POST 587 - FULTON, NY

Newly elected officers of Homer Russell Smith Post 587 in Fulton, NY were installed recently by past 5th district commander Delos Rowlee. 
A fine luncheon was enjoyed by all prior to the business of the post meeting and installation proceedings.

Pictured above are: seated: Donna Kestner, 1st Vice Commander; Don Patrick, Chaplain; John McGraw, 2nd Vice Commander.

Standing from left: John Votelink, 3rd Vice Commander; Bill Regan, Adjutant; John Young, Commander; Bob Cramer, Treasurer; Norm Lagowski, Service Officer; Jim Weinhold, Youth and Schools Coordinator. At right is Installing Officer Delos Rowlee, a past 5th District Commander and past Oswego County Commander.

Absent from the photo was Joe Cozart who is Sergeant-at-arms for the post.

RECOVERY

Commander: ‘Time to begin the recovery’
The American Legion - June 22, 2011

               DoD Photo

President Obama’s Wednesday announcement to begin systematically withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan was welcomed by American Legion National Commander Jimmie L. Foster. However, he said, the withdrawal must be conducted “in a measured and reasoned manner.”
 
“Our military families have sacrificed on the nation’s behalf for nearly 10 years,” Foster said. “Lives have been irreparably changed. It is time now for our warriors and their families to begin the recovery process.”
 
Obama told Americans in an address to the nation that the United States can begin force reduction “from a position of strength,” having met or exceeded expectations to neutralize the Taliban and topple al-Qaida. He noted that over half of al-Qaida’s top leadership, including 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden, are now dead. U.S. forces have also trained more than 100,000 Afghan troops to protect the country from a return to terrorist control. 
 
Since Operation Enduring Freedom began in October 2001, more than 1,600 U.S. military personnel have been killed fighting in Afghanistan and another 11,000 have been wounded. Post-traumatic stress among those who have served in the theater is estimated at over 250,000.
 
Such sacrifices, Foster explained, is the reason the United States must be smart about the withdrawal. “Troop reductions should be driven by accomplishments of the mission and not external pressures, such as the federal budget,” he said. “We owe it to those who served in the war to be certain their sacrifices have not been in vain and that Afghanistan is fully prepared to assume command over its own security and freedom.”
 
President Obama said 10,000 U.S. troops will be withdrawn from Afghanistan by the end of this year, and 30,000 will be out of harm’s way by the summer of 2012. From that point forward, he said, “Our troops will come home at a steady pace.” He said U.S. Armed Forces will be out of Afghanistan by 2014. “We have put al-Qaida on a path to defeat,” Obama said. “We will not relent until the job is done.”
 
Foster said it is important for President Obama to listen closely to his senior advisers, particularly military leaders in the field, to set the correct pace of force reduction. He said it is vital not only to Afghanistan’s success, but to global security for all peace-loving nations, that Afghan Security Forces are able to demonstrate their ability to ward off al-Qaida and control the Taliban.
 
Foster agreed with President Obama that those who have served in OEF – and the overall global war on terrorism so far – have succeeded in their efforts to control terrorism and put Afghanistan and Iraq alike on a course toward freedom and democracy. Obama added that “no safe haven” for terrorists will be tolerated by the United States in time to come and that Pakistan will continue to be a focus of his attention to stabilize the region.
 
“Tonight, we take comfort in knowing the tide of war is receding,” he said.
 
“For now, the wartime veterans of The American Legion are proud to say well done and welcome home,” Foster said.
 
President Obama said that the return of U.S. troops from Iraq and Afghanistan presents an opportunity to enlist those who have defended America abroad in the effort to rebuild America at home by giving the troops, veterans and their families the care, benefits and opportunities they deserve.
 
“Now, we must invest in America’s greatest resource – our people,” he said. “It is time to focus on nation-building here at home.”

MORE ON BOYS STATE

"A WEEK TO SHAPE A LIFETIME"

  BOYS & GIRLS STATE . . . TOGETHER

Adapting to a changing world, Massachusetts integrates portions

of their program to offer some educational opportunities to

both boys and girls.

These videos are from the New Hampshire boys state program. Parent's opinions and the remarks of the participants themselves. Check them out by clicking on www.nhboysstate.org

BOYS STATE

TOM BROKAW REMEMBERS BOYS STATE (VIDEO)

 
Tom Brokaw's thoughts on Boys State. Click below to hear his comments. 

http://www.legion.org/boysnation/2696/tom-brokaw-remembers-boys-state  

The Ten Tenors

A Military Salute...BEAUTIFUL

 John Rogers, SAL Detachment Commander, 2010-2011

Click on link below for musical tribute....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL-0mdEg0U4&feature=related

Jim Troiola, Dept. Commander, 2010-2011

Commander Foster

Normandy invasion remembered

The American Legion - June 7, 2011

 

 National Commander Jimmie Foster joins Auxiliary President Carlene Ashworth at

Pointe du Hoc in France for a rededication ceremony of a forgotten World War II monument. Photo by Jeff Stoffer

 

 The gray obelisk monument at Pointe du Hoc, a location often described as the most dangerous in the European campaign of World War II, was recently destined to collapse into the English Channel.

It took what American Battle Monuments Commission Secretary Max Cleland called the best of both worlds - “American money and French ingenuity” - to strengthen the earth around the cliff-side memorial, which pays tribute to the U.S. Army Rangers who sustained 70 percent casualties to take out German positions on the coast between Omaha and Utah Beaches on June 6, 1944. The site was rededicated Monday, on the 67th anniversary of D-Day.

American Legion National Commander Jimmie L. Foster and American Legion Auxiliary President Carlene Ashworth joined dignitaries from around the world to unveil the rebuilt memorial site on the northwest coast of France.

Former U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards of Texas was credited for having raised awareness in Congress and pressing for funds to restore the monument. He and his family were at Pointe du Hoc for the ceremony.

Commander Foster and President Ashworth later joined leaders from several nations, including U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., for French national commemorative activities at Utah Beach.

“The long shadows of hope and heroism live here,” Kerry told the crowd at Utah Beach. “The meaning of what took place here will never be diminished.”

Foster and Ashworth also laid wreaths at the Normandy American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach.

“We must never forget the sacrifices of those who fought to the death - and those who lived with the memories of war for the rest of their lives to deliver freedom from history’s darkest hours,” Commander Foster said. “It is our duty as a nation to continue to uphold the values they gave so much for.”

FREEDOM CAR

Freedom Car faces doubleheader weekend

The American Legion - June 8, 2011

 

Team Johnson Motorsports and 76 Freedom Car driver Jerick Johnson will race a doubleheader this weekend in two different states. Coming off a ninth-place finish at Rockingham Speedway in Rockingham, N.C., the team is scheduled to run Friday, June 10, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at the Keith Fleck Memorial 50 presented by Miller Beer and Sunday afternoon in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Raceway in the Seal Wrap 100.

In addition to racing and raising awareness for The American Legion and the POW/MIA cause this weekend, Johnson and the 76 Freedom Car team will visit three different Legion posts to greet Legionnaires and sign autographs.

The first stop will be at Post 119 in Greenfield, Ind., on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. The second stop will be at Post 298 in Marion, Iowa, on Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The third and final visit will be to Post 331 on Saturday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Brownsburg, Ind., before racing at Lucas Oil Raceway Park on Sunday.

"The American Legion/David Law Firm race team continues to strive to let our race fans know who The American Legion is," Johnson said, "and to let people know what wonderful veteran and youth programs our organization has, as well as to recruit the next generation of Legion members."

For more information on Legion Racing and its sponsors visit LegionRacing.org.