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OSWEGO CO. PAST PRESIDENTS PARLEY

Past Presidents Dinner

 The Past Presidents Dinner was held Thursday Sept. 16th at Canale's Restaurant in Oswego with 12 Past Presidents in attendance (Mary Ann Trouskie (with her personal chauffeur), Sandy Crain, Dianna Spinner, Elaine Johnson, Betty Rowlee, Lois Pohwat, Sherrie Lovell, Carol Mills, Barb Richards, Ruth Farrell, Helen Day and Rose Gilbert).

 Betty Rowlee, Past County President and Elaine Johnson, 2010-11 Co. President

 

Sherry Lovell, Pres. Aux. Unit 418 and Carol Mills, Past Pres. Unit 418

 

Lois Pohwat, Past Oswego Co. President

Oswego Unit 268

 

 Rose Gilbert, Cleveland Unit 858 and

Dianna Spinner, Parish Unit 601

Mary Anne Trouskie, Central Square Unit 915 and

Helen Day, Past Co. President, Cleveland Unit 858

 From our White Elephant auction we raised $100 to be sent to the new Women's Veterans home. 

 

Ruth Farrell, President, Hannibal Unit 1552, 

Sandy Crain, Past Oswego Co. President,

Barbara Richards, Past Pres. Hannibal Unit 1552

A good time was had by all and look forward to next year and hope more Past Presidents will attend.

GOLD STAR PARENTS

The American Legion wins long fight on behalf of Gold Star parents

Congress awards state veterans home privileges to all parents of fallen warriors

   WASHINGTON (Sept. 21, 2010) – After a decades-long campaign waged by The American Legion and sympathetic advocates, the U.S. Senate last night cleared legislation that will grant state veterans home care privileges to all Gold Star mothers and fathers; parents who have lost sons or daughters during military service.  Heretofore, since the post-Civil War era, only parents who had sacrificed all of their children in service were eligible for veterans’ home residency. The passage by unanimous voice vote followed overwhelming passage of similar legislation at the end of June. 

        “To lose one’s child to the service of our country is the ultimate sacrifice a parent can make,” said Tim Tetz, Director of The American Legion’s Legislative Division. “We owe them much more than a debt of gratitude.  It is heartening to see that Congress is now making an honorable payment on that debt.”

        Tetz, formerly the Executive Director of the Nevada Office of Veterans Services, was among those who urged Senator John Ensign (R-Nev.) to introduce enabling legislation into the Senate making that state one of the prime driving forces behind the move to open veterans’ home care to more Gold Star parents.  Tetz credited Ensign as being “hugely supportive” of the Senate measure. Nevada’s Gary Bermeosolo, Legislative Chairman of the National Association of State Veterans Homes, also offered his thanks by saying “(we) appreciate the efforts of Senator Ensign and Congressman William “Mac” Thornberry of Texas (who introduced the House bill in late January) to correct the inequity created by the onerous definition requiring Gold Star Parents to have lost “all” of their children to wartime service in order to be considered for admission to a state veterans home.  We prayed that they would be successful with their efforts.”

        The American Legion’s effort to honor all Gold Star parents with much deserved care goes back many years. It was a special project of Paul Morin, who served as the Legion’s National Commander in 2006-2007 and was superintendent of a veterans home in his native Massachusetts.  “The contribution of Commander Morin and fellow American Legion movers and shakers in correcting this inequity cannot be overstated,” concluded Mr. Tetz.

        The House and Senate bills will now be presented to a joint conference committee for reconciliation of any differences with the final version to be forwarded President Obama for his signature.

FOLLOW NATIONAL COMMANDER

National Commander Jimmie Johnson

has a Facebook page where you may follow his travels. Just click here to view it.

 

National Commander Jimmie Johnson from Alaska

 There, Legionnaires and Facebook users from all over the world can connect with the commander, allowing them to receive updates from him as he travels the country and represents the nation's largest veterans organization. Visit his page and click the "Like" button in the top right corner of the page to become a fan. "Fans" of the commander can receive status updates from him in real time, view his personal photos from the road, follow his schedule in the events calendar and interact with him and other Legionnaires.

Just as they were during Hill's tenure, Legionnaires are asked to follow the commander's example and embrace social media. Not only are social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook good avenues to attract younger veterans, they're also mediums that facilitate interaction among fellow members and instill a sense of unity within the Legion's membership ranks. Connect to the commander on his Facebook page and join up with Foster and Legionnaires everywhere.

FREEDOM CAR NEWS

Bad luck hits Freedom Car at Toledo

By James V. Carroll - September 14, 2010

 

 Driver Jerick Johnson shares a 76 Freedom Car hero card 

with a young fan during an on-track autograph session at 

Toledo Speedway Sunday. Photo by James V. Carroll

 

 There are good days in the racing business and bad. It was all bad Sunday at Toledo Speedway for Jerick Johnson and The American Legion/David Law Firm 76 Freedom Car. 

Johnson's opportunity for an up-front qualifying position was rained out Saturday, and his opportunity for a top-10 finish in the Northwest Ohio Ford Dealers 200 race was dashed by a blown right front tire and resulting damage to a sway bar.

"I know they call it just one of those bad luck racing things," Johnson said after his disappointing 20th-place finish. "But surely there has to be some good luck racing things out there too."

Due to rained-out qualification attempts on Saturday, Johnson started the ARCA 100-mile race on the inside of row 13. Johnson maneuvered his Chevrolet to 19th place before the right front tire blew. The resulting green flag pit stop quickly shuffled Johnson toward the back of the 32-car field. After returning to the half-mile paved oval, Johnson realized the flat tire caused the suspension to drag along the track, shearing the right front sway bar.

"We never recovered after the sway bar broke," Team Johnson Motorsports owner Jack Johnson said. "We had a top-10 car today - maybe a top-five car. It took us too long to rig a fix and get back on the track. After that, we just run laps."

Johnson's 20th-place finish at Toledo did not alter his Championship or Hard Charger points standings. He is 18th in Championship points and second in the Hard Charger category.

The 76 Freedom Car is tentatively scheduled to race Saturday in the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA Fall Classic at Salem Speedway in Salem, Ind., and is entered to compete Sept. 30 in the ARCA Kansas Lottery 150 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kans. The Kansas race will be televised live at 5 p.m. ET on SPEED.

LUCKY 7 PIN

'Lucky 7' pin incentive program

The American Legion - September 2, 2010

During the 2010-2011 membership year, National Commander Jimmie Foster will award his National Commander pin to any Legion family member who signs up at least two new members and renews five current members into The American Legion.

A "New Member" is defined as any eligible person joining for the 2011 membership year who was not a member of The American Legion during the 2010 membership year.

National Commander Foster's goal is to recognize those in the Legion family who actively recruit new members into the world's largest veterans' service organization for the 2011 membership year. To maintain the integrity of the National Commander's pin incentive program, only one will be awarded per individual.

The certification form for this program may be submitted at any time after September 2, 2010. Upon receipt, national membership staff will confirm the names and mail the pin directly to the Legionnaire. National Commander Jimmie Foster's I am part of the "Lucky 7" pin incentive program will end on June 30, 2011 - or when supplies are exhausted.

Thank you,

Jimmie Foster
National Commander 2010-2011
The American Legion

PEPSI REFRESH PROJECT

Come on, Legion family! 

Where are the votes?

Job Fairs for Veterans is competing

for a $250,000 grant.

Voting ends Sept. 30.

You can vote every day.

This project is at 96 now.

Remember to VOTE EACH DAY!

This is for our veterans, let's get with the program!

Click here to vote. Do it NOW!