AMERICAN LEGION CLINTON POST 259
SEPTEMBER 2021 NEWSLETTER
pg. 1
COMMANDER’S CORNER
Dear Legion Family,
The month of September brings to mind the observance of events that are of two extremes. The first is the Labor Day holiday that’s an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers in recognition of their contribution to America’s strength and well-being. The second is the remembrance of one of the darkest days in America’s history in which thousands of lives were lost on September 11, 2001 from two attacks carried out by terrorists from Al Qaeda. This resulted in the observance of September 11th as “Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance” in honor of the victims of these attacks.
September also kicks off the 2021 NFL Season that will be the first to feature a 17-game regular season schedule as the league expanded the regular season from 16 games. As with past years, the Post will run a Superseason Pool and the chance of winning will increase with the added game. Good luck to all participants!
Finally, as the COVID-19 Delta Variant has caused a significant increase in new cases and hospitalization rates around the country, members are reminded not to let your guard down just yet. Continue to wear your mask, but most importantly, get vaccinated because it has been proven that the vaccination offers protection.
Yours in Legion Service, Willie E. Evans Commander
pg. 2
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2021 – 2022
Commander Willie E. Evans
1st Vice Commander Helen Smith
2nd Vice Commander Eugene Murray
3rd Vice Commander George Martin
Adjutant Glenda Sturdivant
Judge Advocate Anthony Hinnant
Service Officer James Woodland
Finance Officer Richard Switzer
Historian Linda Poulson
Chaplain Charles Johnson
Sergeant at Arms Kenneth Weathers
Executive Committee Members-At-Large Ray Carmichael Ronald Dickens Walter Harvey Barbara Smith
pg. 3
Auxiliary Officers Legion Rider Officers S.A.L. Officers
President: Freida Skaggs Director: Darryl Fielder Commander: Dave Desmarais
Vice President: Marilyn Thomas Asst. Director: Murray Hall 1st Vice: Michael Thomas
Secretary: Parnice Green Secretary: 2nd Vice: Kenny Hendrix
Treasurer: Michele Davis Treasurer: Finance Officer: Dave Desmarais
Historian: Lisa Cephas Chaplain: Sgt At Arms: Lou Montgomery
Chaplain: Shay Brown Adjutant: David C. Hutchinson
Sergeant At Arms: Marie Vanness Historian: David C. Hutchinson
Executive Advisory Board: Chaplain: Gary “GJ” Shafer Cheryl Batie
Donna Queen Advisor: Eugene Murray Pam Streeter
pg. 4
Message from First Vice Commander Helen Smith
Membership Status:
2022 Membership Goal: 833 total financial members by 5/11/22 (Armed Forces Day). o Paid members as of 8/23/21: 264, which represents 31.69% of our goal. o o Our next Milestone: 416 by September 9, 2021, which is 50%. This represents a total of 152 members needed to renew or join the post.
New Members:
Harry Allen Army Panama Christopher Brown Army Persian Gulf Joseph K. Kaliikoa Air Force Persian Gulf Samuel D. Purnell Navy Persian Gulf Anthony F. Turner Sr. Army Lebanon/Grenada
“Welcome to Clinton Post 259”
Buddy Checks:
Please continue to use the “Buddy Check” in reaching out to our veterans. We are encouraged to use this method to check on our veterans and find out any concerns they may have that we can aid that would improve their well-being. We encourage every member to take the time to reach out and let them know we are thinking about them.
pg. 5
Message from Third Vice Commander George Martin
Troop 1237 The troop is sponsored by Clinton American Legion Post 259. The current Scoutmaster and Committee Chair have both indicated that they will step down from their leadership positions at year’s end. In order for the troop to recharter (renew annual membership) the troop must have a Scoutmaster and Committee Chair. As the chartering organization we should be involved in the selection/providing adult leadership for the Troop. Troop 1237 has served the youth of Clinton and Upper Marlboro communities for over 26 years.
A positive tradition of the Boy Scout organization - Pictured is Troop 544 in Washington, DC receiving their Eagle Scout status on July 31.
Scouting, despite its recent challenges, is still a great way to teach boys (and girls) about outdoor adventures, forming friendships, and learning from decent leaders on honor, laws, and integrity.
Let’s hope that right-minded, upstanding men in Prince Georges County step up to the plate and volunteer.
pg. 6
Message from SAL Adjutant David Hutchinson
Friends and Neighbors: The Sons of the American Legion Clinton Squadron 259 will be hosting their 3rd annual Gary “Slimmy” Castleman Memorial Tournament on FRIDAY October 8,2021. We are asking for your help by sponsoring a hole at a $100.00 per sponsorship. For this you will be assigned a hole on the course. A sign will be posted on this hole with your company name, phone number and contact name, identifying your company as the sponsor. In addition, your company name and phone number will be posted in the American Legion Post 259 newsletter as a sponsor or donator. The newsletter is now online @ www.post259.org. We also have requested that our sponsors name be run on the digital marquee in front of the post for the month following the tournament. The proceeds from the annual tournament will help fund the various programs of the S.A.L. Squadron 259. Anyone interested please fill out the form and return it to the following: Clinton American Legion Post 259 9122 Piscataway Road Clinton, Maryland 20735 (Earmarked - S.A.L. Tournament) Any questions please feel free to call the American Legion Post 259 @ 301-868-2550 or David Hutchinson @ 240-508-9872 or email at [email protected]. We will also accept items to give out as door prizes. Foursomes are welcome at an additional cost of $360.00 per foursome. White Plains Golf Course – 9AM shotgun start. Thank You
Company Name: ______Address: ______Contact Name: ______Phone Number: ______Check #: ______Please make check payable to the American Legion Post 259 (earmarked: S.A.L. Tournament) pg. 7
Sons of the American Legion Squadron 259 Gary “Slimmy” Castleman Memorial Tournament Format: Captain’s Choice Where: White Plains Golf Course 1015 St. Charles Parkway White Plains, MD 301-645-1300 FRIDAY: Oct 8, 2021 9:00 AM Shot Gun Start $360.00 per foursome Includes: “Carts and Green Fee’s” “Beer and sodas on the course” “Food, Can Beer, Can Sodas and Water at the Pavilion after the tournament” “Prizes for 2nd, 3rd and 4th place… Door prizes and Others All proceeds going to: The Various Programs of the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 259 Anyone interested please contact American Legion Post 259 9122 Piscataway Road, Clinton, Maryland 20735 Phone: 301-868-2550 David Hutchinson, Golf Chairman Phone: 240-508-9872 Checks Payable to American Legion Post 259…Memo: SAL Golf ------Please pay for foursome all at one time, Thanks Foursome: ______Paid to: ______Date: ______Total Paid: ______Check # : ______
pg. 8
pg. 9
BINGO IS BACK!!!! AT CLINTON POST 259!!!
Prince Georges Community - COME OUT AND PLAY
EVERY FRIDAY BEGINNING @ 7:30 – 9122 Piscataway Road
POST MEMBERS - VOLUNTEER
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
BINGO CHAIR TONYA FORD@ (301) 661-6149
pg. 10
“Shrimp Night” Every Wednesday from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Come out and place your order! Menu Shrimp Hush Puppies French Fries ------SHRIMP & French Fries prices will increase slightly Starting Wednesday, October 6, 2021: Shrimp will be $9.00 & French Fries will be $2.00
pg. 11
UPCOMING EVENTS
Clinton Post 259 General Membership Meeting – 27 September 2021 (7:30 pm)
District Six Council Meeting – 24 October 2021 – Jameson-Harrison Post 238 (1:00 pm)
Clinton Post 259 General Membership Meeting – 25 October 2021 (7:30 pm)
Southern Maryland Region Council Meeting – 07 November 2021 – Wheaton Post 268 (1:00 pm)
Veteran’s Day – 11 November 2021
Department Executive Committee (DEC) Meeting – 14 November 2021 – Edgewood Service Post 17 (1:00 pm)
Clinton Post 259 General Membership Meeting – 22 November 2021 (7:30 pm)
Children’s Christmas Party – 12 December 2021
Clinton Post 259 General Membership Meeting/Adult Christmas Party – 18 December 2021
District Six Council Meeting – 23 January 2022 – Harry White Wilmer Post 82 (1:00 pm)
Clinton Post 259 General Membership Meeting – 24 January 2022 (7:30 pm)
Super Bowl – February 2022
Southern Maryland Region Council Meeting – 13 February 2022 – College Park Post 217 (1:00 pm)
Department Executive Committee (DEC) Meeting – 20 February 2022 – Greenbelt Post 136 (1:00 pm)
Clinton Post 259 General Membership Meeting – 28 February 2022 (7:30 pm)
American Legion Birthday – 15 March 2022
Clinton Post 259 General Membership Meeting – 28 March 2022 (7:30 pm)
District Six Council Meeting – 24 April 2022 – Clinton Post 259 (1:00 pm)
Clinton Post 259 General Membership Meeting – 25 April 2022 (7:30 pm)
Southern Maryland Region Council Meeting – 01 May 2022 – Severn Post 175 (1:00 pm)
Department Executive Committee (DEC) Meeting – 15 May 2022 – Dewey Loman Post 109 (1:00 pm)
Clinton Post 259 General Membership Meeting – 23 May 2022 (7:30 pm)
Memorial Day – 30 May 2022
District Six Council Meeting – 12 June 2022 – Randolph Furey Post 170 (1:00 pm)
Flag Day – 14 June 2022
Southern Maryland Region Council Meeting – 26 June 2022 – Cheverly Post 108 (1:00 pm)
Clinton Post 259 General Membership Meeting – 27 June 2022 (7:30 pm)
Department Convention – (13 - 15 July 2022) – Ocean City, MD
pg. 12
SEPTEMBER 2021 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesd Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4
Shrimp Night
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Shrimp Night Labor Day
SAL Meeting
(6:30pm)
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Shrimp Night
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Exec Committee
Meeting Shrimp Night (6:30pm)
26 27 28 29 30 General Legion Riders Membership Shrimp Night Meeting (6:00 pm) Meeting (7:30pm)
pg. 13
NEWS BRIEFS
*Prayers and Condolences go out to Clinton Post 259 Judge Advocate Anthony Hinnant on the loss of his sister (September 18, 2021)
*Prayers go out to Clinton Post 259 Sergeant-at-Arms Kenneth Weathers for his father-in-law from suffering a heart attack: hospitalized (September 10, 2021)
*On Tuesday, August 24, 2021, the Director of Veterans Affairs for Prince George’s County, Dr. James Dula, presented Legionnaire June Forte with a “Stress Relief Blanket.” Also in attendance at this event was Clinton Post 259 Chaplain Charles Johnson and Commander Willie Evans.
From left to right – Clinton Post 259 Chaplain Charles Johnson, Dr. James Dula, Clinton Post 259 Legionnaire June Forte, and Clinton Post 259 Commander Willie Evans. Comrade Forte is the widow of Legionnaire Ervin Forte, who passed on April 20, 2018. Mr. Forte was a notable volunteer as the kitchen cook for Friday Bingo nights.
*Pentagon’s Sexual Abuse Reports to Reform May Take Years to Complete
https://www.military.com/daily -news/2021/09/22/pentagons-first-wave-of-sexual-assault-reforms-will-take-6- years-complete.html
*VA Zeroes in on Gun Safety https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2021/09/22/va-zeroes-in-on-gun-safety-as-a-way-to-reduce-veteran- suicides/
pg. 14
American Legion Clinton Post 259
and Silver Hill Lions Club
Sept 28, 2021 9:00am - 2:00pm
American Legion Clinton Post 259 9122 Piscataway Road Clinton, MD 20735
Donate a Pint, Save a Life pg. 15
POST EVERLASTING
The burial service for Legionnaire John (Robbie) Robinson, Jr. was held at the Arlington Cemetery on Wednesday, August 25, 2021. “May He Rest in Peace”
pg. 16
Stay Safe-Stay Connected
The American Legion I welcome your news, ideas, suggestions, comments, or questions for future issues. Clinton Post 259
9122 Piscataway Road Forward to Editor Linda Poulson at Clinton, Maryland 20735 Phone: 301-868-2550 [email protected] Website: www.post259.org (subject to change)
Clinton Post 259 Newsletter is published monthly
pg. 17