The American Legion's top priority is serving veterans and second to that is sponsoring the Boys/Girls State programs. We had interview some 20 outstanding candidates, literally "the cream of the crop", of which Post 316 has committed to sending 5 boys to the event. This will cost our post $1,000 (5X$200). The question is can we afford this? Yes we can but our financial resources will be greatly diminished. In view of this we are asking for donations large and yes, small....anything to help out our post. We must have these dues paid by May 15th and so this is somewhat urgent. Sponsoring these 5 students is one way our post can show its commitment to youth programs in our community.These delegates are picked from our area high schools and it is certain that they will become future leaders of our great country. Many past politicians, industry and military leaders have graduated from Boys and Girls State. Check out the website: http://www.gaboysstate.com/Please consider making a donation to American Legion Post 316; indicate “Boys State” on your check and THANK YOU. The Ladies Auxiliary will also send young ladies to Girls State but do not know the number. The Auxiliary will handle their own financial obligation.
For God and Country, Michael Sarris, Commander
COMMANDER'S CORNER APRIL-MAY 2008
Apr 30, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Comrades:
IT'S NOT TOO LATE! LET ME ONCE AGAIN ISSUE A REMINDER: WE HAVE EXCEEDED OUR GOAL OF PAID MEMBERSHIPS FOR OUR TERM 2008 AND NOW STANDS AT 143. THERE ARE HOWEVER 18 MEMBERS WHO HAVE YET TO RESPOND. PLEASE HELP THE AMERICAL LEGION CONTINIUE TO FULFILL ITS COMMITMENTS BY RENEWING YOUR 2008 MEMBERSHIP
ANOTHER PROUD MOMENT FOR OUR POST AND COMMUNITY
Post 316 has set up 2 flag disposal boxes, one at the northeast corner of the rear parking lot of Woodstock Community Church and the other at the front entrance to the Woodstock City Hall building. These are painted red, white and blue with American Legion logos. Please show your respect for our flag and dispose your faded and tattered flags properly. These flags will be retired by various organizations in the area with flag burning retirement ceremonies. Dates unknown at this time. When scheduled information will be published. Again, a special thanks to John Coker and his son Mark for doing the great job of refurbishing the mail drop boxes and to George Wallace for applying decals and lettering and for hauling the boxes to their respective settings. A job well done!
For more information call 770-975-3136 or 770-926-0753"
MAY 15th DINNER MEETINGFolks Southern Kitchen: Our member Robert(Bob) Eldridge will be doing a power point presentation honoring Women currently in service or veterans. Several are anticipated to be present however we have room for more. If any of you know of any veteran ladies by all means encourage them to attend as they are most welcomed! In addition to the presentation in our business meeting we will be holding our election of officers for the upcoming term 2008-2009. Your attendance is important! Dinner at 6:30 with meeting starting 7:30.
APRIL17th DINNER MEETING at FOLKS Southern Kitchen with a guest speaker, Woodstock Mayor Donnie Henriques. The Mayor gave us a power point presentation of two initiatives that he is promoting. One is the placement of a War Memorial in the city park listing names of military men and women of Woodstock origin or residents who had made the ultimate sacrifice for our country starting with WW l through current conflicts and any future ones. Funding may come from public donations only-this has not been determined as yet. The second initiative is to construct an nature "ecotourism" facility to serve Woodstock and surrounding communities. This facility would be family oriented with attractions and nature type amusement participation.( Might be a bit too physical for us older folks!) Many countries have ecotourism attractions and we are told they are very successful and drawing thousands of tourists and locals of course. This would really put Woodstock "on the map"! It is not anticipated that either of these initiatives will be accomplished any time soon but stay tuned and check the local media for progress. You may get further information on other facilities by going to website www.ecotourism.com
The Korean Veterans Memorial Highway Dedication ceremony held in Macon on March 28th was an outstanding event. This highway dedication program was initiated by our very own Department led by Commander Dale Barnett also serving as MC. This outstanding program was comprised of music by the Georgia Army National Guard Band, presentation of colors by a local unit of the Marine Corp League and a host of speakers including Kwang-Jae Lee, Consul General of the Republic of South Korea who expressed his gratitude to those who served during the Korean War period and to those who sacrificed life and limb for the cause of freedom for his native country. The memorial plaque will be placed on US Hwy 80 in the Macon area with further dedications and memorials placed on Hwy 80 at Tybee Island and at the Alabama border thus covering Hwy 80 from east to west across Georgia. The States of Louisiana. Mississippi, Alabama, Nevada and Arizona have already dedicated portions of Hwy 80 within their respective borders. Eventually memorials will span the entire length of US Hwy 80 from the east coast to the west.
FREEDOM TEAM SALUTE kits for US Army Veterans. For those of you who had received the original notification letter mailed back in January and for those who have not picked up your kit they have now been mailed out to the remainder. Let me know if you have not received it by May 5th. Also check out and bookmark this website, http://www.freedomteamsalute.com/ for more information on this program.
Post 201, Alpharetta is sponsoring a magazine drive with collections to be sent and distributed to our military personnel serving in Iraq. So start looking around your house for magazines and bring them to our membership meetings (3rd Thursday of each month) or call me or Carlton Yancey and we can arrange to for a pickup. (Contact information listed below) Fairly current issue would be preferred. So let’s give a piece of “home” to those serving away from home!
Our National Executive Committee adopted a resolution, No 33, to support the Special Olympics that sponsor events for our disabled children throughout the country. Although our post will not develop a formal campaign to collect contributions may I suggest the following: I am sure many of our members contribute to the Special Olympics in our state and if you do plan on donating we ask that you mail your donation to Post 316 making your check out to Georgia Special Olympics NOT TO POST 316. At specific intervals we will forward these contributions to the designated agency. Thank you for your consideration.
It is recommended that visitors come back to this page regularly as last minute events may be posted and we would not want you to miss out! Check the Important Dates on left side of the home page.
I also urge our members to consider attending our upcoming meetings as there is much new business to be discussed concerning the direction we will take for the upcoming new term beginning August 1st. We need input as well as volunteers to help with our scheduled community services and Legion programs.
IF YOU ARE INCLINED TO BECOME MORE ACTIVE IN OUR POST WE INVITE YOU TO OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS AS THE FIRST STEP. AS ALWAYS IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT OUR POST OR NEED DIRECTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT 770-975-3136, EMAIL: , or SR. VICE CMDR WALT AT 678-574-7915, EMAIL: or AUXILIARY PRESIDENT BRENDA YANCEY, 770-926-0753, EMAIL:
For God and Country,
Michael Sarris Post Commander
COMMANDER'S CORNER MARCH 2008
Feb 28, 2008 at 08:49 PM
Greetings Comrades:It’s not too late!!Let me once again issue a reminder: WE HAVE EXCEEDED OUR GOAL OF PAID MEMBERSHIPS FOR OUR TERM 2008 WHICH NOW STANDS AT 135. THERE ARE HOWEVER SOME 40 MEMBERS WHO HAVE YET TO RESPOND. Please HELP THE AMERICAL LEGION CONTINIUE TO FULFILL ITS COMMITMENTS by renewing your 2008 membership.Thank you.
ANOTHER REMINDER: Several US Army veterans have not received their FREEDOM TEAM SALUTE kits. Please come by my office, Filkins, Colbert & Associates at 3509 Canton Rd. Marietta, located across from the Blackwell Elementary School next door to the Phillips 66. I am usually there from 10AM to around 3PM. If I am not there our lovely ladies will present the kits to you. If for some reason you can not come to my office we will after a given period of time mail these kits to you. We’re hoping you will come by and pick up as this would save us the expense of postage.Also check out and bookmark this website, http://www.freedomteamsalute.com/ for more information on this program.
In February we sponsored the annual Oratorical Contest having a lovely and bright home schooled student by the name of Leanne Livingston win our post contest. Leanne was to move onto the 9th District competition but at last minute was called to a regional debating contest in Alabama and had to cancel her appearance. We had no doubt that she would have won the competition at the 9th District and moved on. We can expect and look forward to Leanne to compete at the post level again next year.
At our PEC meeting February 21stspecial recognition was given to Carlton Yancey and Fred Schaefer for engaging in a patriotic event. Carltonpurchased and donated 6 flags: American Flag. 5 military insignia flags and a POW/MIA flag Thesewere presented by Fred Schaefer on February 11thto Deb Heaven, Kindergarten teacher at Arnold Mill Elementary School. These flags will be on display in the gymnasium particularly when the school has its Veterans Day program this coming November. Date and time will be posted at the appropriate time.
WE HAVE ADDED FOLLOWING MEMBERS TO OUR ROSTER SINCE JULY 1, 2007.
NEW MEMBERS ADDED
Alton Lee Brookshire , USAF, Vietnam George G. Wallace, III ,USAF, Vietnam Welcome!.
RECONNECTS (Active duty personnel): Benjamin Waldrup, US Army NG Brian Otis, US Army NG We wish these active duty personnel Godspeed wherever they are deployed and pray for their safety.
TRANSFERRED TO OUR POST
Irma M.Martin, USAF, Vietnam. Transferred from Mass Post 288 Donald E. Wilson, US Navy, WWll. Transferred from PA Post 760 Russell G. Vowell, USAF, WWll. Transferred from Post 221 Holly Springs Charles H. Denmark, USCG, Korea. Transferred from Post 032,Covington, Ga.
Transferred From Post 400
Jack S. Lane, US Navy, WWll John Lockley, US Navy, Vietnam Lonnie Ayers, US Navy, WWll Troy A. Adams, US Navy, Persian Gulf Robert I. Scoville, US Navy, WWll William F. Epps, US Navy, Vietnam Bruce A. Thompson, USAF, Persian Gulf Grady E. Mobley, US Navy, Vietnam Raymond H. Baer, US Army, Vietnam Ernest Gordon Wilson, Jr., US Army, WWll Thomas Stratton, US Army, Persian Gulf Neal Zollars, Jr, USAF, Vietnam. William Rossignol, US Navy, Vietnam.
On February 27th our post had the honor of being invited to attend and participate in a presentation and tribute to a fallen hero, Sgt. Paul Ray Smith. Sgt Smith was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor Posthumously in a very elaborate 3 day ceremony at the White House and Arlington National Cemetery back in 2003. Sgt. Smith was killed in action in a battle at the Bagdad airport on April 4th of that year.
A generous donor and true American Patriot by the name of Karl Robinson living in Arizona shipped a magnificent grandfather clock by van. Mr. Robinson’s nephew, Jim Hawkins and his Uncle Roy did the driving all the way from Arizona to deliver and present this clock to the mother and stepfather of Sgt. Smith, Janice and Donald Pvirre at their home 2405 Westland Way, Acworth, Ga. 30102. Mr. Robinson has donated some 15 of these clocks to the survivors of a loved one who died in the military service of his country. Three Legionnaires present were Michael Sarris, Fred Schaefer and Martin Inman, Major, US Army, Active.( A real nice touch to have a uniformed Army officer present) Cmdr. Sarris opened the event with a few well chosen words and expressions. The presentation of this magnificent clock was made by Jim Hawkins and Major Inman read the special scrolled tribute. A reporter and photographer from the Cherokee Tribune covered the event. Photos and story of this event can also be viewed on the following website in the Friday Feb 29th edition: www.cherokeetribune.com .Follow the links: Click “News”.For photos look on left side and scroll down until you see ”reprints and photos”. Our post should be proud to have been part of this very significant event honoring a fallen hero and his parents.
COMMANDER'S CORNER FEB 2008
Jan 31, 2008 at 07:00 PM
Greetings, Comrades.
I hope you were able to deal with our January freeze and were able to stay cozy and warm. Brrrr!
Before I get into the summary of January and upcoming events I would like to issue a reminder:WE HAVE EXCEEDED OUR GOAL OF MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS FOR OUR TERM 2008 WHICH NOW STANDS AT 135. THERE ARE HOWEVER SOME 40 MEMBERS WHO HAVE YET TO RESPOND. AFTER READING THE2 ND PARAGRAPH BELOW I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT EACH OF YOU WILL BE MOTIVATED TO REPSOND AND HELP THE AMERICAL LEGION CONTINIUE TO FULFILL ITS COMMITMENTS.
On January 17that our dinner meeting I had the honor and privilege to present to our US Army veteran members the FREEDOM TEAM SALUTEcommemorative kits. Unfortunately many were not present and thus I must remind those remaining that did receive the special mailing invitation that the kits will be available for pick up at my office. (Directions as follows: Filkins, Colbert & Associates, Inc. at 3509 Canton Rd, Marietta, Ga. 30066.This agency is locatednear the intersection of Chastain Corner Rd and Canton Hwy across from the CVS & Blackwell Elementary school and next door to the Phillips 66 station. Come by anytime starting the week of January 21st.) Another alternative would be to come to one of our meetings for a pick up. Be sure to notify me of your coming so that the kits will be available. Check your newsletter or website for dates of our upcoming meetings. I might mention that we were about 25 kits short ( IF YOU RECEIVED THE INVITATION LETTER YOUR NAME IS NOT ON THAT LIST) and those names have been sent to Department for processing. I understand that these kits will be mailed directly to these members- NOT to our post- by the Department of the Army. When? I cannot say but perhaps in the next “few weeks”. Also check out and bookmark this website, http://www.freedomteamsalute.com/ for more information on this program.
