AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1183December2019

Charles A. Conklin Post #28 Newsletter published monthly by Charles A. Conklin Post #28 of the American Legion

P. O. Box 439 ~ 700 S. Harbor Avenue ~ Grand Haven, MI 49417-1743 ~ www.grandhavenlegion.org

LegionJanetE.Fonger,Post28Commander

jeflegion28@gmail.comGaryDoublestein,1stViceCommanderRickWhite,2ndViceCommanderLarryLambert,AdjutantCyndyWierenga,FinanceOfficerDuaneSmith,ChaplainHarryDyck,JudgeAdvocateFreddySmith,Sergeant-at-ArmsDennisSiron,HistorianGarrettVeihl,ServiceOfficerLarryLambert,ServiceOfficerHoytFonger,ServiceOfficerRayRibbink,Executive-at-LargeFreddySmith,Executive-at-LargeJimVette,Executive-at-LargeJohnBilski,PastCommander

AUXILIARY

DarleneDeHaan,Presidentmarcdarlene@gmail.com

MelanieRiekels,1stVicePres.DianeJanusch-Johnson2ndVicePres.GinnyHebert,SecretaryMicheleStetts,TreasurerLindaGieske,HistorianPamMedendorp-Peck,ChaplainBarbKelly,Sergeant-at-ArmsKathleenEdwards,Membership

Sal

RossBerens,Commandersalcmdrpost28@yahoo.com

HansVanHorssen,1stViceCommanderCharlieChittenden,2ndViceCommanderT.L.Lowe,FinanceOfficerAlVanDam,ChaplainCharlieChittenden,HistorianSteveVanderWall,Sergeant-at-ArmsScottKelly,MembershipPaulKubicek,AdjutantJeffWarner,PastCommander

Legion riders JohnKemme,Directorjkemme3@att.net

CharlesPotter,AssistantDirectorChaseKamhout,Sergeant-at-ArmsDianaArens,SecretaryLarryFoose,TreasurerTBD,ChaplainSallyKemme,MembershipChair

post Manager

LoriPulcianiLpulciani@yahoo.com

Hours: Mon.–Fri.1pm–10pm Saturday12pm–10pm Sunday1pm–7pm

COMMANDER’SCOMMENTSWheredoIstart?Novemberwasabusyandexcitingmonth!First,thescreeningofthedocumentaryonNovember2ndattheGrandHavenCinema9wasamazing!ThecapacitycrowdincludingCongressmanBillHuizengaandStateCommanderBarryWoodwatchedthefirst100-yearsoftheCharlesA.ConklinAmericanLegionPost28,includingwhatwedoandwhoweare,comealiveonthebigscreen!ProducersDanielJoelDealandDr.ChrisPetrashavedoneanincrediblejob!Thetelevision-readycutisexpectedmid-December.Stay

tunedformoredetails.Afterthescreening,abuildingre-dedicationandblessingofPostOfficers,staffandbuildingwereconductedbyPost28Chaplain,DuaneSmith.BigthankstoJW's/J-DubsforprovidingappetizersattheeventandtoJumpin’Javafordonatingthecoffeeandtea.Movingforward,weaimtokeepthePostcurrent,relevantandthriving-anexciting,yetdauntingchallenge.FutureCommandersfacechallengesjustlikeourPostfoundersdidinmaintainingpositivemomentumwhile-at-the-same-timegeneratingcontemporaryandinnovativeideastoserveveteransandourlocalcommunity.IencourageallLegionnairestoattendourmonthlymembershipmeetingsandshareyourideasonthefutureofourPost.Thesold-outVeteransDayDinneratPost28wasfilledwithhonorandpride.LifetimemembershipswereawardedtoPastCommandersEdHekmanandChrisJarvisalongwithPost28ChaplainDuaneSmithandLegionnaireCarlLori.BigthankstoRediRentalforprovidingbeautifullinens.InkeepingwiththemissionoftheLegionPillars,YouthandAmericanism,LegionnairesofPost28participatedinaseriesofVeteransDayeventsatareaschools.Ouralliancewithlocalcommunitiesgrowsstrongereachyearwithteachersandprincipalswelcomingusintotheirschoolstoeducatestudentsaboutveteransandprotocol/respectforourU.S.flag.OperationKPhasso-farraised$130K!GroundbreakingforthekitchenrenovationisscheduledearlyJanuary2020.SecondViceCommanderRickWhiteisworkingwithcontractorsonthekitchenrenovationtimeline.Lookingforauniqueholidaygiftforfriendsandfamily?Howabouthonoringafriendorlovedonewithacustomizedbrasschairplaque?OrperhapsthenewbookbyDr.ChrisPetrasonthefirst100-yearsofourPost?OrmaybeaPost28shirt,hat,orkoozie?EachisavailableforpurchaseatthePost.HaveyouseenthenewPost28website?Goto:www.americanlegiongh.org.DonationscannowbemadeonlineforPost28programsincludingGirlsandBoysStateandthePoppyprogram.Youcanalsocopyalleventsintoyoursmartphonecalendarusingthesite’snewdynamiccalendar!WishingeveryoneablessedChristmasandhappyholidayseason. CommanderJanet

MemberHighlights

WhenIwasaJuniorinhighschool,IwantedtojointhemilitaryROTCaftergraduationwithplansofattendingPurdueUniversity.Instead,Ielectedtogotoasmallercollegetoplaysports.SincethatdecisionI'vealwayshaddoubt....JoiningtheSALallowsmetosupportmyinterestandgratitudefortheMilitaryandVeterans.Ihaveadeeprespectforthosewhoserveourcountry. PastSALSquadron28Commander,JeffWarner

AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1183December2019

AtourNovembermeetingweapprovednewmembers:ChrisAnderson,MatthewBerkey,CliffClelandJr.,KyleCollins,PatrickCollins,MichaelCooper,RobertDimeJr.,KevinEidson,KurtHarrison,MichaelMcKeough,AnthonyPetix,MichaelThurber,RichardYoungandDavidMaranda.PleasehelpmewelcomethesenewmemberstoPost28.OurnextmeetingisDecember2andstarts@7:30p.m.Iencourageallmemberstoattend.Eventsscheduledthismonth:

• ChristmasBuffet–December13• Kid’sChristmasParty–December14• Goodfellow’sWrappingParty–December19

Astheyear’sendbecomescloser,IwanttoonceagainremindallSALmemberstorenewyourmembershipfor2020.HaveaMerryChristmasandaHappyNewYear!!ServingVeteransandtheCommunity RossBerens,SALCommander

SAL AUXILIARY

HonorGuardhadfourservicesfromlastPostmeeting.TheArmyNationalGuardhelpedwith

twoservices.ThankyoutoallLegionmemberswhohelpedoutwiththeVeteransSchoolProgramsatSpringLakeMiddleSchoolandHolmesElementarySchool.andGrandHavenLakeshoreMiddleSchool. RifleTeamLeader:DavidMacKellar

Honor guard

Thisisthetimeoftheyearthatmotorcycleridersdislikethemost.Itistimetocleanupyourbikeandgetitreadyforwinterstorage.Mostofuswillbelookinginthecatalogssearchingforwhat’snewsowecanorderit,toputonthebikefornextyear.Iamalreadylookingaheadforwarmerweather.ThePost28LegionRiderswanttothanktheentireLegionfamilyfortheirsupportthisyear.ThankstoallthegenerousPost28membersforsupportingourSocks&UnderweardrivefortheGrandRapidsVeteransHome.TheRidersarehopefulforanearlyandwarmspring. JohnKemme,DirectorPost28Riders.

LEGION RIDERS

WehavesomanywonderfuleventsinDecemberthatfocusonourveterans,communityandPost!IhopetoseeYOU(yes,manyofyou!)thismonthasweworktospreadtheloveandsupportofourUnitandPosttothoseinneed.Mostofusareincrediblyblessed,andthismonthweareparticularlyfocusedonblessingothers!IwishallofyouandyoursaveryMerryChristmas!!!

KeyDatesDecember5(6-8pm)-MeetBarbKellyatthePostforyourGoodfellowsshoppingcards(ifsignedup)December7-JingleBellParade(contactDarlenetosignuptomarch)December9(2pm)-HelpPatBest&LindaGieskeassembleVeteranFruitPlatesDecember19(7pm)-GoodfellowsWrappingPartyNOTE:ThereisnoAuxiliarymeetinginDecember.

SpotlightontheAuxiliaryRecentlyIspenttimewithsomeonethatmanyofyoualreadyknow,ourAuxiliaryExecutiveBoardMemberandVA&RChairwoman,PatBest.WhatIconcludedveryquicklyisthatPatisabsolutelypassionateabouttakingcareofpeople,especiallyveterans.Itbeganoutofnecessitywithherownparents,butthenevolvedintoacallingofchoice,andshehasbeenservingfaithfullysince2005whenshejoinedourAuxiliary.Shedescribesherselfasabitofarebel(withacause!),andherfunpersonalityaddsspicetoanygathering!HersisterLindaGieske(AuxiliaryHistorian)isPat'spartnerin"crime",andtogethertheymanagethepurchaseofitemsandassemblyofmorethan400awesomefruitplatesforlocalveteranseveryDecember.ReadthecompletestoryofPat,thehistoryofherfamilymemberswhoserved,aswellheramazingservicetoourPostandAuxiliary,onpagefour. DarleneDeHaan,President&PublicRelationsChair

Greetings,Partners!ThankstoallwhoateChop’sMeatloafonNovember6th.Wecollected$800fortheCysticFibrosisFoundation.OurNovembermeetingwascancelledduetoinclementweather.WedonotmeetinDecemberorJanuary,sowe’llnotmeetagainuntilFebruary11,2020.Hopetoseeyouthen.MerryChristmas&HappyNewYear! LeChapeau,Becky

8 & 40 salon 499

November13,2019DearHonorGuardofGrandHaven,ThisgiftofmoneyisgiventoyouonbehalfoftheVillageatthePines.WewantedtothankyouforyourdedicationanddevotiontoservingtheVeteransofGrandHavenalongwiththeAmericanLegionPost28.Wesupportyourworkandwantedtoshowyou,ourhometownhonorguard,howmuchyouareappreciated!BlessingstoyouallonthisVeteransDay2019,ElizabethHuls,DianeJakubisin,theSeniorsinServiceVolunteersandtheresidentsoftheVillageatthePines.

AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1183December2019

Commander’sCommentscont’d.

1

Jack&MargieSteinmetz EdwardBueningJr. Richard&PamelaBitterburgTimothy&PamelaBullerdickL.M.Olsen MyrnaPuse Thomas"TL"Lowe OwenRottschafer Daniel&CarolScanlan Stanley&ElizabethSchoenborn

2

WallaceSherman KarenBush Kenneth&BarbaraBoermaDebTonnJohn&CherylNametz Cynthia&TimothyOegemaJohn&NancyBoeseJoe&YvonneKramer RalphFairbanksWalmart

TheOperationKPFundraisingCommitteeheartilyconveysourthankstothefollowingdonors,aswellasseveralanonymousdonors,fortheirsupportofthePost’sKitchenRenovationProject.Donationsarestillbeingaccepted.

OPERATIONKP

NEWMEMBERSJamesChurch,VietnamUSABrettHarrison,Gulf/ActiveUSAJonathanStevens(SAL&ALR),ColdWarUSAThomasWhalen,VietnamUSAPatrickLoeprich,VietnamUSAHowardMitchell,Lebanon/GrenadaUSAFJohnHaarer,VietnamUSAMartinSteenstra,VietnamUSANathanWojcik,Gulf/ActiveUSCGGaleMoser,VietnamUSAFMargaritaOchoa,Lebanon/GrenadaUSAMatthewNodine,ColdWarUSMCJosephNoll,ColdWarUSANicholasDeVille,VietnamUSAFJamesStorteboom,Lebanon/GrenadaUSN

TRANSFERSStanleyTeunis,ColdWarUSNRogerBlaha,VietnamUSAEdwardJohnson,GulfUSAHowardWirt,KoreaUSAF

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

TAPSWEREPLAYEDFOR:DonaldZoldan,Jr.ColdWarUSAFPhilipLooney,VietnamUSNWilliamRichardson,VietnamUSNJameJackson,KoreaUSA

Ifyouknowofanyonewhoshouldbeaddedtothislist,orwouldbenefitfromacallfrommeastheirChaplain,pleaseletmeknow@dstirlingsmith70@gmail.com,or616.502.1555.InHisandYourService,Duane"Smitty"Smith,ChaplainWalterPedersen,Jim“Jimbo”Land,DeweyJordon,GeorgeBennett,CharlesDavis,RonBauer,KenKelly,andallofourLegionfamilywhoaremourningthepassingoftheirlovedones.

SICK CALL

Novem

ber9

VeteransDayDinner

Auxiliary&GoldStarFam

ily

Mem

ber,KathyStraatsma,

donated17“QuiltsofValor”

toveterans.

!PresentationsatSpringLakeHighSchool….

….&HolmesElementarySchool"

November11at11amCeremonyattheVeteransMemorialEternalFlame

AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1183December2019

Commander’sCommentscont’d.

SpotlightontheAuxiliaryRecentlyIspenttimewithsomeonethatmanyofyoualreadyknow,ourAuxiliaryExecutiveBoardMemberandVA&RChairwoman,PatBest.WhatIconcludedveryquicklyisthatPatisabsolutelypassionateabouttakingcareofpeople,especiallyveterans.Itbeganoutofnecessitywithherownparents,butthenevolvedintoacallingofchoice,andshehasbeenservingfaithfullysince2005whenshejoinedourAuxiliary.Shedescribesherselfasabitofarebel(withacause!),andherfunpersonalityaddsspicetoanygathering!HersisterLindaGieske(AuxiliaryHistorian)isPat'spartnerin"crime",andtogethertheymanagethepurchaseofitemsandassemblyofmorethan400awesomefruitplatesforlocalveteranseveryDecember.PatisahomegrownGrandHavengal,andherfamilyownedanurseryformanyyears.HerparentswereactivevolunteersinGrandHaven,includingtheirchurchandtheAmericanLegionPost28,whichisoneoftheirvaluablelegacies.HerGrandpaservedinWWI,andbecameamemberofPost28soonafteritwasorganized.Pat'sinspirationfortheLegionandservingveteransalsocamefromherdad.HestartedasaSALatPost28,andthenservedinWWIIasatruckdrivercarryingtroopsandsuppliestotheirdestination.Whenthewarended,hedrovehistruckintoaconcentrationcampandpickedupthesurvivorswhowereindireneedofmedicalhelp!WOW!!!Letthatsinkinforaminute...Icannotimaginethehorrorandimpactofwhatheencounteredinthatfinalbutcriticalmission!HelaterbecameamemberofthePost28HonorGuard.Pat'sparents’healthbegantodeclineintheearly2000's,andtheywenttoliveatGrandPines.However,theylovedWednesdaynightdinnersatthePost,andaftertheycouldnolongerdrive,eachofthefourkidswouldtaketurnsoncepermonthtobringthem!Welove"customers"likethat!!!Patconsidersitaprivilegetowork(withsisterLinda)onthe"fruitplates"everyyearsince2007.Therearesometastygoodiesbesidesfruitontheseawesomeplates,aswellasanattachedcardhand-signedbyLinda.In2007theydid90plates,andthisyearPatanticipatesthat450plateswillbeneededasthelistgrowseachyear.AuxiliaryvolunteershelpwiththeassemblyandLegionnairesassistbydeliveringthesetreasurestoeachdestination,soitistrulyan"AmericanLegionFamily"activity.PatvolunteersduringCoastGuardweek,servingatfuneralluncheonsandmanyothereventsandactivities,sosheisleavingalegacyofherownwiththoseofuswhoarefortunatetoknowandworkwithher.PleasejoinmeinthankingPatforthewonderfulworkshedoesandtheloveandpassionshedemonstratesforourveterans! DarleneDeHaan,President&PublicRelationsChair

PresentationoftheNational(Auxiliary)President’sAwardforExcellencetoUnit28fortheirJuniorProgram.(L-R)DistrictPresidentDebWeatherbee,JuniorProgramChairNicoleGoldberg,PastDistrictPresidentRosemaryMaciejewski&Unit28PastPresidentKathleenEdwardsflankUnit28Juniormember,MayaGoldberg.

AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1183December2019

DrinkSpecial:CJ’sChoiceChristmasShot-CinnamonCookie(RumChatta&FireBall)-$4

Wine:Cabernet$4/glass;$13/bottle

Thesign-upfortheannualChiliCookOffwillbe@2pmonJanuary11,2020.CookOffisFebruary8,2020.

TIMETORENEWYOURMEMBERSHIP-2020

PleasepaybyDecember31,2019.Legion&SAL-$50;Auxiliary-$40.DropoffatthePostorsendviamail.

AMERICANLEGIONGOODFELLOWSShopperswillneedtopickuptheirlistbetween6:00and8:00pmonDecember5thatthePost.ShoppingmustbecompletedbyDecember16th.WrappingpartyisonThursday,December19that7:00pm,withdistributiononSaturday,December21st.Distributionwillstartat9:30a.m.Thankyoueveryone–TheGoodfellowsCommittee

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday1$3Soup/Chili

$1Draft$4Pitchers

Bud&MillerLiteonly

27:30pm

SALMeeting

36pmHouse

Committee

7pmPostMeeting

45PMCHOPS

MEATLOAFPotatoesVeggies

DinnerRoll$9.00

57pm

ALRMeeting

6-8pmGoodfellows-shopperspickupcards@thePost

66-8pmBurgers

7

6pmJingleBellParade

8$3Soup/Chili

1pmBloodyMaryBar

1pm

LIONSvsVikings

$1Draft$4Pitchers

Bud&MillerLiteonly

98amBldg&Grnds

$2U-CallTall

10No8&40Meeting

$1CANBEER

115PMZESTY

SPAGHETTISalad

GarlicToast$9.006-8pm

UglyChristmasSweaterContest

126pm-register6:30pm-Start

13NoBurgers

14Noon–2pm

KidsChristmasParty

15$3Soup/Chili

1pm

LIONSvsBucs

$1Draft$4Pitchers

Bud&MillerLiteonly

168amBldg&Grnds

6-8pm

CookieExchangeCookie&CookieDisplayContests

$2U-CallTall

177pm

ExecutiveCommittee

$1CANBEER

185PM

COUNTRYSTYLEPORKDINNERMashedPotatoes

VeggiesCornbread$9.007pm

197pm

GoodfellowsWrappingParty

(upstairs)

20NoBurgers

218:30ambreakfast

9:30amDistributionofGoodfellowsToypackagesbegins

22$3Soup/Chili

4:05pmLIONSvsBroncos

$1Draft/$4PitchersBud&MillerLiteonly

238amBldg&Grnds

$2U-CallTall

24NoAuxiliaryMeeting

POSTCLOSESAT5PM

$1CANBEER

25POSTCLOSED

26

276-8pmBurgers

281869

WilliamF.Semplepatented

chewinggum.

29$3Soup/Chili

1PM

LIONSvsPackers

$1Draft$4Pitchers

Bud&MillerLiteonly

308amBldg&Grnds

$2U-CallTall

3112pm–2pmNewYear’sBrunch

POSTCLOSESAT6PM

$1CANBEER

January1POSTCLOSED

KITCHENISCLOSEDFORREMODEL(forabout3months)

2Trivia

TheMarsCo.inventedM&M’sforsoldiersduringWWII.

3NoBurgers

4

6pmLegion

ChristmasBuffet

Bringadishtopass

BirthdaysRudyardKipling-1865BoDiddley-1928SandyKoufax-1935DavyJones-1945