Commander Leroy 'Pistol Pete' Lone 

INDEPENDENCE DAY SUNDAY, JULY 4   DEPARTMENT CONVENTION IN OCEAN CITY JULY 12 THRU 16   RECEPTION FOR SMD PRESIDENT LINDA SARKISIAN SATURDAY, JULY 31

 COMMANDER'S MESSAGE

Thanks to the members of Wheaton Post 268 for electing me as your Commander.  I will do my very best to serve you and the Post.

Congratulations to the officers of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Sons of the American Legion on their election to their respective offices.

I am looking forward to all of us working together as a team to make Post 268 the best Veterans Post in the State of Maryland .

THIS POST IS YOUR POST!

IT IS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES, FRIENDS
AND GUESTS TO ENJOY!!

Please drop in at any time.  There are many events planned for the coming year and our Friday Night Dinners, Saturday Brunches and many other activities and events will start up again in September.  Where else can you enjoy such a good meal and good fellowship – all for a very reasonable price?  We can also use your help.  Join a dinner or brunch team, have some fun and meet new people!

If you have any suggestions (positive or negative) for the good of our Post, please do not hesitate to contact me at the Legion.  You can also make your suggestion or comment in the form of a note and give it to the bartender on duty.  They will see that I receive it.

I am looking forward to seeing you at all of our events.  Please also plan to attend membership meetings on the 4th Tuesday of the month.  With your help and support we can be the best!

See you at the Post!

Pete Lone,

Commander

 CHAPLAIN’S COLUMN

The following Legionnaires are on Sick Call:

~ Robert G. ‘Bob’ Williams ~ Joe Ricciardella ~ Sol Zeidman ~

~ Armand 'Bud' Caron ~ Arthur Cherpack ~

The following Legionnaires have completed their tours of duty, answered their final Roll Calls and have reported to the Supreme Commander of Post Everlasting:

~ Hyman Bialek ~ Louis A. Petty ~

May their souls, and all the souls of the Faithful Departed, through the mercy of God, rest in Eternal Peace. Amen.

“FREEDOM ISN’T FREE”

I watched a flag pass by one day, it fluttered in the breeze.

A young soldier saluted it, and then he stood at ease.

I looked at him in his uniform, so young, so tall, so proud;

With hair cut square, and eyes alert – he’d stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him had fallen through the years.

How many died on foreign soil – how many mother’s tears?

How many pilots and planes shot down? How many died at sea?

How many foxholes were soldier’s graves?

NO, FREEDOM ISN’T FREE!

I heard the sound of Taps one night, when everything was still.

I listened to the bugler play – and felt a sudden chill.

I wondered how many times Taps meant ‘Amen,’

When a flag had draped a coffin, of a brother or a friend?

I thought of all the children, the mothers’ and the wives,

- Of fathers’, sons and husbands, with interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard, at the bottom of the sea,

- and of unmarked graves at Arlington .

NO, FREEDOM ISN’T FREE!

Happy 234th birthday America ! Even with all the issues around us, America is still the greatest place on the planet – bar none! Please have a safe and wonderful Holiday . As always, please remember our service men and women, especially those in ‘harm’s way’ in your thoughts and prayers. I would like to sincerely thank my wife Linda, ‘Sonny’ McWilliams and everyone else who has helped do my job(s) in my absence. As Jackie Gleason would say – “You’re the greatest!”

 Regards,

"Blackie" Sarkisian,
Post Chaplain (301) 949-0641 (H) or jimsarkisian@hotmail.com

AUXILIARY UNIT 268 NEWS

As old man summer shines, your S.A.L. is taking a well-deserved break.  We hope you have plans to enjoy some fun and relaxation after that history-making deep freeze we experienced.

We’ve put away our pencils and gavels for the time being, but we can’t stop worrying.  The terrible oil spill in the Gulf might imperil our October crab feast.  We will meet in mid-August to make a decision.  We sure hope to have a crab feast, but are looking for suggestions for a replacement IF this tragedy puts crabs out of financial reach.  Let us know what you think.

Congratulations to newly-installed Post 268 Commander “Pistol Pete” Lone.  With his help, we can make this a banner year for getting things done.  There are many challenges - building maintenance, the Safeway project, and membership recruitment.  Reach out to Pete and offer your suggestions, help, talents and most of all, your support!

Many thanks to Bob Allen for being a stellar Commander.  We wish him and his loved ones all the best.

The Post needs an Adjutant.  Hard shoes to fill - but a very important, visible, paid position, not only for the Post, but for the S.A.L. and all of our veterans.  Light bookkeeping and good  organizational skills required.  Post membership required.  Please see the Adjutant, Sandy Henrikson-Smith, or the First Vice, Cris Crismond, for details.  The squadron thanks Sandy for all of her great work.

New Members and Finance:  We have all but two members paid up.  You can pay your 2011 dues NOW.  Get them in early, be done with it and enjoy a special reduced price on the Earl Bird picnic that will be held at good old Forest Glen Annex!

Good of the Sons: If you’d like to organize a casual cookout this summer to benefit a good cause, see Harry.  We have a great grill and the hall is open for rentals.

New Bingo signs were installed with hopes to direct more traffic to the Sunday night Post money-making event.

Your S.A.L. wishes you and your family a great summer.  Be safe, and enjoy the fantastic weather while thinking of our past and present veterans.  Display your flag when possible.

God Bless America .

Jim Cavender,

S.A.L. First Vice Commander

                                  Paul Gunther for The Gazette

CRAB FEAST

Well folks, depending on the date of delivery of this newsletter, either we had a great time with the crabs, sloppy joes, corn and all the other food, “or . . .,” it’s coming up very soon.  If it hasn’t come and gone, make sure you don’t miss the fun.  If it’s already happened, hope you had as good a time as I did!

TRAVEL FUN

I am thinking of organizing a cruise with Legion members and their friends, but I will need a good response for this venture.  The more couples that sign up, the cheaper the cruise will be. If at least 15 couples commit, I will start to get the best prices I can.  I will look for a cruise out of Baltimore for 7 days to the Caribbean or the Bahamas .  I’ll need to hear from some interested people before I can talk to an agent.

You can call me at 301-946-3268 or 301-570-0842

Thank you all so much

Cris (not so crabby) Crismond,

Ways & Means Committee Chair                                                  

CRIS AND LINDA’S KITCHEN

Folks, summer is here - but that doesn’t mean we have stopped thinking about cooking.  We had a great time this past year and want to do even more next year.  Of course that means everyone who supported us last year is obligated to do so again next year - and we would like for you to bring in more of your friends.

We hope we keep the teams that we have now and get a few more.  Let me know if you would like to have a team this year.  Come in and cook your favorite dishes for members and their friends.  Believe me, they will love it.  I am going to harp on all of you this year.  We really need your support.  These are trying times, so we all have to stick together and support our Post.

Thanks for a great year!  See you in September.

Cris & Linda,
Food Committee Cochairs

POST 268 NEEDS AN ADJUTANT

This is a paid position.  All applicants must be Legion Members with discharge papers or a DD-214.

The duties of the position include maintaining membership records, conducting post business and corresponding with The Department of Maryland.  Training is available.

If you are interested, please contact Sandy Smith (301 946-6907 or 301 946-3268) or Cris  Crismond (301 570-0842 or 301 946-3268).

EVENTS FOR JULY 2010 HAPPY HOUR:  4 PM TO 7 PM MEGA MILLIONS, POWERBALL AND KENO AVAILABLE “THIRSTY THURSDAYS” – HAPPY HOUR FROM 7 PM TO CLOSING + FREE POOL
SUNDAY	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY
				1 CANADA DAY OLD COUNTRY 7:30 "THIRSTY THURSDAY"	2     LIVE MUSIC IN LOUNGE POCKET CHANGE	3 OPEN JUKEBOX
4 INDEPENDENCE DAY BINGO 6:30	5 Pool League	6 ACE OF HEARTS	7 Pool League FOOD BY CATHY & TANIA	8 POST EXEC MTG 7:30 PM "THIRSTY THURSDAY"	9 LIVE MUSIC IN LOUNGE DC MOTORS	10 OPEN JUKEBOX
11 BINGO 6:30	12 Pool League OCEAN CITY	13 ACE OF HEARTS OCEAN CITY	14 BASTILLE DAY Pool League OCEAN CITY	15 OLD COUNTRY 7:30 "THIRSTY THURSDAY" OCEAN CITY	16 OCEAN CITY LIVE MUSIC IN LOUNGE ARROW	17 OPEN JUKEBOX
18 BINGO 6:30	19 Pool League FOOD BY UNIT	20 ACE OF HEARTS	21 Pool League FOOD BY MIKE	22 "THIRSTY THURSDAY"	23 LIVE MUSIC IN LOUNGE SAX WITH MIKE	24 OPEN JUKEBOX
25 NASCAR BINGO 6:30	26 PARENTS DAY Pool League	27 ACE OF HEARTS POST BUSINESS MTG 7:30 PM Armistice signed in Korea 1957	28 Pool League FOOD BY MIKE	29 OLD COUNTRY 7:30 "THIRSTY THURSDAY"	30 LIVE MUSIC IN LOUNGE CUSTOMMADE	31 UNIT         OPEN JUKEBOX