Vol. 104, No.21 Official Publication of The American Legion Department of California February 2019 Chili and salsa contest raises funds for local veterans By Roy Dorantes having this salsa for over 50 years. BRAWLEY, Calif. - The Brawley This is homemade salsa.” American Legion Post 60 hosted “I’m using fresh jalapenos and a chili cook-off and salsa contest serrano chilis. I have another salsa on Saturday to raise funds for local that I have, [I use] chile de arbol and veterans’ programs. tomatillo sauce,” Romano said. Legionnaires from 5 districts in And some refused to share all of Southern California came together their recipes. with local community to show off “There’s other ingredients in it but their cooking skills and support. I can’t tell you because it’s a family Martha Romano, from Pacific secret. I could tell you but then you Palisades American Legion Post know the outcome,” Romero said 283, said, “I’m here to support the laughing. American Legion family. Every The money goes to helmets for year, they’ve been doing this for 30 heroes. years.” Tracy T-Dog Rascoe, El Centro Some shared a little of their secret American Legion Post 25, said, “It’s They said it’s a way of saying giving back and thanking them for ingredients for their chili and salsa. a program that we started just last thank you to veterans. their service,” Romano said. Edward Romero, Riverside year where all the change, every “If you enjoy the freedoms that “Love and care. Go pour and pour American Legion Post 289, said, penny counts to help our California you have every day you should give love and care right into that chili,” “This is my mom’s recipe. I’ve been veterans.” back. They gave to us, so we’re Rascoe said. Brawley American Legion Post #60 – “YOUNG GUNS”! LEFT: Pictured in no specific order: Post Save the Date: Commander-Isaac Donayre, 1st Vice February 9, 2019 Commander-Ernesto Four Chaplains Interfaith Service Mariscal, 2nd Vice St. Mary’s Church, Sanger Commander-Raymond Gonzalez, Finance March 3, 2019 Oratorical Finals Officer-Martin Islas) Clovis Veterans Memorial District Clovis, CA March 7, 2019 DEADLINE-NEXT ISSUE OF CALIFORNIA BELOW: Department LEGIONNAIRE Vice Commander March 8-10, 2019 Area 5-Tracy Department Executive Committee (DEC) Rascoe, Department Cpl Braden Post 56, Santa Maria Commander-Larry Leonardo, and District March 16 – 17, 2019 30 Commander-Robert Area 5 Caucus Morales with Officers of Marin-Davis Memorial Bldg., Los Alamitos Brawley Post 60 March 20, 2019 Annual Legion Day at State Capitol State Capitol Basement-Eureka Room March 22 -24, 2019 Department of CA-Legion College Class 2019-1 South Gate Post 335-South Gate March 30, 2019 Area 6 Caucus Camarillo Post 741 May 17 – 19, 2019 American Legion Riders (ALR) Convention Plymouth, CA June 26, 2019 Past Commanders’ Club Convention Ontario Post #112 June 27-30, 2019 Department Convention Ontario Convention Center August 23 – 29, 2019 National American Legion Convention Indianapolis, IN –YOUNG GUNS, see page 3 FROM THE DEPArtment COMMANDER’S DESK California United States. HE Got married, immigrated their lives on hold, placed their lives in THE AMERICAN LEGION American Legion to California and 20 years later he took harm’s way and continued to serve long after DEPARTMENT OF CALIFORNIA Family, Happy New the test and became an American citizen. the uniform came off. What better way to 1601 7th Street Year! And his children were proud of that fact. serve, knowing that one person CAN make a Sanger, CA 93657-2801 As children we grew up in two cultures, difference but to belong to an organization of TEL: (559) 875-8387 I hope you and American and Portuguese, but we weren’t over 2 million like-minded comrades, we can FAX: (559) 272-5157 your family had a Portuguese-Americans, we were Americans do anything, and by God we are. [email protected] great Christmas with of Portuguese decent. We celebrated our WE ARE TEAM 100. family and friends father’s heritage and honored our father’s DEPARTMENT COMMANDER Larry Leonardo, Sr. and had a safe and desire to allow us to embrace the American As I pen the article, volunteers are working Commander Larry Leonardo, Sr. Happy New Year, as culture as he did. He worked hard, never to make our report forms “user friendly” [email protected] well. asked for anything that he couldn’t work whether through electronic submission or for or afford. We honored our father’s life- DEPARTMENT ADJUTANT reporting using a hard-copy of those report We are well underway for our next 100 altering decision and voluntarily served in the Paul Brown forms, the choice is yours as we update and years as a Legion Family. January 1st started US Armed Forces when two of us could have get our system ready for the eventual future [email protected] out with an unprecedented event during the applied for an Agricultural deferment. And transition to full electronic reporting. We EDITOR Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, we all continue to serve our communities to Marilyn Rideaux the American Legion float commemorating this day. I continue to serve as a member of have the talent to accomplish these tasks when we work together. (310) 293-1246 M the American Legion 100th year and the the American Legion and I’m damn proud of beginning of our second 100 years of service that fact. (310) 819-8815 H We have moved forward with our [email protected] to our Veterans, God and Country. What an impressive way to bring in the new year, with What does this have to do with the communications and we strive to make it ADVERTISING/PUBLISHING renewed purpose, renewed enthusiasm, and American Legion? It has to do with YOU, better and more informative and useful to MID-VALLEY PUBLISHING renewed energy. our greatest asset. Department Adjutant, our members. We continue to work hard (559) 638-2244 Paul Brown, recently wrote, “What is your to bolster our membership at the Post level 1130 G Street, Reedley, CA 93654 We are TEAM 100. Our members in the WHY”. Each of us has a unique story of but also recruit new members to grow our Debra Leak, Advertising Sales American Legion Family are our greatest our WHY, but the common thread is, we organization that enables us to project a [email protected] asset. Our programs reflect ideals set forth joined the US Armed Forces for individual powerful effort for Veterans causes on by our founding Legion fathers in 1919 and reasons, yet we pledged an oath to protect Capitol Hill and we mentor our newer Duby Trevino, Graphic Artist continues today on the eve of our second the Constitution from ALL enemies, members on our programs, our mission [email protected] hundred years, due to our greatest asset, foreign and domestic. We made it through and our causes. Your WHY and my Why is YOU. I’m proud of each and every one of Boot Camp and we all served honorably. what makes the American Legion the most you who put on a uniform, left family behind Continuing service is the common glue that prestigious Veterans Service Organization to serve our country and knowing you and binds us together to become members of on earth. Without our number one asset, we your family continue to serve this country. the greatest Veterans Service Organization accomplish nothing. Be proud, be an active on earth, to serve our communities, our American Legion member. Moving ahead, I’m a private person, deep down, yet veterans and their families. A truly noble evolving and being progressive will be part I want you to know who I am and my and honorable endeavor. My wish is to be of our collective DNA. “WHY”. My brothers and sister are first part of an organization that truly believes in PUBLICATION POLICY generation American born citizens of America, its Veterans, their families and their California Legionnaire is the official publication Over 100 years of Service to Community, the Leonardo clan. Three of my brothers Communities. That is the American Legion, State and Nation. of The American Legion Department of including myself joined the Navy at a time and I am the American Legion. Just like California. California Legionnaire (PP 167) is when the military service was looked down all of you, my comrades, my brothers and published 6 times a year in February, April, June By the Numbers: 100 years…Four upon. My father immigrated to America sisters. I didn’t join the American Legion to August, October, and December by Mid Valley Pillars…One Team after 11 months struggling and waiting to advance my career, yet the American Legion Publishing Inc., 740 N St., Sanger CA 93657- immigrate to American, legally. He left his helped me be a better citizen, I didn’t join 3114. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Thank you, California Legionnaire, 1601 7th Street, Sanger, family and friends behind because he knew the American Legion to monetarily enhance CA 93657-2801. he could have a better life in America. At myself, I didn’t join the American Legion Larry Leonardo, NOTICE: the US Airbase in the Azores Islands, he for the accolades, I joined to help my fellow Department Commander met American GI’s during the closing years veterans brothers and sisters by joining an Dept. of California • Submissions to the California Legionnaire must be submitted by the due date pub- of WWII and heard their stories about the organization where its members once placed The American Legion lished in the California Legionnaire and on the Department website www.calegion.org DEPArtment ADJUTANT • Photos should be no less than 580KB.