THE MAINE Legionnaire MAY 2018 Vol. 33, Issue 2 OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER AMERICAN LEGION DEPARTMENT OF MAINE 24 Pages Please Join Us to Celebrate our 100th Annual State Convention Spectacular Event Center, Bangor June 15-16, 2018 he American Legion, Depart- This promises to be an exciting and ment of Maine is proud to an- eventful convention for all Legion family nounce the 100th Annual De- members and friends. Please celebrate Maine American Legion was partment Convention at the with us by attending The American Le- TSpectacular Event Center, 395 Griffin gion Centennial Parade and take the time Well Represented at St. Louis Caucas Road, Bangor. Department Commander to visit us at our convention center to Randall Kluj will call the convention to learn what The American Legion, Depart- Donald G. Hands, 100th Anniv. Chairman can Legion. Waldemar P. Adams (54th. Ar. C. A. order promptly at noontime on Friday, ment of Maine has to offer all our veter- Special to The Maine Legionnaire June 15. Many activities, guest speakers ans and their families around the state of C), of Portland served on the Finance and recognition to award recipients will Maine. Committee. He also served take place both Friday and Saturday, in- The registration fee to attend the con- he American Legion as the Chairman for the cluding a massive parade to kick off The vention is $10 which covers both sessions T Department of Maine Committee on Name. The American Legion’s 100th Centennial Cel- to be held June 15-16 as well as access to was well represented at St. Committees initial recom- Louis Caucus. mendation for name was ebration. The parade will begin Saturday, coffee and bottled water throughout the Initial discussions as follows: “We, your June 16 at 11:00 a.m. in downtown Ban- day. about forming a veteran’s Committee on Name, gor and will include state-wide Legion- Please show your support to our Vet- organization which would unanimously make the naires, bands, floats, military vehicles, erans and Legionnaires around the State eventually become the following recommenda- and a sea of flags as far as you can see. of Maine by making every effort to at- American Legion were tion, that the name of this The staging area will be located at the tend. held in France. It was de- Organization shall be ‘The intersection of Exchange and State Street. cided there that more work American Legion of needed to be done and that World’s War Veterans’. it should be done stateside. Respectfully submitted, Consequently, a caucus W. P. Adams, of Maine, was held in St. Louis, MO ALBERT GREENLAW Chairman; Roy W. Wood, on May 8 thru May 10, 1st Dept. of Maine Commander of Arkansas, Secretary.” 1919. James L. Boyle of Augusta The State of Maine (Sergeant in the 54 Ar. C. was well represented with A. C.) served as Depart- no less than 10 delegates; ment of Maine Secretary, many of them serving in St. Louis Organization key positions in the for- Committee and the Com- mation of our American mittee on next meeting. Legion. Below is the offi- Committee on next meet- cial listing of committees. ing initially organized the The Advance Commit- first convention. tee recommends commit- Note: James L. Boyle was tees on the following sub- the first Department of jects: Maine Adjutant and served 1. Credentials over 30 years in that posi- 2. Temporary Name of the tion. He was elected Adju- Organization JAMES L. BOYLE tant for the State of Maine Ramsdell Rogers Post 56 in York Post 56 Installation Of Officers: 3. Organization 1st Dept. of Maine Adjutant at the first Annual State York, held their Installation of Officers at the Post home on May 14. Post Com- 4. Resolutions Convention in Bangor on mander Donald G. Hands opened the meeting welcoming all who were present 5. Constitution and By-Laws and Declara- Sept. 24, 1919 and passed the gavel on to State Commander Randall Kluj who performed the tion of Principles Roger A. Greene of Lewiston (Major installation ceremony. Assisting Commander Kluj with installation were Dept. 6. Next Meeting Place and Time in the 101st. San. Tr. 26th. Div.) served on Sgt.-At-Arms Jason Hall and Dept. Americanism Officer Debra Couture. Stand- 7. Publication the Resolutions Committee. ing, left to right, Post Executive Officer Paul Klebaur, Post Executive Officer and 8. Emblem Albert Greenlaw of Eastport (Lt. Membership Chairman Robin Greene, Post Finance Officer Jerry Allen, Post 9. Permanent Headquarters Colonel in Hdq. 26th. Div. Asst. Ch. Staff) Sgt.-at-Arms and Chaplain James Fitzpatrick, Post Commander, Adjutant and 10. Finance served on the Permanent Executive Com- Historian and Dept. 100th Anniversary Chairman Donald Hands, Post Executive Next, I alphabetically presented our mittee and on the Credentials Committee. Officer Chuck Arboch, and State Commander Randall Kluj. Seated, left to right, comrades who served and in what capacity Note: Albert Greenlaw served as the Dept. Judge Advocate Jason Hall, Greg Couture, and Dept. Americanism Officer they served. I hope you will agree with me first Commander for the Department of Debra Couture. Post Americanism Officer Chuck Andrews, Post Service Officer that upon review, there can be no doubt Maine American Legion from 1919-1921. Jimmy Carabello, and Post 2nd Vice Commander Charles Pratt were previously that the State of Maine was well represent- elected and would be installed at a later date. ed in the formation of our beloved Ameri- More on ST. LOUIS CAUCAS, Page 2 2 THE MAINE LEGIONNAIRE, MAY 2018 Commander’s Comments A ‘First’ Look omething would not be possible without the De- y fellow that I pen for the Maine Legionnaire will S to Be partment Adjutant Paul L’Heureux, who M legion- be as Department Commander. But either Proud of— been the driving force in accomplishing naires, this be- way, it truly has been a pleasure to serve Spanning the all these goals. ing my last arti- the Legion in this capacity. past several Past National Commander Tony Jor- cle, I will pen Throughout the past year, I had the years, the De- dan is excited about our recognition on as the Depart- chance to travel and meet a lot of interest- partment of the Nation level and supports all our ment 1st Vice ing Legion, Auxiliary, and S.A.L. mem- Maine, Ameri- new ventures of the Department of Commander. I bers. Hopefully, I helped a few along the can Legion has Maine American Legion. National rec- would like to way and performed my duties to the es- made many ognizes and applauds our efforts to unite take this time to teem that this office deserves. accomplish- the younger veterans to our member- express my Once again, I thank all of you for ments. Our ship. The Department of Maine is one of sincere and your support and allowing me this fantas- compound the few organizations that house The heart-felt thanks SCOTT tic opportunity to serve you. The experi- houses the Le- American Legion Family at one loca- to Commander PARADIS ence was truly one in a life time adventure gion Family, COMMANDER tion. Kluj, Depart- that I will never forget. I can be reached the American RANDALL G. KLUJ At National Convention in Reno, Ne- ment Officers, and The American Legion via email at [email protected], Legion, Sons vada, the Department of Maine was pre- for allowing me this extraordinary oppor- 207-902-2339, or via mail at Scott Para- and Auxiliary. Strides have been made in sented with the award for the #1 newspa- tunity to serve you as the Department 1st dis, 786 Moosehead Trail, Newport, our training, under Past Department Com- per, The Maine Legionnaire. Rachael Cur- Vice. It was a duty that I did not take Maine 04953. mander (PDC) Richard Graves, the Amer- rie and staff are integral parts of the publi- lightly and have thoroughly enjoyed over Thank you for the privilege of your ican Legion Extension Institute Course is cation and do multiple projects to advance the past year. Hopefully my next article time and your service. a requirement for all Department Officers. our organization. The LEAD Program (leadership training) We are an ongoing organization serv- man of this Caucus, that there be placed in has been instituted at our fall conferences. ing veterans, rejuvenating our outreach to ST. LOUIS CAUCAS nomination at this time Colonel Henry D. Our Legislative Committee under the all veterans. To honor our POW/MIA’s, (Continued from Page 1) Lindsley, of Texas. (Applause.) tutelage of PDC Chick Ciciotte has flour- we are planning to construct a monument Frank M Hume of Houlton (Colonel ished, showing continued growth with the at our compound. Many good works have in the 103rd. U. S. Inf.) served on the Com- leadership of PDC Pete Johnson and 2nd been accomplished, and it is to be cele- Roy C. Haines of Ellsworth (Sergeant mittee on Emblem. Vice Commander Matthew Jabaut. The brated! Let’s celebrate our 100th centenni- Asst. Ch. Staff 334th Tank Corp.) served Note: He was instrumental in the for- recent graduates of The American Legion al with post level events, participation in on the Advance Committee. The Advance mation of the Chester L. Briggs American College Course, attended by Matthew the Convention Centennial Parade, mem- Committee is crucial to the event as it or- Legion Post of Houlton, ME. Jabaut, Jason Hall, and Kelly Ela gives bership drive, open house, etc. ganizes and sets the agenda for the meet- William P. Norton of Portland (72nd. these graduates information that they cur- I’ve been honored to serve as your ings.