AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1165May2018

Charles A. Conklin Post #28 Newsletter published monthly by Charles A. Conklin Post #28 of the American Legion

P. O. Box 439 ~ 700 S. Harbor Avenue ~ Grand Haven, MI 49417-1743 ~ www.grandhavenlegion.org

LegionJimPorenta,Post28Commander

jim.porenta@hotmail.comJohnBilski,1stViceCommanderJanetFonger,2ndViceCommanderLarryLambert,AdjutantCyndyWierenga,FinanceOfficerDuaneSmith,ChaplainHarryDyck,JudgeAdvocateFreddySmith,Sergeant-at-ArmsEdDeKoekkoek,HistorianGarrettVeihl,ServiceOfficerLarryLambert,ServiceOfficerHoytFonger,ServiceOfficerRayRibbink,Executive-at-LargeFreddySmith,Executive-at-LargeJimVette,Executive-at-LargeChrisJarvis,PastCommander

AUXILIARY

KathleenEdwards,Presidentgkedwards25@yahoo.com

LindaQuaine,1stVicePresidentDianeJanusch-Johnson,2ndVicePres.GinnyHebert,SecretaryMicheleStetts,TreasurerLindaGieske,HistorianPamMedendorp-Peck,ChaplainBarbKelly,Sergeant-at-ArmsKathleenEdwards,Membership

Sal

Dr.DavidIreland,Commanderdridc@att.net

JeffWarner,1stViceCommanderRossBerens,2ndViceCommanderT.L.Lowe,FinanceOfficerAlVanDam,ChaplainBrockRogers,HistorianHansVanHorssen,Sergeant-at-ArmsScottKelly,MembershipPaulKubicek,AdjutantTomSchultz,PastCommander

Legion riders JohnKemme,Directorjkemme3@att.net

CharlesPotter,AssistantDirectorChaseKamhout,Sergeant-at-ArmsDianaArens,SecretaryLarryFoose,TreasurerTBD,ChaplainSallyKemme,MembershipChair

CLUB Manager

TinaDavistina-d@att.net

Hours: Mon.–Fri.1pm–10pm Saturday12pm–10pm Sunday1pm–9pm

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

COMMANDER’SCOMMENTS

NEWMEMBERSKentWinters,GulfUSA/ActiveRonaldSenf,VietnamUSAFDanielSelahowski,VietnamUSNRobertShumake,VietnamUSNWilliamBackman,VietnamUSNJohnVonAlbade,KoreaUSN

TAPSWEREPLAYEDFOR:GwenEngleright,WWIIUSNWilliamLaning,WWIIUSA

ItisanotherincrediblybusyMayatPost28.WehitthegroundrunningwiththeelectionofofficersatthePostmeetingonMay1st.PleasecomeandtakepartinthepoliticallifeofthePost.Wewillbeadjustingthecalendarbycelebratingthefifthonthefourth(CincodeMayo)withtacosinsteadofburgersthatFriday.TheKentuckyDerbyPartyonSaturdaythefifthnecessitatesthechange.TwoFifthDistrictmeetings(SALonTuesdayandAmericanLegiononThursday)willbeheldhereatthePostthe

followingweek.PlanningfortheeventsofMemorialDayweekendiswellunderway.PastorMichaelGoershasgraciouslyofferedSt.MatthewsLutheranChurchinSpringLakeforthe6:00p.m.serviceonSunday.Monday’sparaderoutehasbeenextendedtoEscanabaMemorialPark(theconstructionatWaterfrontStadiumrequiresavenuechange)fortheannualmemorialservice.The“EternalFlame”and“LakeForestCemetery”eventswilltakeplaceasusual.Post28paradeparticipantsareinvitedtoaheartybreakfastcookedandservedbyPastCommanderVeihlandthe“CoopersvilleGang”beforetheparade.CheckthecalendarforyourmanyotheropportunitiestoparticipateinthelifeofYOURPOST.ATTEND,PARTICIPATE,VOLUNTEER,thepayoffcomesintheformof“comradeship”!SAVETHEDATE:June13th,11:00a.m.atEscanabaMemorialPark

MemorialService:75thAnniversaryofthesinkingofUSCGCutterEscanabaJimPorenta,100thCommanderPost28

TRANSFERSJerryOrcutt,VietnamUSA/USAFRonaldScott,VietnamUSAFDanielJ.Rauwerda,VietnamUSAGeraldYoung,KoreaUSARogerKnoper,VietnamUSAMichaelThurbwer,GulfUSNCourtneyThurber,GulfUSN

Ifyouknowofanyonewhoshouldbeaddedtothislist,orwouldbenefitfromacallfrommeastheirChaplain,pleaseletmeknow@dss@stirlingimpressions.com,or616.502.1555.InHisandYourService,Duane"Smitty"Smith,Chaplain VinceAntonich,DeweyJordon,RonHolland,CarlKuzyk,JohnBegert,Ken&RuthKelly,BobBoersma

SICK CALL

1stViceCommanderJohnBilskipresentedAwardstothePostCommanderJimPorentaandPastCommandersEdDeKoekkoekandDavidMacKellarfromtheUSSAlabama.

AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1165May2018

HelloSAL,Wehadelectionslastmonthandhaveelectedanewslateofofficersfortheyear;theywilltakeoverinJune.Congratulationstoourfollowingofficers:Commander-JeffWarner,1stViceCommander-RossBerens,2ndViceCommander-HansVanHorssen,SergeantatArms-CharlieChittenden,Chaplain-AlVanDam,FinanceOfficer-TLLoweandHistorian-isopenifanyoneisinterested.OurnewCommanderappointstheMembershipChairpersonandtheAdjutantafterinstallation.Lookslikeagreatgroupofleadersforthenextyearandyearstocome.OurDistrictwillbehavingitsmeetingonTuesdayMay8that7:00pmattheLegion.TheywillbeinstallingitsboardatthatmeetingandtheStateSALCommanderDominicMerlingtonwillbepresentattheceremony.ItwouldbegreatifwehadabigturnoutforthiseventsowecanshowoffhowproudweareofourPostandtheLegionitself.Nextmonth'seventsincludetheMemorialDayGolfoutingwhich,Iheard,isfillingupfast.So,ifyouhaven'tregisteredyet,youbetterhurry.Comingup:VeteransHomeBingoisThursdayMay3rdandtheMemorialDayCeremony,whichisstillfinalizingthedetails.I'dliketowelcomeournewmembers:JosephForrest,StevePetricko,AlanRehfus,ShawnSchrader,JimThompson,ScottWagaskyandatransferJoeHansen.WelcometoPost28guys. DavidR.Ireland,SALCommander

SAL

8 & 40 salon 499 Officers

MyrnaPuse,Chapeau MicheleStetts,LaCassiere/SecretaireBarbHerron,ChapeauPremier KathleenEdwards,ChapeauDeuxiemeRuthKelly,L’AumonierLouiseSvoboda,LaConcierge

HonorGuardhadthreefuneralsfromlastPostmeeting.TheArmyhelpedwithonefuneraland

theNavyhelpedwithonefuneral.SpecialthankyoutotheLadiesAuxiliaryforassistingwiththememorialserviceofGwendolynEngleright,whowasaPastAuxiliaryPresident.HonorGuardLeader:GeorgeBennett

SofarthisSpringhasbeenprettycold;snowandfreezingtemperatureshavepreventedanyearlymotorcycleriding.Theweathershouldwarmupsometimesoonandmotorcyclistswillbeoutontheroads.WeallaskthateveryonePleaseLookTwiceformotorcycleswhenpullingoutontheroadway.TheRiderswillbestartingourHotdogdinnersonthe2ndand4thTuesdaysofthemonth,beginningonTuesdayApril24th.WewanttoThankeveryonefortheirsupportofourdinnerssothatwecanhelpfundourLegionprograms.IreadthisonFacebookthislastweekandwillshareit:Onlyabikerknowswhyadogwantstostickhisheadoutofthecarwindow.Let’salldriveandridesafe. JohnKemme,Post28ALRDirector

LEGION RIDERS

“Alwaysgowiththechoicethatscaresyouthemost,becausethat'stheonethatisgoingtohelpyougrow.”~CarolineMyss,CurianoQuotesLife

AUXILIARY

Honor guard

ThatquoteseemsespeciallyappropriatefortheyoungwomenfromGrandHavenandSpringLakeHighSchoolswhohaveappliedforGirlsState!Thefeedbackfrompreviousdelegatesisalwaysthattheexperiencewasamazingandlife-changing.WearehostingGirlsStateOrientationonMay20thforalldelegatesfromthe5thDistrict.MayisPoppyMonth,soAmericanLegion,SALandAuxiliarymemberswillreceiveafundraisingpostcardfeaturingthisyear'sPoppyPosterContestwinner,Shanna

McElrath.AlldonationsmustgotoVeteransPrograms,anddirectlysupportactivitiessuchas:GRHVBingo,blanketsforhomelessveterans,annualholidayfruitplates,andtheGRHVChristmasGiftShop.

YoucanmailachecktothePost,leaveadonationattheBar,orinPoppycanistersinthediningroom.Thanksforyoursupport!Don'tforgettheAuxiliaryMeetingonTuesday,May22nd@7:00.PleasejoinusaswehonorMemorialDaywithweekendevents:Sunday,May27thMemorialService@6:00p.m.atSt.MatthewsinSpringLakeMonday,May28thParade@9:30a.m.(JointheAuxiliaryinatrolley,orwalkintheparadewiththeJuniorsorBlueStarFamilies)WaterfrontService(atEscanabaParkthisyear)VeteransMemorial(EternalFlame)LakeForestCemeteryServiceLunchattheAmericanLegionKathleenEdwards,President&MembershipChair

Our“adopted”cysticfibrosischild,MabelJane,wasfeaturedonthefrontpageoftheGrandHavenTribune(April10).Checkitoutonlineathttp://www.grandhaventribune.com/Local/2018/04/10/SL-family-friends-raise-funds-awareness-for-cystic-fibrosis.html?ci=content&lp=1&p=1.TheCysticFibrosisGreatStridesWalkisinGrandHavenonMay20,2018.YoucandonatetoTeamMabelonlineathttp://fightcf.cff.org/site/TR/GreatStrides/76_Metro_Detroit_Detroit?team_id=73569&pg=team&fr_id=6614-. LeChapeau,Myrna

AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1165May2018

Tina’s Tidbits WelcomeSpring!Thisspringisfilledwithfunactivities.ThankyoutoallthevolunteersthathelpkeeptheLegionrunning.Let’stalkburgers....again.PleasebekindtotheVOLUNTEERS(thenumberofvolunteersisgettingsmaller);theyareworkingveryhardtoprovideuswithaninexpensivemeal.Ifyouwouldliketoseethingsdonedifferently,pleaseconsidervolunteering.OurpolicyisNOsaladsperiod.Thishasbeencausingafewproblems.Pleasedonotmakea"burgersalad".Theburgertoppingsofferedarecondimentsfortheburger.Enoughsaid.Wearetryingsomethingnew!Onthe2ndand4thMondayofthemonthwewillhaveanopenmicnight.Itwillbe6-8pm.Bringyourinstrumentsandtakepartinourjamsession,singingorcleancomedy.May4thisour3rdannualCincoDeMayoparty.(Legiontranslation:anotherreasontoparty.)Wewillbeservingbeerandmargaritaspecials.Thedinnermenuwillbechickenfajitas,Mexicanrice,cantinabeans,anddessert-allfor$8.00.(Therewillbenoburgers.)Therewillbe200hundreddinnersavailablewithnosubstitutions.May5thistheKentuckyDerbyParty.Wearyourfavoritehat(thereisacontest)andbetonourownConklinStakes(ourversionofthehorserace).Bringadishtopass,andenjoygoodfoodandgreatfun!Activitiesbeginat2pm.May12thisKaraoke@6pm.May26thistheLegionGolfOuting.May28ththeLegionopensat8amservingbreakfastforthoseintheMemorialDayparade.TheAuxiliarywillbeservinglunchaftertheparade,forasmallfee.ThedrinkspecialisMargarita:$2.50.Thewinefeatureis:LesTroisRose'.Pleasecheckthecalendarforalleventsandtimes.Hopetoseeyousoon! Tina

Wehavecoveredseveralwebsites(URL’s)toshowwhat’savailablefromtheVA.Pleasecheckoutwww.veteranshealthlibrary.org.Thissitecombinesinformationonbenefits(pensions,disabilityclaims,survivorbenefits,GIbill,homeloans,etc.),burialsandmemorials,generalinformationontheVA,resources(exploreVABenefitslink,congressionalaffairs,jobs,VeteranServiceOrganizationsandmore),andVAlocationservices.ButthenewpieceistheHealthLibrarythatisextensive.Thislattersectionisanencyclopediathatcoverslivingwell,diseasesandconditions,testsandtreatments,medications,rehabilitationandmore.Thisisoneofthemostcompletemedicalresourceswehavefoundthatiswrittenforthegeneralpublic.Pleasecheckoutthisvaluableresource.

Vets’ benefits corner

CentennialCommitteeUpdateGreetingsPost28Membersandfriends!Asofthiswriting,theCentennialCommitteeisproudtosharethatallthreeCentennialCommitteeeventsto-datehavegeneratednet-revenuesandpositivepromotionforPost28.Eventssuchas“CelebratingOurWWIIMilitaryHeroes”havereceivedpositiveprintandbroadcastmediacoverageresultinginpositivepublicityforPost28andtheorganization’sprogramsandservices.OnbehalfoftheCommitteewelookforwardtofulfillingourvisionbyhostingandpromotingmoreevents--whichcelebratewiththepublic--thehonorablelegacyoftheAmericanLegionincludingtheupcoming100thanniversaryofPost28.OnSeptember22,2018theCentennialCommitteewillhostthe“CentennialCelebrationDinnerandDance.”Thiseventwillbringtogether–underoneroof--AmericanLegionMembers(includingAmericanLegionFamilyorganizations)foraneveningofgreatfood,music,drinks,andwithsomeveryspecialgueststocelebratethefirst100yearsoftheAmericanLegionnationalorganization.Theofficialannouncementanddetailswillbepostedsometimethismonth(May)ontheCharlesAConklinPost28mainwebsite(www.grandhavenlegion.org)andFacebookpage(www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=158189460338&ref=br_rs)alongwiththePost28AuxiliaryFacebookpage(www.facebook.com/Unit28ALA/?ref=br_rs)IfyouhavenotyetattendedaBurgerNightatthePostthisyear,youwillwanttoattendMay11whentheCentennialCommitteehostsourfirstoffour“CelebrityServerBurgerNights.”CelebrityServerBurgerNightswillfeatureguestcelebrityserversstartingattheregulartime(6:00PM).Bringafriendortheentirefamilyto“CelebrityServerBurgerNights”andenjoyadeliciousburger,cheeseburger,ordoubleburger/cheeseburger.CelebrityServerBurgerNightsarescheduledMay11,June8,July27,andAugust24.Ourgoalincelebratingthe100thanniversariesofthenationalAmericanLegionandtheCharlesA.ConklinAmericanLegionPost28istoenhanceMembercamaraderieandsupportforveteransandtheirfamiliesthroughPost28programsandservices.StaytunedformoreCentennialCommitteeevent announcements! Sincerely, Gary Doublestein, Chair, Centennial Committee

2018-2019ProspectiveOfficersPost28

101stCommander……………….JohnBilski 1stVice………………………………JanetFonger 2ndVice……………………………..GaryDoublestein Adjutant……………………………..LarryLambert FinanceOfficer……………………CyndyWierenga ServiceOfficer…………………….GarrettVeihl ServiceOfficer…………………….LarryLambert ServiceOfficer…………………….HoytFonger Historian…………………………….EdDeKoekkoek Chaplain……………………………..DuaneSmith Sergeant-at-Arms………………..FreddySmith ExecutiveatLarge……………….RayRibbink ExecutiveatLarge……………….FreddySmith ExecutiveatLarge……………….JimVette JudgeAdvocate…………………… Delegatesneed2………………….GarrettVeihl ………………….JohnBilski May–Electionofnewofficers June–Initiationofnewmembers July–Swearinginofnewofficers

AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1165May2018

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1

6pmHouseComm.

7pmPostMeeting

$1CANBEER

25PMPERCHDINNERColeSlaw,Fries,Roll$10.00

37pm

ALRMeeting

4NoBurgers

52pm

6

$1DRAFT

78amBldg&Grnds

7:30pmSALMeeting

$2U-CallTall

87pm8&40Meeting

SAL5thDistrictMeeting

$1CANBEER

95PMZESTY

SPAGHETTISalad

GarlicToast$8.00

107pmLegion

5thDistrictMeeting

116-8pmBurgers

126-10pm

5:00pm5thDistrict

MemorialBanquetCedarSpringsPost#287

13

$1DRAFT

148amBldg&Grnds

6-8pm

$2U-CallTall

157pm

ExecutiveCommittee

$1CANBEER

165PM

PULLEDPORKDINNER

MashedPotatoesVeggies

Cornbread$8.00

177pm

186-8pmBurgers

19

202pm

Orientation(upstairs)

$1DRAFT

218amBldg&Grnds

$2U-CallTall

227pm

AuxiliaryMeeting

$1CANBEER

235PM

SUCCULENTSWISSSTEAKMashedPotatoes

VeggiesDinnerRoll$8.00

24

256-8pmBurgers

2614thAnnualMemorialGolf

Outing

27

$1DRAFT

28Postopens@8am&closes@6pm

$2U-CallTall

29

$1CANBEER

305PMCHAR-GRILLEDCHICKEN

MashedPotatoesVeggies,Roll$9.00

31

June16-8pmBurgers

2

DrinkSpecial:Margarita-$2.50Wine:LeTroisRose’$10/bottle;$3/glass

EditorNewsletterSubmissions

DaveMacKellarmackeda1@aol.com

5-7pmALRHotDogNight

May8&May22 Party

!

NationalPoppyDay

PicturedisoneFridaynightBurgerCrew.You,too,cansignupateam–contactClubManagerTina. RobertSchroederreceiveda60years

ofcontinuousmembershipaward.

RussellAndersonreceivedhislifemembershipPinandPatch.