The 268'er

A Digest for May 2008

                              
Commander Jim Mattingly 

COMMANDER'S MESSAGE

The Super Bowl Committee wants all dues in “BEFORE" July 1, 2008. Pay up by July 1 or be replaced from the ‘waiting list.’ Don't let procrastination end your participation! Send dues in to the Post with “Super Bowl Committee” on the envelope.

Post Officers will be elected on May 27. If you can assist in Post operations, please let our Adjutant, Sandy Smith, know. There are a number of committees/positions that need to be filled. If you are interested, please let Sandy or me know. We'll be happy to nominate you. We're looking for (in particular): 1) Post Service Officer; 2) Historian; 3) Veterans Assistant; 4) Ways & Means Chairman; 5) Budget Officer. We're also looking for a Post Member to count daily receipts (a money counter). This IS a paid position!

NO BINGO on May 11th or 25th!  We will hold Memorial Day ceremonies at Veterans Memorial Park at 11AM on May 26th. A light lunch for individuals who attend the ceremony will follow in the Mike Devlin Hall.

Thanks to S.A.L. Commander Jim Cavendar and all of Squadron 268 for their HUGE $5,000 donation to our AL baseball team. Because of this very generous donation, Coach Dorsett met his 2008 goal. Many thanks to all who contributed to this very worthy cause. Baseball is one of the oldest American Legion sponsored programs.

Post member Diego Vazquez has written and published a book titled Bed for Four. It's a sweet and humorous accounting of his formative years; starting at the age of five and ending with his enlistment in the U.S. Army. It is a wholesome, G-rated story, suitable for the whole family. Diego will be signing/selling his book at the Post on Memorial Day. He has pledged 50% of the sales to the Post.

The newsletter is available for all who use the internet! If you wish to receive this via the internet, please let our Adjutant know so the mailing list can be adjusted. This will contribute to additional savings regarding postage expenses.

Later in this 268'er you will find information about the wonderful social events (Friday night dinners, entertainment, Saturday brunches, etc) coming up this month.

See you at the Post,

For God and Country

Jim Mattingly
Commander

CHAPLAIN’S COLUMN

The following Comrades have been, or continue to be on Sick Call:

~ Robert G. 'Bob' Williams ~ Ed Riggs ~ Paul Angel ~

~ Richard Martin ~ John Peifer ~ Richard H. Mlynarczyk ~

Lord of love, ever caring, ever strong, stand by us in our time of need. Watch over your children who are sick. Look after them in every danger, and grant them your healing and peace. Amen.

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

~ Joseph E. 'Joe' Storer ~ Charles D. Reed ~

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

To all mothers, mothers-to-be, grandmothers, (great ones also) and step-mothers - sincere wishes for a very Happy Mothers Day.  

See TEARS OF A WOMAN, dedicated to all women in honor of Mothers Day, later in this newsletter.

Saturday, May 17, is Armed Forces Day. Please remember in your thoughts and prayers our military personnel scattered around the world, especially those who are ‘in harms way.’ Hopefully they will be reunited with their families and loved ones - soon.

The Post, along with VFW Post 2562 and other organizations, will hold Memorial Day services at 11AM on Monday, May 26, at Veterans Memorial Park , directly below our Post home.

On Tuesday, May 27, the Past Commander's Club (PCC) will sponsor their annual Post Election Day Spaghetti Dinner from 5 to 7:30 PM. For the meager sum of $5, you have your choice of spaghetti w/meat balls, sausage, or meat sauce, plus salad and a glass of wine.

May the good Lord continue to watch over and bless you and your loved ones - and our Nation.

Regards,

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

AUXILIARY UNIT 268 NEWS

The Unit would like to welcome their newest member, Gloria Gutierrtz. Twelve new members were initiated during the April business meeting. Many of them are already active members!!

Our Americanism chairman sent two first-place essay winners to the District this year. This year’s title was America —Home of the Brave, Land That I Love. The first winner was Dimitri Cascio, a third-grader in group one. The other was Adam Meiners, a sixth-grader in group two. They both attend St. John the Evangelist School . Both were at the Southern Maryland District meeting. It was with great joy that I, as Southern Maryland District Americanism Chairman, presented Adam with first place and Dimitri with third place at the district level. It is an honor for our Unit to have both of our children win at District level. Adam’s essay was sent on to Department. Congratulations, both of you!

The Unit honored 10 local businesses for flying the American Flag. Each was presented with a “Certificate of Appreciation.”  It is unbelievably hard to find businesses that fly the flag of our country! Please contact me if you know of any. I need both the name and the address of the company.

Our Annual Poppy Dinner will be held on Saturday, May 10. Dinner will be served from 4:30 till 6:30.  The menu includes our “giant” salad bar, soup, baked potato bar, and dessert bar. The entrée will be your choice of baked chicken (white or dark) or ham steak. The cost is $9.75. For $6.50, you can have soup, salad bar, potato bar and dessert bar. We will have a program beginning at 6:45 to honor both our veterans and the poppy. Our essay winners will be invited to attend and read their essays. As usual, no tickets will be sold in advance. Please contact Chris Williard or me for table reservations. This is our last dinner until September.  Plan to attend and help us honor our veterans.

All Unit reports are in. We clipped and mailed almost $20,000 in coupons to overseas PXs. We meet around 7 PM on the second Tuesday each month to clip and count the coupons that are donated to us. Please bring your scissors and calculator. It’s amazing how fast we can get them clipped, counted and mailed.

Chaplain Chris Williard would like to hear from you. Her e-mail is chris1939@verizon.net. Please contact her at (301) 649-2709 if you know of any member who is ill or in the hospital.

May is Poppy Month. We will have poppy cans at the bar and in the lounge. Please take a poppy and make a donation. The auxiliary never sells poppies, but we do ask for donations! The poppy is a symbol of remembrance. It represents the story of men and women who go off to endure the horrors of war so that their loved one and others at home might continue to live in peace. Wear a poppy in their honor or in their memory. Place poppies on the graves of your loved ones.

Remember Memorial Day. Attend the Memorial Day services at Veterans Memorial Park (beside our Post home). Honor our veterans, both living and dead, in your thoughts and prayers. God bless you and God bless America .

“Your” President,
Linda Sarkisian (301 949-0641)
lindasarkisian@yahoo.com

S.A.L. NEWS

Batter up! In a ninth-inning walk-off homer at our April meeting, the S.A.L. presented Coach Bob Dorsett a $5,000 check towards 268 baseball. Needless to say, Coach was walking on air after learning the news. The team was in dire straits, but can now buy much-needed equipment and insurance and get ready to win one for the Gipper! Coach thanks all who contributed to making this dream come true. A roster and schedule will be hung in the Charlie Weaver (pool) room.

We gave $250 to the VFW Ladies Auxiliary for Cancer Research. Several S.A.L. members manned the kitchen at the VFW Cancer Research brunch. We also sent our annual check to Fisher House for $750. The S.A.L. members say "Our Pleasure to Help" to such worthy causes. That's what it's all about!

New Members and Finance: Tony Horner reported 147 members paid up. Sandy Smith approved four new members: William Crook, Sr., William Milstead, Jr., Frank Edwards II and Joseph K. Kreis. All have fathers who are members. Welcome aboard!  

The squadron is in good financial shape. The S.A.L. 100 was a sellout and we did make a profit.

Landscaping Crew: The crew is ramping up to mulch and plant flowers. We welcome donated plants. Thanks to Country Boy for the break on flower purchases. All interested in helping, see Jim.

The Food Folks: The ever popular Preakness Race Party will be held at VFW Post 2562. If you can help, please see Tommy Smithhisler.

New Business: Welcome to Mr. Don Porter, the new S.A.L. advisor. Don is a great, enthusiastic leader who will make the S.A.L. visible and viable to the Post. Thanks to Joe Hughes for his help in the past. It is appreciated.

There were no nominations for Commander, First Vice Commander, or Second Vice  Commander for 2008-2009. The following nominations were accepted: Historian – Jim, Chaplain – Lionel Haga, Treasurer – Tony Horner, Sergeant at Arms – Dickie Plummer and Harry Wachter.  For the Executive Committee: Tommy Smithhisler, Dennis Deramo, Ray Horowitz, Tommy Thompson and Tom McAleer. We need leadership! Voting will take place at the May meeting. Please plan to attend this important meetin'! A "round table" was discussed for the future to discuss issues that may arise between the Post and the S.A.L.

Good of the Sons: Record ANY volunteer hours in the S.A.L. hour box in the bar storage room. See Jim before May 10 to record any good deeds or participation for any Post, state, community or veteran causes so it can be submitted to Southern Maryland District on the annual form that we submit for credit.

I want to thank all who attended the Southern Maryland District meeting on April 20, 2008. We showed the attendees that special 268 hospitality with a casual lunch buffet after the meeting. Thanks for helping make that a success!

Keep our brave folks and their families over yonder in your prayers. They are on the line for you and your country. The S.A.L. will help with taking chairs to Veterans Memorial Park and preparing the lunch after the Memorial Day service. If you can help, see Jim.

Please make the final meeting of the season on May 6 at 7:00 PM. The 268 S.A.L. needs your participation to continue all of the great things we are known for today and in the future.