post officer! Names are being withheld to preserve the innocence of the lady involved. The American Legion District 5 Meeting was held at Post 42 in Fayetteville, TN on October 10 th. Our AL Gold Star Post 78, was well represented with Legionnaires, Sons, and Riders in attendance. Two of the ladies from our Auxiliary also attended. The theme of the meeting was (overall) membership in the family of the AL and attendance at all meetings. We can all learn something from the wealth of information shared and from the enthusiasm of our leaders. A phrase I had never heard before that very aptly applies to where we seek new members is: You can t find cereal in the garden department. In other words, if we want to find veterans (and spouses and sons and daughters) to become members, we must be wearing our hats, shirts, pins, jackets (whatever) that carries our AL/ALA insignia (more about what that logo represents elsewhere in this newsletter) and we must carry ourselves with the honesty, dignity and pride that characterizes our great veteran s organization. We can t find potential members just by sitting in our living rooms we ve got to get out and start talking to people. It s often easy to recognize a veteran they may be wearing a hat or t-shirt that says they are! Thank them for their service, then ASK if they are a member of a veteran s organization and if not, talk to them about the Legion. Of course, this brings up another subject and that is knowledge about what your Post is actually doing in the community and where and what the greater Legion is doing to help veterans nationwide. Another tactic is to go out in pairs and knock on doors. ASK if anyone in the family is a veteran and (There is a script available online for these cold calls if you would like to practice before stepping out.) Another phrase used that comes from an old hymn was Draw the Circle Wide and so when speaking Page 2 of 6

3 to a veteran, be sure to let him/her know that the Legion also has organizations for their sons and daughters (SAL), spouses (Auxiliary), and junior programs. So let us draw the circle wider still to include the whole family. The District Commander s slogan this year is Aiming Higher Working Together which directly speaks to the greater the membership numbers, the greater the American Legion VOICE will be in Washington, DC, to be able to work together to support and provide help for our veterans. Trivia Question: What are the Four Pillars of the American Legion? Answer can be found elsewhere in the newsletter. If you know something about each of the Four Pillars then you will be successful in your membership drive talk. Something else we learned: Did you know that the Legionnaire Insurance Trust Fund (LIT) provides a no cost to you accident/death insurance of $5,000? All you have to do is complete the application and it is yours! On October 11 th members of the Auxiliary helped the Convoy of Hope at the Coffee County Fairgrounds. Free food, beverages, clothing, etc. was distributed to qualified families in need. Nov. 4 th was Election Day. We hope that you not only got out to vote (actively demonstrating your Americanism and wearing your American Legion/ Auxiliary/Sons/Riders insignia) but also encouraged someone else to vote. Say it s a good place to start a conversation hmmm. The Department of TN 5 th District, Region 5 Meeting was once again hosted by Gold Star Unit 78 Manchester on November 8 th. A tasty early Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixin s was prepared by our Unit members. Many, many thanks to ALL the cooks and bakers who did an excellent job! Kudos to Unit 78 President, Melanie Kersey, for coordinating the meal with the help of Secretary, Linda Ritch, and Treasurer, Denise Gibbs. Most of the autumn decorations were provided by Vice President, Lee Tucker. 5 Stars ladies! Pictured is Donna Daniel and Department of Tennessee President, Jan Bruce. We had a good attendance for the meeting and some of our Post 78 Legion brothers and sisters came out to support the Auxiliary as well! Presentations about membership, recruiting, reporting, and other activities were made by State officers. We ve got Spirit How About YOU?!? 5 th District President, Donna Daniel, hosted the event. Unit 78 Chaplain, Alexis Whray, stepped up to provide the Invocation and Benediction as the State Chaplain was unable to attend. Door prizes were provided to lucky winners and all left with smiles on their faces. On November 11 th Veteran s Day Ceremonies were observed in Winchester (county seat of Franklin County) and Manchester (county seat of Coffee County). Members of the Post and Auxiliary were present at both ceremonies. During the October 20 th monthly meeting, Auxiliary Chaplain, Alexis Whray, provided some historical information about Veteran s Day to refresh memories as to why this day is observed worldwide. She also read A Veteran s Day Reflection by Neil Leckman (author of horror, science fiction, fantasy books and short stories). Sitting in front of my fireplace, basking in its warm glow gives me time to reflect upon the sacrifices that it has taken for me to enjoy the security of a good home, in a safe environment. I can hear the soft whisper of the snow as it caresses my window and covers the ground outside in a scintillating display of sparkling lights under the full moon. How many times have our service men and women watched this same scene from a foxhole, or camped in some remote part of the world. Thankful for the silence of that moment, knowing it won t last long. Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He/she dresses in fatigues and patrols the world restlessly, ensuring that we can have this peaceful night. Every day they give us the gift of this lifestyle that we enjoy, and every night they watch over us. They are warriors, angels, guardians, friends, brothers, fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers, forming a family that stretches back to the beginning of the country. So tonight when you go to bed say a prayer that God watch over those who watch over us, and thank them for their sacrifices, on and off the battlefield. Pray that they have a peaceful night, and will be home soon with their families who also share their burden. Without them we would not have this moment. Page 3 of 6

4 On November 19 th, Bonnie Edwards and Nancy Berger participated as judges in the Coffee County High School Oratory Competition. They were accompanied by members of the Riders and Legion. Sadly, there were only 3 students participating this year. We must give credit where it is due all 3 students (one young man and two young ladies) did an excellent job and represented themselves and their class well. We d like to see more students involved in this competition next year. This is an opportunity for our Auxiliary to become more active in the school we will need to put some prayer, thought, and active volunteerism to work before the idea of Americanism disappears from our schools and our society. Answer to the Trivia Question: THE FOUR PILLARS: 1. Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation a. Access to VA Care (A System Worth Saving) b. Better Funding Formula c. Support for Veterans and Special Needs d. Career Opportunities e. A GI Bill for a New Century f. Employment and Business g. Heroes to Hometown h. Volunteering i. Final Respects 2. National Security a. Strong National Defense b. Military Quality of Life c. Homeland Security d. Foreign Relations e. Full Accounting of POW/MIAs f. Operation Comfort Warriors 3. Americanism a. Flag Protection b. Illegal Immigration c. Voter Registration and Participation d. Boy Scouts e. The Pledge of Allegiance f. Establishment-Clause Lawsuits 4. Children & Youth a. Child Pornography b. Catastrophic Illness c. Intellectual Disabilities d. Immunization e. Family Integrity f. Media Violence g. Drug Abuse h. Child Sexual Exploitation What is THAT I see? Why it s Snoopy and Woodstock riding a MOTORCYCLE? Page 4 of 6

5 The Manchester Christmas Parade was moved to the second Saturday after Thanksgiving (December 6 th ) and there was an amazing turnout for the evening parade. Parade Chairman, Charmaine Harrison, representing the Legion and Riders, did an outstanding job of pulling all units together for the planning and execution of this year s parade entry the best AL float ever! It was a challenge as the parade theme was Candy Land. As none of the available pictures were able to capture the full float, let me tell you about it. Charmaine found a blow up Snoopy riding a motorcycle (!) online and that became the centerpiece of the float. A road with grass growing along the side of the road was created with some dimensionality as the size of the road decreased in size the closer it got to the front of the float. There were candy canes, candy drops, a Candy Land sign, and player pieces decorating the sides. Of course there was a lighted Christmas tree, plenty of American flags, and lights around the sides of the float to complete the picture. We had three walkers handing out candy and several people rode the float. AL Riders came out in full force with wonderfully decorated motorcycles to follow. The American Legion entry had to have been the loudest in the parade. The kids loved Snoopy and the decorated revving motorcycles. We may not have received any awards but we had a lot of spirit! The Auxiliary Christmas Party was held on December 7 th. We joyfully decorated the Post 78, Christmas tree, signed Christmas Cards to be delivered to our Veterans in local nursing homes, in the hospital, and in the Alvin C. York VA Hospital; relaxed, chatted, ate finger-foods and desserts and had a round of dirty Santa. Need I say, we all had a great time of fellowship. Thank you to everyone who brought food, decorations cards, gifts The tree was beautiful in shades of aqua, violet and gold thanks to ornaments brought in by our Sargent at Arms, Valarie Phipps. On December 13 th all Post units gathered together for the Christmas Basket for Veterans assembly and distribution. We were blessed once again this year to have the help of local Boy and Girl Scout Troops. Over 30 Christmas family-size meal boxes that included everything for the day from breakfast straight through evening dessert were prepared for distribution in Coffee County to Veteran s and their families in need of a little extra boost for Christmas. Additional boxes were completed for distribution to others in need. Some of these boxes reached Franklin County as well. Thank you to all who donated funds and time to pull this entire project off. That same day, the Alvin C. York VA Hospital Christmas Party was held. Cards and gifts were delivered from our Post and Christmas love was shared by all. You never know how good love feels until you give it away. Dec 15 th Post 78 Christmas Party After a wonderful meal coordinated by Mel and her team, about 80 Post 78 members and guests were entertained by Last Minute a high school rock & roll band that ran through a number of their favorite oldies songs. There were a few brave souls that got up and danced some sang along. Very good lead singer, guitarists and drummer. FYI - These kids normally perform for a meal and whatever donation people wish to provide; they are managed by one of the moms and a dad is their road captain. Fun, food, laughter, camaraderie Pictured are members of the band Last Minute before their set began. American Legion Auxiliary Gold Star Unit #78 PO Box 537, 130 Shelton Rd. Manchester, TN Mrs. Melanie Kersey, President or auxiliary@post78.com Page 5 of 6

6 American Legion Auxiliary Gold Star Unit #78 PO Box 537, 130 Shelton Rd. Manchester, TN Page 6 of 6