May 2009 NEWSLETTER
PLACE: THE SIZZLER, 1401 N. HARBOR BLVD.
May Program:
The Fullerton Flyers provide
exciting minor league baseball at the Cal State Fullerton field.
The Flyers have given us bargain prices on two games.
Come to the meeting and hear more.
Officers for 2009-2010.
We will hold elections for officers for 2009-2010.
There will be a final call for nominations before elections.
There is still time to step up if you are interested.
Memorial Day Ceremonies.
We need volunteers to help with program on the following days at
Loma Vista Memorial Park located at 701
E. Bastanchury Rd. You can come for one day or all three.
Many bring kids and grandkids to help them understand the importance of
Memorial Day. If you can help on any
of these days, contact Ed Paul at (714) 992-1816.
No prior experience is necessary for any of these jobs.
Friday, 5/23, 2:00 PM
Distribute crosses around the cemetery for Saturday.
Saturday, 5/24, 7:20
AM
Help organize the 400 volunteers who will come to place the flags and
crosses but need instructions on how to do it.
Some easy jobs sitting down available with no heavy lifting required.
Refreshments provided by CVS.
Monday, 5/26 - 10:00 AM
Attend the ceremony, honoring the U. S.
Air Force
Tuesday, 5/27 - 7:30 AM
Pick up the flags
and crosses and return to storage.
Chaplain’s Message to the Members:
“Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting
life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life,
and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 9:9,
NAS) If we can be of service to you,
please give us a call. Jim Howland
and Hal Dixon
This month we transferred Samuel E. Post
to Post Everlasting.
Commander’s Corner:
It seems odd not to be coordinating for Railroad Days.
As of this time, the railroad association does not have a new city
agreement for future events. In
spite of all the work, it was a great opportunity to meet and greet the
Fullerton community. Coming up in
the Post is the election of Post
Officers. If you would like to hold
a position in the Post or move around a bit, please contact Ed Paul.
He is acting as the nominating committee.
May brings the school award ceremonies and the summer events.
Thanks go out to Ken Neisess
for doing the high school Senior Awards
again this year. Don’t forget
Memorial Day. The Association people
have put a lot of effort into making new maps for finding veterans’ graves.
Ed and Pansy Paul have taken
the lead on all this work. Thanks go
out to Ed and Pansy for their persistence and effort to make the map situation
more efficient and simpler. We need
volunteers to help coordinate the community volunteers getting out the flags and
crosses, and then getting them put away.
See above dates. In mid-May,
our three
Youth Environmental Conference
students (one from each of the Fullerton schools) will head off to the north for
a power-packed educational weekend.
Following the end of the school year our
six high school juniors
will head off to Boys and Girls State.
Thank you again to the Commander’s Club for making it possible to do so much for the
community and the young people of Fullerton.
For those with internet access at home or at the city library, all of our
newsletters, and meeting and event pictures are available for viewing at our web
page. (Fullertonpost142.com)
Thanks go to Richard Wakefield and
Mike Box for keeping our web page
updated with great stuff.
Upcoming Events: The officer’s
meetings for this month and next month will be on Thursday instead of Wednesday
prior to the Post meeting. This
month, May 7th.
Please jot this
number down in case someone you know needs it. 800-342-9647 or
www.militaryonesource.com.
It is the number that all active service members can call
24/7 for help of all kinds. Their
slogan is “You name it. We can
help.” To request your DD-214,
or
anything else call the Post at (714) 871-2412 and we will assist you.
Hospital/Rehabilitation Program. Please continue to bring things to the meetings or call Mike and Pat Hyland (996-8743) to coordinate a home pick up. For more information about this unique project sponsored by Cloudbreak Development, UC & United States Veterans Initiative, Inc. (a 501(c)(3) organization), call (562) 499-6717 or visit their web site at www.usvetsinc.org.
Memory Lane Dates: May 1, Cambodia Campaign Began (1970), Operation Northern Watch Ended (2003); May 2, Women’s Overseas Service League Established (1921), Berlin Falls to Red Army, Germany Surrenders in Italy (1945), Axis Forces/Germans Surrender in Italy (1945); May 4, Battle of Coral Sea Began (1942), Operation Restore Hope Ended (Somalia) (1993); May 5, Fall of Corregidor (1942), SS Black Point, Last Merchant Ship Sunk by U-Boat (1945), Occupation of Germany ends (1955), Mini-Tet Began (1968); May 6, Battle of Chancellorsville ends (1863), Corregidor Falls, Germans Surrender in the West (7th also listed) (1942); May 7, Battle of the Coral Sea (1942), Unconditional Surrender of all German Forces Signed (Berlin) (1945); May 8, Battle of Spotsylvania begins (1864), Battle of Coral Sea Ended (1942), V-E Day, German Unconditional Surrender Signed (Berlin) (1945), US Navy Mined North Vietnamese Ports (1972); May 10, American Forces capture Fort Ticonderoga (1775), Germans Begin All Out Offensive in the West (1940), Last US Forces surrender in the Philippines (1942), Battle of Hamburger Hill (1969), Operation Linebacker (1972); May 11, Fourth Battle of Monte Cassino and Rome Offensive Began (1944), Battle of Dong Ap Bia (Hamburger Hill) begins (1969); May 12, Charleston, SC falls to British (1780); May 13, US Navy Nurse Corps Established (1908), Axis Forces Capitulate in North Africa (1943); May 14, Army Ordnance Corps established (1812), Operation Junction City ends (1967); May 15, Valley Campaign begins (1862), Dutch Army Surrenders (1940), Women’s Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) Established (1942), The Mayaguez Incident (1975); May 20, 20 - Battle of Dong Ap Bia (Hamburger Hill) ends (1969); May 21, Battle of Spotsylvania ends (1864), American Red Cross Founded by Clara Barton (1881); May 22, Battle of Cold Harbor begins (1864); May 24, Allies break out of Anzio beachhead (1944); May 27, The Army Historical Foundation is founded (1983), Air Force Opened All Aircraft to Women (1993); May 28, Battle of Cantigny (1918), Belgium Army Surrenders (1940); May 30, Memorial Day (First Designated in 1868).
March Meeting. The meeting was called to order by Commander Marilyn Harris at 7:00 p.m. Commander Marilyn Harris briefed all assembled legionnaires on the 29th District’s 2009 Law and Order Awards Banquet that honored Police Departments throughout Orange County. Three police officers from Fullerton Police Department were recognized but the police canine named “Blitz” stole the show when he was awarded for heroism when he stopped a felon after a short chase. Law and Order 2009 Banquet pictures and profiles were passed out.
Commander Marilyn Harris then introduced the guest speaker, Mark McGee, the Vice President for MG Disposal/Republic Services. Mark informed all assembled that a detailed packet has been sent in the mail to all Fullerton residents that explains how the new automated collection program will operate. All residents will receive new containers, a total of 80,000 containers will be delivered throughout the homes of Fullerton starting on May 18th and finishing on July 10th. Fullerton residents can call (714) 738-xxxx with questions.
Minutes and Finance reports approved unanimously. Cdr Harris then opened the floor for committee reports. Chaplain Jim Howland updated post members on the status of legionnaires that need support and prayers.
Service Officer Mike Hyland briefed the post on a ”letter of protest” that American Legion National Commander David K. Rehbein sent to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano concerning her April 7th report entitled “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence and Recruitment.” The report that was produced by the Department of Homeland Security suggests that veterans are more likely to commit terrorist acts than nonveterans. To read the entire letter Commander Rehbein sent in protest, please go to the online posting at http://ourvoice.legion.org/print/1543
Special Events Officer Don Dutton informed all post members about Baseball Nights with the O.C. Flyers. There are two evening games planned. The first will be Friday, June 12th (fireworks night), and the second will be Saturday, July 18th (Souvenir night). Games are at Goodwin Field at CSFU. We have reserved Club level seating at $6 per ticket (Normal cost is $11). Tickets can be purchased at our May and June meetings. “COME ONE, COME ALL”! Members, families, friends and neighbors, all at our discounted ticket price. Any Questions, call Don Dutton (714-993-5625).
Post Adjutant Ed Paul announced that Eddie Piechocinski was featured in the Observer when he received his “60 Year Membership Certificate” last month. Ed also reminded the post that nominations are being accepted for officer’s positions. All interested legionnaires are encouraged to contact Adjutant Ed Paul if they are interested in playing a greater role in the life of American Legion Fullerton Post #142.
Neil Reich passed on news that the Veterans Affairs Office has a new Secretary. Former US Army General and Chief of Staff, Eric K. Shinseki, a twice wounded combat veteran with thirty-eight years of active federal service assumed the position in March of this year.