AMERICAN LEGION CLINTON POST 259

9122 Piscataway Road

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY......

Clinton, Maryland 20735 (301) 868-2550 Haywood V. Moss Commander

Web Site: post259.org

March Charles Lewis - Editor 2016

COMMANDER’S MESSAGE

Veteran’s Critical Information: Survivors of a veteran face the difficult task of not knowing

who to call, what to do, or where to go for help. This can be an unpleasant experience.

Legionnaires, “To help ease the burden and to ensure survivors will have the necessary details

for filing a claim, here are some basic quick tips.”

Documents Needed: The Veteran’s discharge certificate or DD Form 214. The veteran’s VA

claim number or Social Security number. The veteran’s death certificate. Government life

insurance policy. A copy of all marriage certificates and divorce decrees (if any). A copy of

each child birth certificate or adoption order. The veteran’s birth certificate is to determine

parents’ benefits.

Post 259 65th

Anniversary: The second meeting of the 65th Anniversary Committee met on

February 8, 2016. A lot was accomplished. We are proceeding with our plans of putting

together a grand affair. Ed White has worked very hard on making this affair a total success.

Remember to sign up at the canteen bar starting March 7, 2016. The dress is suit and tie – No

jeans. See flyer later in this newsletter. Southern Maryland District Oratorical Contest: On February 13, 2016, the Southern

Maryland District Oratorical Contest was held at our Post. The contest develops deeper

knowledge and application for the US Constitution among high school students. Since 1938, the

program has presented participants with an academic speaking challenge that teaches important

leadership qualities, the history of our nation’s laws, the ability to think clearly and privileges of

American Citizenship. Three (3) outstanding students participated: Alex McGrath – Micah

Walden – Aditya Kaliappan. Alex McGrath was named winner and will represent the Southern

Maryland District at the Department of Maryland Oratorical Contest scheduled for February 28,

2016 at Towson University.

Revised Dress Code: The new dress code was passed at the Executive Committee meeting

February 16, 2016. The new dress code is in effect and will be posted in the canteen. Copies

will be made available for the membership.

Department of Maryland American Legion Convention: At the March General Membership

meeting, we will begin nominating delegates to attend the July Department Convention held in

Ocean City, Maryland. Any member in good standing is eligible to attend as a delegate. The

actual business sessions are on Wednesday and Thursday morning. The election of Department

officers will be held on Friday morning. The cost of registration is paid by the Post.

VOTE AMERICA: This booklet has been updated and is available online at

http//www.legion.org/publication/23202/vote-america. While the American Legion advocates

all citizens to vote. Vote in all elections and at all levels. Many Posts have found this

publication particularly useful during the presidential election year. Keep in mind the American

Legion is non-partisan and endorsement (even implied endorsement) of political candidate is

forbidden. Do not wear legion emblems (including caps and shirts) to political events.

For God and Country

Haywood V. Moss

Commander

LEGIONNAIRES

We need your help in identifying Veterans (especially females) to take a short survey about The American Legion. Please advertise to your membership in newsletters for them to take the survey for use by Department of Maryland. The Women’s Veteran Outreach Committee developed the survey and is seeking the insights. While some questions in the survey we are looking solely for a female point of view on the issue, anyone can complete the survey. Please try to get this to Veterans and Legion members that are female. The Legion membership database did not track and the Legion did not collect the gender of new members until 2013, so there is little information about our membership in regards to gender, that is where Posts can help. Survey can be found at: http://smoke2110.polldaddy.com/s/survey1 This survey is conducted to determine the involvement of Veterans who are female in the American Legion Department of Maryland and to look at ways to possibly build on that membership as well as identify barriers to these Veterans joining and becoming actively involved. No personally identifying information is requested. If you decide to speak about any experiences you have had, all personal information will be confidential. The purpose of this survey is to collect information regarding this specific

subset of veterans, to describe their experiences as members and their participation within the American Legion. A report will be issued upon completion of the survey results. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact Department at hdqtrs@mdlegion.org Russell W. Myers Jr. Adjutant, The American Legion Department of Maryland Room E 101 N. Gay St. Baltimore, Md 21202 (410) 752-1405 (ofc) (410) 752-3822 (fax)

HELP

American Legion Post No. 259 membership goal for the

2015/2016 Legion Year is 1,005 (One Thousand Five) Members

If you as a member recruit just one (1) new member will meet this

goal

Do you have a membership form in your wallet or purse?

Let’s Recruit and make this goal – Ask a VET

HELP

VERIZON OFFER DISCOUNT Verizon is offering a 15% discount for military personnel, retirees and

veterans. The company is also offering a 25% discount on accessories like

chargers, cases and batteries and 12% off some calling features. The company

has already identified 100,000 eligible accounts with discount on monthly

wireless services being applied automatically. If you have not been signed up,

active duty personnel will need to show a military email or leave and earning

statement. Retirees and veterans can show an account statement from the

Defense Finance and Accounting Service myPay site, DD Form 214 and

planned Veterans ID Card

To see other offers, go to: Verizon discount offers for military.com

Post Officers 2015 - 2016

Upcoming Events Event

Commander Haywood V. Moss Super Bowl Party – Feb 2017 - Legion

1st Vice Commander Gary W. Gifford Oratorical Contest – Feb 2017 - Legion

2nd

Vice Commander Matthew Garofalo St. Patrick Day Dinner – March 17, 2016

3rd

Vice Commander George Martin Palm Sunday Brunch – March 20, 2016

Adjutant Robert A. Wilson Memorial Day – May 23, 2016 - Legion

Asst. Adjutant Vacant Election of Post Officers – May 23, 2016

Judge Advocate Elbert “Ed” White AL Golf Tournament – June 8, 2016 - Legion

Service Officer James Woodland Flag Day – June 14, 2016 - Legion

Finance Officer Richard Switzer S.A.L. Golf Tournament – September 2016 –

S.A.L.

Asst. Finance Officer Donna Coleman Veteran’s Day Service – Nov. 11, 2016 - Auxiliary

Historian Charles Lewis Thanksgiving Feast – November 2016 - Legion

Chaplain Thomas Treichel Children Christmas Party – Dec. 2016 - Legion

Asst. Chaplain Charles Williams Adult Christmas Party – Dec. 2016 - Legion

Sgt At Arm John Jackson

Executive Committee NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Murray Hill Elbert D. White – National Executive Committeeman

Joseph Morgan DEPARTMENT OF MARYLAND TRESURER

Elgin Reid Gary W. Gifford – Department of MD Treasurer

The American Legion

Clinton Post 259

9122 Piscataway Road

Clinton, Maryland 20735 Phone: 301-868-2550

Website: www.post259.org

Clinton Post 259 Newsletter is published monthly on Post 259 website

We welcome your news, ideas, suggestions,

comments or questions for future issues.

Drop them off at the Post – Attention

Newsletter Editor

Or forward to

Clewis4544@aol.com

We need your assistance, let us know of any our

members who are sick or in the hospital

Please call (301) 868-2550

If you have moved, please contact the Post with

your new address

Auxiliary Officers Legion Rider Officers S.A.L. Officers

President: Freida Skaggs Director: Larry “Doc” McBean Commander: David Hutchinson

Vice President: Ginger Latimer Asst. Director: Murray Hall 1st Vice: Dave Desmarais

Secretary :Brie O’Neal Secretary: Michael Quander 2nd Vice: Kenny Hendrix

Treasurer: Antoinette Carr Treasurer: Peggye McBean Finance Officer: Gary Castleman

Historian: Vivian Boyd Chaplain: James Burrows Sgt At Arms: Wayne “Elvis” Berbig

Chaplain: Marilyn Thomas Web Administer: Crystal Turner Adjutant: Rich A. Walsh Jr.

Sgt At Arm: Irma Moss Safety Officer: SGM Mike Eason Historian: Robert “Reds” Aliff

Gold Star: Mickey McKitrick Chaplain: Gary “GJ” Shafer

Executive Committee:

Elizabeth White

Terry Tolson

Judith Woodland

Advisor: Jim Cox George Bucklew

Have You Paid Your 2016 Dues?

Drop them in the mail or drop them off at the Post

The cost for renewal is $35.00

Renew Now – Please give us your e-mail address

Need Help in Obtaining Benefits and/or Medical Care Don’t Go It Alone

Contact

American Legion Post 259

Service Officer

James R. Woodland

Home: 301 283-6451

Cell: 301 283-5047

E-Mail: jamesr.woodland@yahoo.com

You are not alone

+

Membership Renewal

All Legion members may renew their membership on-line through

www.legion.org/renew

Members can renew using credit card and print a temporary card. Members are

instructed to mail or take their receipt to the post to receive their new card at no

additional cost

Posts will continue to have all cards sent with their roster. Notification of on-line

renewals can be obtained directly from the myLegion Post site.

Automatic Renewal Members now have the option of setting their online-account for automatic renewal.

Once you establish your account, your dues will automatically be charged to your

debit card on or about July 15th

of each new membership year. Just go to

www.legion.org/renew click “Renew Now” and follow the directions.

New Members February 2016

Name Service War Era

Anthony T. Burrows USAF Panama

Arthur L. Holliman USMC Vietnam

Robert C. Stroud Jr. USA Persian Gulf

Allisha R. Ellis USAF Persian Gulf

Larry Castleberry USA Vietnam

Wilmore J. Ritchie USA Lebanon/Grenada

Robert C. Sharps Sr. USAF Vietnam

Darrius Dickerson USA Persian Gulf

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY COMMANDER’S

ROAST

Join us on the evening of Tuesday, April 28, 2016 to roast our

County Commander Frank A. Porter

Where: Glenarden Post 275 When: April 28, 2016

Time: 7:00PM for dinner followed by a brief program

Dinner: Stuffed Chicken Breast, Salad, Vegetable, Dessert and Coffee

Cost: $12.00

Contact: Past County Commander Haywood V. Moss

Clinton Post 259

Post Office Box 44

Clinton, Maryland 20735

Telephone: 301 203-0885

NOTES FROM THE HOUSE MANAGER

Football season has come to an end. I would like to thank everyone for participating in the bar

pools, Superseason pools and Superbowl pool. Although we had a small crowd for Superbowl,

a good time was shared. This year we changed the menu because we had a volunteer chef

‘Melvin Hale’ who was willing to do the hard work to provide jerk chicken, BBQ chicken and

ribs. Thank You Melvin.

Mark your calendars for April 1, 2016 for the sign up of the pools. The doors will open at

11:00.

Also March 17, 2016 is the Legion’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day Dinner – 4:30pm til 7:30pm.

Hope to see you there.

Thank You

Diane Miller

MARCH 2016 ACTIVITY CALENDAR Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1st

2nd

Shrimp Night 5:30PM until 7:30PM Pinochle

3rd

4th Bingo Early Bird – 7:15PM

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

Shrimp Night 5:30PM until 7:30PM Pinochle

Ash Wednesday

10th

11th Bingo Early Bird – 7:15PM

12th

13th

14th

Auxiliary

Meeting

7:00pm

15th

16th

Shrimp Night 5:30PM until 7:30PM Pinochle

17th

18th Bingo Early Bird – 7:15PM

19th

20st

Palm

Sunday

Brunch

9:00AM –

1:00PM

21st

Exec Comm

Meeting

6:30pm

22nd 23rd

Shrimp Night 5:30PM until 7:30PM Pinochle

24th

Legion Riders

Meeting

7:00PM

25th Bingo Early Bird – 7:15PM

26th

27th

28th

Dinner at 6:30pm General

Membership

Meeting at

7:30pm

29th

Blood Drive

12:30-6:00 PM

30th

Shrimp Night 5:30PM until 7:30PM Pinochle

31st

Freida Skaggs

President

Unit 259

Clinton, Maryland

PRESIDENT’S PAGE

MARCH 2016

Well we are finally on the road to spring and since the ground hog did not see his shadow (Ha, Ha).

Spring should be here prior to the six more weeks of winter which actually is about the same number of

weeks before the calendar date of the beginning date for Spring. Oh well, we survived this brutal winter

and it can’t get here fast enough for me.

At our last meeting, I neglected to put on the agenda for discussion two (2) critical items and I apologize

for this since it will put us behind for one of our standing rules date. However, we will do our best to

makeup at our next meeting on March 14, 2016.

IAW our standing rules 6(A) a Nominating Committee for the 2016 officers should have been elected or

appointed at our February meeting. Therefore, please come to the March meeting prepared to address

this issue. We will not be able to accommodate the announcement in the March newsletter, but we will

discuss other ways to announce our committee and nomination solicitations.

Another item that I neglected to discuss was our Palm Sunday Brunch. However; the flyer has been

prepared and has been placed at the Post in the door window and under each glass top on the tables in

the canteen. At the March meeting I will request volunteers for Saturday and Sunday for the preparation

and serving activities. I would be very appreciative of any one who can volunteer, as this is one of our

major Auxiliary fund raisers. Please look for a copy of the flyer in this newsletter.

As disc February meeting, we are scheduled to meet with the S.A.L. on March 14, 2016 at 6:30pm to

discuss a joint fund raiser project. All officers have been requested to attend. We will report out at the

March meeting.

The date for our Annual Department Report submission is May 1. Please begin putting together any of

your service hours relating to any volunteer or work you have done within the community. We are a

great and caring group of Auxiliary members and I know that many of you are doing volunteer and work

within the community that you probably do and don’t realize that you can get credit for it in our report.

So please think of all your activities in the community and provide this information to our Secretary Brie

O’Neal. Please refer to the Unit Guide Book, page 2, “Serving the Local Community” for examples.

Our next meeting will be Monday, March 14, 2016, at 7:00p.

Yours in Service

Freida Skaggs

President

AUXILIARY WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Helen J. Barnett Maureen A. Blakley Marie Norment

*****************************************************************************

AGENT ORANGE TOWN HALL MEETING

Those exposed to Agent Orange, their children and grandchildren are at risk

of major health issues. Are you a Vietnam veteran and you aren't sure if you

were exposed to Agent Orange? If you had boots on the ground, you were

exposed and your descendants are at risk for health issues. Some veterans were

not in Vietnam, but were still exposed. Now is the time to get your questions

answered. Hear what others have experienced as a result of their exposure to

Agent Orange. Descendants of Vietnam veterans also need this information.

Join us April 3, 2016 from 2:00pm until 5:00PM at American Legion

Greenbelt Post 136 – 6900 Greenbelt Road – Greenbelt, Maryland 20770

Contact: Bob Hartman – loriandbobh@verizon.net

ST. PATRICK’S DAY DINNER

WHEN: Thursday – March 17, 2016

WHERE: American Legion Post 259

TIME: 4:30PM to 7:30PM

MENU

HAM _ CORNED BEEF

CABBAGE – POTATOES – CARROTS – CORNBREAD Sign Up At The Bar

COST: $10.00 per person

POST 259 SCHOLARSHIP: Post 259 is offering scholarships in the amount of $1000.00 to

children and grandchildren of Post members – the recipients must be graduating from any high

school during 2016.

Applications can be obtained from Bob Wilson (301-868-0743) or the Post 259 web site

(http://post259.org/outreach/AL259 Scholarship Application.pdf).

Please join us on Saturday March 26, 2016

from 3:00 PM to 7:00 as we celebrate the

Clinton American Legion Post 259 Sixty-

Fifth Anniversary

On Saturday March 26, 2016, Clinton American Legion Post 259 will celebrate it’s 65th

Anniversary from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the Post will be closed and will reopen after the

celebration ends.

Due to limited seating only members of Clinton A L Post 259, Auxiliary Unit 259, SAL

Squadron 259 and 259 Legion Riders plus 1 Guest, who sign up at the Post canteen will be

invited to attend, no one will be permitted to sign up another member.

Attendance is free however seating will be limited to the first 140 members and Guest who

sign up, a signup sheet will be located at the Canteen during the first week of March, so signup

early!

Dress attire: Coat and Tie (no jeans) (Dress code will be enforced

no exceptions)

Anyone who may have any historical photographs or other material which we may displayed

please contact Ed White, Chairman at 301-868-1612 or elbertwhite@comcast.net.

The American Legion Post 259

Clinton Community

Blood Drive

w/ Silver Hill Lions Club

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

12:30 pm - 6:00 pm

American Legion Post 259 – Main Hall

9122 Piscataway Rd, Clinton MD 20735

Call 1-800-733-2767 or go to www.redcrossblood.org

and use sponsor code: Silver Hill Lions

to schedule your donation!

Eligibility concerns, please call the Red Cross at 1-866-236-