The Echo April, May & June The Official Newsletter American Legion Frierson Nichols Post 8 Winter Haven Fl. VETERANS HELPING VETERANS AMERICAN LEGION FRIERSON NICHOLS POST 8 ESTABLISHED JUNE 3, 1919 POST 8 WOMEN S AUXILIARY ESTABLISHED AUGUST 24, 1924 Squadron 8, Sons of the American Legion Joins Post 8 February 19, 1976 ISSUE 2 17
Commander Mike O Callaghan Commander John Paye, Jr. 1st Vice Commander Bill Butler 1st Vice Commander John Weems, Jr. 2nd Vice Commander Dale Wortley Adjutant John Paye, Jr. 3rd Vice Commander Larry Meggs Finance Officer Mike O Callaghan Adjutant Ed Mcnulty Chaplain Brian McDonald Finance Officer Ed Mcnulty Sgt. At Arms Jack Bunting Chaplain Fran Marron Historian David Bunting Sgt. at Arms Russ Moulton Judge Advocate Jim Tucker Historian Remona Knight Judge Advocate Vic Duckstein Service Officer Al Eason
New Members and transfers to Post 8 WE WELCOME YOU TO POST 8 GREETINGS Wayne Campsmith Candace Harvey David Chase Davis Autery Loren Williams Arles Powers Maria Milagros Lopez John Miller John Lee Raymond Frennette James Schiff Harold Miller Hoart Bellew Jr. Donald Wolf Joseph Stupakiewicz Keith Waters G. Jack Evans Frank Young Thomas Favaro Thomas Mc Fadden Earl Davis Donald Cochran James Azaula Dwight Harwood David Williams Carlos Rodriguez Pauls Rodgers Edward Miotkiewica R. Buddy Thorpe Jack Cadeux Thomas Schira Leslie Strickland Doug Zader Patrick Grutter Bruce Crawford Meredith O Neal Brian Koob James Corner Keith Hanson John Gibson Carlos Gonzalez Max Knopp Here it is again, the changing of the seasons. I hope everyone enjoyed our wonderful winter. Our winter friends will soon be leaving and we wish them a safe trip and enjoyable summer. Our dinners and shows have been getting great support thanks to all of you. We are working on ways of getting our Echo out to all of you by social media. Watch for updates. I would like to thank Bill Butler and his crew for their outstanding job with the Law and Order, Oratorical and Boy State Programs. We are still looking for donations for a new tiki roof on our deck extension. We are half way there. I would like to give a big thank you to Remona Knight and my wife Joann for all the extra help they have given to myself and the Post in the office. I can never say thank you enough to all that have helped make this the greatest post ever. Mike O Callaghan, Commander HELLO AGAIN FELLOW LEGION MEMBERS Well here we are starting our 2nd quarter of the year. Boy time is really flying by. Thanks to all of you, our membership is at 92% and we are still pursuing our goal of 100% by the middle of April. So I am asking all of you to bring in a friend who is a veteran but not a Legion member. Let s get them to join our Post. Our Law and Order Dinner went very well this past February. Now we are working on Boys State in June. Once again this year we will be sending 15 students from five schools in our area. Then we will the State Legion Convention coming up in June. Once again, thanks to all of you for supporting Post 8. Bill Butler, 1st Vice Commander
CHAPLAIN S REPORT APRIL If you are a Christian you have quite possibly started your Lenten rituals culminating, of course, with the joy of Easter. Come celebrate Easter Sunrise Service here at Post 8. Our Jewish friends will be celebrating Passover and on April 24th we should take a moment to honor Holocaust Remembrance Day MAY The National Day of Prayer speaks for itself. We remember and pray for Moms of all of the incredible women who have given us Motherly love and advice. Memorial day is an opportunity to thank God for all the loved ones we have lost. It is traditional that the American Legion Post 8 have their Post Everlasting Ceremony. If you have never attended one or if you were not able to attend a memorial service for a fellow member please come and join us. It is a sad fact that not all of the members of Post 8 who pass away are known to us. I would welcome anyone to make sure we honor all of our members who died between April 2016 and April 2017. Just put the name of the member in the Chaplains box. I would rather have hundred of one person than miss even one. JUNE Honor and pray for all Fathers and all men who gave guidance. ADJUTANT REPORT Where has the time gone? It seems it wasn t too long ago we were welcoming our snowbirds back and now, we are watching them fly the coop back north. It won t be long and we will be welcoming them back again. And the cycle continues. We, still have a little way to go to attain our 100% goal. So if you haven t renewed as yet stop by the office and we will be more than happy to get you renewed. If you know someone that is eligible to be a member bring them in or send them to us and we will get them signed in. As a sponsor, you get credit and are eligible for recognition from American Legion National. I wish everyone a Happy Easter Foe God and Country Ed McNulty Adjutant HISTORIAN S REPORT With the major part of the Yearbook complete. It is now a month by month process until the deadline which will be June 1st. It has been an interesting process this year and your assistance in helping me meet the National requirements for Picture Content has been very helpful. If you would like to see the other books for the past two years, just let me know. Have you noticed the many spots around the Post that look just wonderful in photo s? Take a great picture of the Post like the lake, a bird, a plant etc. etc and give me a copy. We can have a contest for the Best Picture taken in April. The winner will be in the Yearbook and on the informational TV s in the Post. HISTORIAN S NOTE REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR ALL OUR CANDIDATES & THEN VOTE IN APRIL Fran Marron, Chaplain Post 8 s birthday is June 3, 1919 and the 1st Commander was E. L. McLain Remona Knight Historian
HONOR GUARD REPORT As of this writing, we have not had many calls for our services (thankfully) this quarter. I hope we keep it that way. We continue to get good support for our Thursday afternoon bingo. I want to thank all who have been participating and especially those who have generously give to support this Honor Guard. I would like to give SPECIAL RECOGNITION to STAN AND NANCY HOMITZ who continue to make generous donations to the Honor Guard on a regular basis. Thank you both very much for your support. Ed McNulty, Honor Guard Captain PENNIES FOR NURSES TRAINING BY ANOTHER PENNY HEAD RON WLODRCZAK Pennies from heaven Ed Hook $8.00 In Loving Memory of Jim J. Campbell - Mathis Trust $25.00 For Mike Hagan - Harley of the Hamptons $ 2.50 Miracles Sports Lounge - Joseph Bailey $ 11.00 Philip Scmitz $ 1.21 Sally.50 Veterans $ 4.21 Bob & Jane $ 2.00 David & Ronda Frederick $ 12.00 John & Shirley Tamlin $ 13.04 Fred & Gail Knippenberg $.53 Tommy $.18 Sheila $.70 Claudia $ 1.00 Envelope $.52 Dave Alridge $ 12.38 John Paye $ 2.50 John Weems $ 1.00 It s easy to meet expenses, Everywhere you go, there they are Anonymous President 1st Vice President 2nd Vice President Treasurer Chaplain Historian Sgt. At Arms Asst. Sgt. At Arms AUXILIARY UNIT 8 OFFICERS Louise F. Miller Ruth Jones June Dutcher Bonnie Willard Yvonne Privetera Executive Committee Lorraine (Bird) Anthony, Gustine Boyd & Nancy Fosie Jr. Past President Darlene Cunnane AUXILIARY REPORT Happy Spring Ladies Carolyn Kostel Mildred (Tink) Campbell Here we are almost at the end of our year. We have had the Rummage Sale, Valentine Brunch and Fashion Show. We have made our trips to the VA and in March we brought many items for the Veterans thanks to all who donated the items. I want to thank all you ladies who have volunteered in so many ways. First, the kitchen for the fish fry's, to those who brought in items and homemade baked goods for our Rummage Sale and the Valentine Brunch. These ladies really worked hard. Lorraine (Bird) and Carolyn who volunteered to do the brunch along with all their helpers. AND, for those who missed it, the ladies did a fine job of cooking and serving a delicious brunch. The Fashion Show, I don t know if Cheryl will ever volunteer again but what a wonderful attendance (sold out) and what a delicious luncheon served along with the Fashions from Elonka s. Like I said, we have been busy. AND yes we will still be frying fish during the summer. Just watch for the dates which will be posted. Ruth has been working hard on membership and hopefully, we will make 100% this year. We have welcomed many new members along with our existing members renewing. Initiation of new members was held at our March 9th meeting. Continued on next page
Auxiliary Report Continued The girls will be leaving for Tallahassee on June 7th for GIRLS STATE. We have the best of the girls representing Unit 8 again this year. We had our Memorial Service for our deceased members and finally, we will have had our election of new officers for 2017-2018. Again this year, we lost another supporter of our Auxiliary. Jim Campbell would always say I ll do what I can to help you. He s joining our other two great supporters Ed Hook and Al Meehan. Those guys worked hard for our Auxiliary and they are greatly missed. I hope that all of you that travel back north have a safe trip and for those of us who stay put, enjoy the summer. Phone number or if someone passed away. This information is needed so as to keep our records and the records at the Department level up to date. Ruth Jones, 1st Vice President & Membership Chairman Louise F. Miller Auxiliary President. Auxiliary Membership Report First of all I want to wish each and every one of you a Happy Easter, Happy Mother s Day, Happy Birthday and a Happy anything else that is going on. Secondly, I would like to extend my/our deepest regrets to Mildred Tink Campbell and her family for the passing of her husband and my dear, dear friend Jim Campbell. Jim was the very first person I met when I walked into Post 8 to become an Auxiliary member. Such a lovely, lovely person. He will be missed!! Thirdly, we had the initiation of our new members on March 9th. If I have forgotten anyone please forgive me. This has been such a wonderful year for signing up of new members. Our quota for the year is 596 and as of February 24th we were at 574 which puts us at 96.31% and I do believe we will hit 100% by the end of April 2017. Thanks to all of you for your support in renewing and bringing in new members to our Auxiliary Unit 8. The Membership office is still open on Wednesdays and on the Fridays when we have a fish fry. Renewing your membership helps us help our Veterans and other organizations we support. Lastly, feel free to contact the Auxiliary office at 863-875-9237 or by email at americanlegionauxiliary8@yahoo.com. Please leave a message and a response will come as soon as possible. It is important to let us know if you have changed your name, address or phone number Greetings from your TDY Happy Spring to all of you American Legion Post 8 members and guests. It seems like we just had Christmas and now Easter is just around the corner. We ve had a great season with lots of exiciting changes at the Post, always improvements. New TV s that provide news about upcoming events, new bands and dinner shows are just to name a few. The TDY Raffle raised $355 which I donated back to the Veterans Fund, a new Tiki Roof for the new addition to the deck and for Ruth Jones trip to Washington for the Virtual Flight of Honor as a sponsor. I am now 2nd vice President of the Auxiliary and have I had an eye opening experience talking to young girls being interviewed for Girls State. Makes me proud of the youth of today. We thank all of you for your continued support and especially those of you who constantly volunteer for all our events and dinners!! June Bug