Fall 2021 FREE STATE WARRIOR 1 For God And Country . FREE STATE VOLUME 58, NUMBER 4 WARRIORBALTIMORE, MD. Fall 2021 aul E. Dillard was elected national commander of The Commander’s Message American Legion on Sept. 2, 2021, in Phoenix during the P nd William L. Trotter, Commander, Department of Maryland organization’s 102 national convention. His theme as national commander is “No Veteran Left Behind.” He first joined The e are finally here! After two years of planning, meetings, American Legion in 1969. Wdocumentation, legalities, regions instead of districts, A native Texan, Dillard graduated from Whitesboro High districts instead of counties, the Department of Maryland begins School in 1965 before joining the U.S. Navy and serving in the New Era. I have been duly impressed with how it all has Vietnam through four campaigns including the Tet offensive. come together and how everyone has made it all happen! There He later received an honorable discharge as a radarman second is excitement in the air as everyone looks forward to doing class petty officer from the Navy Reserve before attending Grayson County Junior things a different way. But, make no mistake, it is still a work College and East Texas State University. in progress and requires fine tuning as we proceed. All that are Dillard worked several years in the manufacturing business as an engineer, plant in leadership positions should make note of things that might manager and director of manufacturing in Tennessee. Upon returning to Texas, he have looked good in planning, but are not quite right in reality. Make sure that those accepted a sales representative position with Sherman Foundry and became its airplane who are new to your District feel welcome and included. Tell them to get involved. pilot. A career change was made when he and his wife, Donna, began their family and Find your niche and volunteer. Anything that you do will be greatly appreciated. he entered the insurance business specializing in employee benefits and later forming One of the highest of leadership duties is the duty of encouragement. It is easy Dillard & Gann Insurance. to laugh at one’s ideals. It is easy to pour cold water on their on their enthusiasm. As a paid-up-for-life member of American Legion Post 265 in It is easy to discourage others and say nobody cares or it makes no difference. The Lake Kiowa, Texas, Dillard served as post commander, vice commander, world is full of discouragers. We have a duty to encourage one another! Many a adjutant and judge advocate. He coached American Legion Baseball for time a word of praise or thanks or appreciation or cheer has kept someone on their more than 10 years and served as his post’s Boys State chairman. feet. Blessed is he who speaks such a word. When did you last encourage someone Dillard served the 4th District as commander and vice commander and served the else? Encouragement! Pass it on! department as sergeant-at-arms, Membership & Organization chairman, National I recently had the opportunity to spend some time with soon-to-be Past National Security chairman, Uniformed Organization chairman, Board of Trustees chairman, President Nicole Clapp of the Auxiliary. Even after two years on the go, she is still and he served on the Finance Committee and the Long-Range Planning Committee. focused and enthusiastic about the work of the Auxiliary! What a delightful person He was elected as Department of Texas commander in 2007. representing the ideals we all hold dear. She was to have joined me in throwing out On the national level, Dillard has served as Alternate National Executive a “ceremonial first pitch” at the Negro League Legends Hall of Fame baseball game Committeeman, consultant to the Insurance Committee, Distinguished Guest at Prince George’s Stadium in Bowie on August 7. Unfortunately, we were rained Committee, Children & Youth Committee, and Media and Communications Council. out. Speaking of baseball, congratulations are in order for Ridge Post 255 making He has served as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, chairman of the it to The American Legion World Series!! They went 2-1 in the playoff round, but Veterans Employment & Education Commission and chairman of the Legislative were eliminated from further competition when a tie-breaker had to be applied. Commission. He was elected as national vice commander in 2013. In Ocean City, we visited with Paul Dillard of Texas, the Leading Candidate for Dillard married Donna in 1983. They have two sons, William and his wife Allison, National Legion Commander. After waiting for several years now, he is ready to and Jonathon and his wife Karri, and two grandsons Jarrett and Lukas. All are members go! I have known him for about 5 years, owing to our association on the Legislative of the American Legion Family. Donna has been an active and dedicated member Commission. He will officially visit with us the second weekend in March. of The American Legion Auxiliary for several years and has served in numerous Thanks to Senior Vice Ron Holcombe for planning and presenting an excellent positions of leadership at all levels of the organization, including department president Training Seminar for the District Commanders on August 14. in 2017-2018. As we return to “normal,” up next is the National Convention in Phoenix. Let this be the official beginning of a successful year. Paul E. Dillard, National Commander of The American Legion Will Trotter Department Commander 2 FREE STATE WARRIOR Fall 2021 Reflections of an Adjutant Sr. Vice Commander By Russell W. Myers, Jr. By Ronald L. Holcombe ummer is ending and the new Legion year is underway. I hope reetings: I hope everyone took time out 1st 2021. (Congratulations everyone had a great summer season and enjoyed time with family their busy schedule on Memorial Day Southern Maryland District) and friends. The 103rd Department Convention and 102nd National Gto reflect on our veterans that have sacrificed The District formed a SConvention are in the past, and the focus of our organizational priorities their lives so that we may continue to enjoy Consolidated Post Report is clear. Maintaining vibrant Post programs and improving the efforts that our Nation Freedom and those who came back Committee, to my knowledge make Veterans and their families want to be a part of our organization. home suffering from the wounds of war that this was the first time this Almost every speech or article one reads recently about or regarding the has passed on. has ever been done. Thanks Legion says we aren’t doing enough in terms of recruiting, and in some I hope that those of who were delegates of Chairman Billy Hill, District cases that is a valid criticism. Our traditional new member recruiting by 103rd Annual Department Convention had an Commander Steve Brennan, Post Commander’s Posts is at an all-time low and has been declining every year. We have educational convention, you had an enjoyable and Post Adjutant’s. “Congratulation on your been retaining about 92% of our members every year, but the rate of death of members and the and safe visit at the sunny Ocean City, MD, Outstanding Team Work” low recruiting gains has us behind year after year. most of all I hope that you had a safe trip to Department Commander’s Training Seminar: Getting out of the four walls of the meeting location or the Post Home is critical to the and from Ocean City, MD. I want to sincerely thank Post Commander recruiting of new members. The main focus is getting the word out about the work of The I sincerely want to congratulate the Districts, Shirley Luby and her staff of Laurel Post No. American Legion into our communities and the communities of Veterans throughout the State Posts that received awards at the Department 60 for the outstanding job of hosting this year’s of Maryland. Then developing relationships with these communities to demonstrate the reasons Convention for their dedications to the Annual Department Commander’s Training someone should join our organization. Veterans Communities exist throughout our State. The American Legion Americanism Programs and Seminar August 14, 2021. local National Guard unit, the active-duty bases, JROTC and ROTC units, and assisted living maintaining their membership target dates, I also want to take this opportunity to complexes are just some of the places where large groups of Veterans work and live every day. percentage goals and recruiting new members. compliment the presenters for their exemplary The part that takes time and effort is building the relationships. It does not come with the first I want to take this opportunity to thank presentations. There were 45 Legionnaires in hello but is developed over time. The efforts made in building these relationships have a lasting Federal Post No 19, Baltimore District Council attendance. effect and increase membership in those Posts that make this a priority. for their endorsement and Past Department The attendees received instructions Also remember the DMS and Post 297 transfer as there are over 8,000 of these members that Commander Leroy Thornton, Department concerning their Duties and Responsibilities have expired over the last 5 years. I started in DMS and had a Legion member not asked me to Executive Committee-woman Marian James of their elected office and they also received a join a local Post I most likely would not be where I am today. Some may think that is an argument for their nomination for the High Office of wealth of knowledge for their American Legion against DMS recruiting depending on how you think I am doing in the job.