the american legion american legion post 284 colonial
TRANSCRIPT
This newsletter is published to keep the members and friends of Post 284 involved
Postmaster: Dated Material — Please Deliver by December 1
The American Legion Colonial Heights Post 284 P.O. Box 57 Colonial Heights, VA 23834
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid
Permit No. 12 Colonial Heights, VA
23834
Return Service Requested
- MONTHLY MEETINGS -
American Legion Riders December 7th, 6:00 PM, DECEMBER ONLY
Auxiliary Membership (Unit 284) 2nd Wednesday, 7:00 PM
General Membership (Post 284) 2nd Thursday, 7:30 PM
S.A.L. Membership (Squadron 284) 3rd Wednesday, 6:30PM
Executive Committee Meeting (Post 284) TBD, DECEMBER ONLY
Fellow Legionnaires: Well, the Holiday season is rapidly approaching. Unfortunately, Halloween in the Park was canceled due to
weather, but that should not put a damper on the remaining festivities.
Fall Department Conference: The Fall Conference was held from 25-27 October at the Williamsburg Double
Tree Hotel. Beside the normal rounds of meetings and discussions that normally take place, we were fortunate
enough to support one of our own running for Department Commander this coming year. Our Finance Officer,
Mr. Bill Feasenmyer began his candidacy for the position with a hospitality room at the event. In addition,
Mr. Jerry Chenault assisted with the setup of the Post 284 Training Room during the conference. Special
thanks to Jerry, and all those who kept the room well stocked and helped with the clean up afterward.
Veterans Day: The annual Veterans Day ceremony at the War Memorial in Colonial Heights at 11:00am on the
11th of November was very well attended. Our guest speaker for the event was MG Rodney Fogg, the
CASCOM Commander at Fort Lee. The Southern Virginia American Legion Riders took an active part this year by riding in on
their motorcycles at the start of the ceremony to present the American Flag to the color guard.
Major Upcoming December Events:
1. CHRISTMAS PARTY: Our annual Christmas party will be held on Saturday, 14 December at the Post home. We are asking
for a $10 donation per person to attend. Doors will open at 6:00pm for social hour, followed by dinner at 7:00pm. Dancing
will start after dinner and go until approximately 11:00pm. As of this time, we will have the American Legion Department of
Virginia Commander, Mr A.B. Brown as our guest. We have booked a disc jockey for the entertainment so come out and
enjoy the party. To get tickets, please contact Commander Skip Klaas. They are also available at Topside. Note: DUE TO
THE CHRISTMAS PARTY ON THE SAME DAY, THE MEMBERSHIP BREAKFAST ON 14 DECEMBER IS CANCELLED.
2. CHRISTMAS PARADE: The Annual Colonial Heights Christmas Parade will take place on 3 December. We can expect to
start forming up at about 5:00pm. More information will follow.
3. WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA: December 15th will be the Wreaths Across America ceremony at the City Point Cemetery
in Hopewell. The Post has purchased 100 wreaths to be laid on the graves of Veterans at the cemetery. It is always a very
inspiring and thought provoking event and if you have never attended, you should seriously consider taking part.
4. CHRISTMAS FOOD BASKETS: We will have our annual Christmas Basket drive on 21-22 December. Applications for food
baskets can be found in the News and Views. So if you know of a family in need this Christmas season please help them by
filling out an application for a basket. See Jerry Chenault, 2nd Vice Commander, for additional information.
Since this will be the last issue of the News and Views this year, I just want to take this opportunity to thanks you all for your
support this past year and wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year. 2019 will
certainly be one for the record books and we are looking forward to continuing that into 2020!
For God and Country,
Skip Klaas
Adrian “Skip” Klaas
Commander
American Legion Post 284
Colonial Heights, VA
AMERICAN LEGION POST 284
NEWS AND VIEWS • DECEMBER 2019
- COMMANDER’S MESSAGE -
Commander Adrian “Skip” Klaas 540-220-5013 First Vice Commander Second Vice Commander Jerry Chenault 804-414-1066 Adjutant Richard C. “Rick” Oertel 804-520-2338 Chaplain William H. Gibson III 804-536-1125 Finance Officer William “Bill” Feasenmyer 804-337-8753 Asst Finance Officer Timothy “Tim” Farley 804-526-6611 Judge Advocate Jim Althouse 804-516-4534 Veteran Service Officer Craig Ervin 931-980-7934 Historian Jesse Stacy 954-536-9501 Mass Media & Comm Doug Osborn 703-200-0543 Athletic Officer Bill Shill 804-218-1198 Sgt-at-Arms Robert G. Emerick John Bowers
AUXILIARY UNIT 284 President Ann Robins 804-502-5233
S.A.L. SQUADRON 284 Commander Joe Gallagher 804-836-3046
Southern VA Chapter, ALR Director Brad Harter
- POST OFFICERS - - UPCOMING EVENTS -
1 December
VA&R McGuire Visit
2 December
Bingo
3 December
Colonial Heights Christmas Parade
4 December
Building & Grounds Meeting
6 December
Bingo
7 December
Legion Riders Meeting/Christmas Party
9 December
Bingo
10 December
Topside Committee
11 December
ALA Meeting
12 December
General Membership Meeting
13 December
Bingo
14 December
Post Clean-up Christmas Party 15 December
VA&R McGuire Visit
16 December
Bingo
18 December
SAL Meeting 7pm (Dinner 6:30)
20 December
Bingo
21 December
Christmas Baskets Prep
22 December
Christmas Baskets Pick-up/Delivery
23 December
Bingo
25 December
Christmas Day
27 December
Bingo
29 December
VA&R McGuire Visit
20 December
Bingo
News & Views is the publication of Colonial Heights Post No. 284, The
American Legion, Department of Virginia. The purpose of this newsletter is
to keep all members of Post No. 284 informed about activities at their Post.
The Legion Home telephone is 804-526-4167. Address comments to the
Editor, PO Box 57, Colonial Heights, VA 23834. NEWS & VIEWS : Doug Osborn, Editor
[email protected] CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Rick Oertel, 804-520-2338 or
[email protected] BUILDING RENTAL INFO: Bill Feasenmyer, 804-337-8753 POST WEBSITE: http://alpost284.x10host.com
CHRISTMAS FOOD BASKETS The Month of December is a month for giving; a month the children in our community look forward to, and have been waiting for all year. You
are invited to help bring happiness and joy to those less fortunate in our community.
The Post will make Christmas brighter for several families by providing food baskets to those in need. Each basket consists of about five gro-
cery bags of food items. 7:30 am Saturday morning December 21, volunteers are needed to pick up food for the baskets at Walmart and bring it
to the Post; or come to the Post and setup tables and bags for the basket distribution. We need members with pick-up trucks, utility trailers or
anything to haul large quantities of food. Once everything is sorted, Legion family volunteers will organize and fill the baskets for distribution
in the Post membership hall. On Sunday afternoon, 22 December from 1:00 - 3:00 PM, the baskets will be distributed to families. We need vol-
unteers for the distribution and, in some cases, delivery of the food baskets.
If you would like to nominate a deserving family or individual, please complete the form provided in this issue of the News & Views. A com-
puter-fillable version may also be available on the Post website. If you have nominated someone previously, please confirm their information
and re-submit a nomination as the list changes every year. The requested information is critical in the event we have more nominations than
baskets. Baskets will be reserved on a first requested/received basis. So get your nomination in early. If there are no-shows, we may attempt to
contact nominees who did not make the list. All information is kept confidential. Please be sure to include the sponsor’s name and phone
number so we can do follow-up if necessary. Nomination without one can be disqualified. Nominations can be left at the Topside or given to
Doug Osborn or Jerry Chenault.
Volunteer sign-up sheets for this event will be available at the membership meetings and at the Topside Lounge. Everyone who participated in
these events knows the great feeling of helping someone at Christmas. Please join us this Christmas, and help bring the spirt of the season to
families in our community.
Happy 100th American Legion Auxiliary Family. We definitely had a wonderful celebration on
November 10th. Our special guest Mayor Kochuba and Vice May Betsy Luck presented the
Proclamation for the Auxiliary. We saw some new faces and others we haven’t seen in quite
some time. A great time was had by all. Special thanks to the Celebration Committee and those
that pitched in at the last minute to make it such a huge success.
Past Department President, Rose Moore, conducting a beautiful New Member Initiation at our
November meeting. What a great way to introduce them to the Legion Family.
The kindness and generosity of our members is so amazing. Our Unit came together to help with the Veterans
Day Ceremonies and luncheon. We also assisted with the services for Thomas Kifer at the post home. Donations
for the food bank filled the trunk and books and other necessities were donated for our homeless veteran’s project
for the holidays.
December holds several opportunities for service and participation in our programs. Our Children and Youth
Chairmen, Lynne Norton has sent out a list of items needed for children living in hotels that attend local schools.
Our Community Service Chairmen, Rose Moore has a box for collecting items for Colonial Heights families of
incarcerated individuals. They are looking for items such as art supplies, board games, sports equipment, trucks,
cars, etc. Ages of the males are 7-15 and females are 1-17. They can also use wrapping paper. They do ask that
donations not be wrapped. Collections will be on Mondays and Fridays during bingo.
Our Americanism Chairmen, Betty Haney is working hard on the Flags for First Graders. Melissa Napier is assist-
ing the Post with the Christmas Food Baskets.
Our Christmas Party is right around the corner. December 14th. Tickets are $10, don’t miss out. Also, lets help
the Commanders wife with decorating the hall. Keep an eye out for information.
We unfortunately had to drape our charter once again for Carolyn Flaherty Wallace and Christina Williams Di-
Marco. Prayers go out to their families.
Upcoming Events:
December 1st, Time TBD – Decorate hall
December 3rd – Christmas Parade Colonial Heights
December 11th – Meeting Night – Holiday Potluck
December 14th – Wreaths Across America
December 14th – Christmas Party
December 21-22 – Christmas Food Baskets
For God and Country
Ann Robins
President, Unit 284
- AUXILIARY UNIT 284 - - CHAPLAIN’S REPORT - The following items were accomplished:
1. I attended the Fall Conference in Williamsburg.
2. I visited Norman Lovin in VCU/MCV before his surgery. He enjoyed the visit as well as myself.
3. I participated in a Veteran's Day Ceremony at the Nottoway Correctional Facility.
4. I participated in this year's Veteran's Day Ceremony at the Colonial Heights Memorial, it was very impressive.
5. I took a flag cover to Mrs. Tammy Baylor for Legionaire Herb Baylor.
6. I went by Jack Moore's home to give Bible and flag cover to family no one was home. I will keep trying!
7. I visited Harold Green, however he was not feeling well. I told him I will be back. He thanked me for coming by.
8. I went by Dave Pinelli's home, no answer. I called his daughter Diana, she informed me that he was staying with
her for the time being.
9. I participated in this year's Post Everlasting Ceremony, keep the families in your prayers.
10. I ordered some new Bibles.
***God loves you--truly, deeply, always! There is nothing that can change His love for you. (H. Gerth)***
Rev Gibson 804-536-1125
AARP SMART DRIVER CLASSES AT 284
Jan 22; Mar 25; May 27; Jul 22; Sep 23; Nov 25, 2020
Participants over 55 get an insurance discount if they take the course. Classes start at 9 a.m. on the above dates and lasts for 8 hours. Bring along a bag lunch..
Contact Raymond Spalek for registration or information, 804-526-2668
Reminder!
There’s a Drop-off at Post 284 for Unserviceable Flags
Mayor T. Gregory Kochuba, Veterans Day MG Rodney Fogg, Veterans Day
VA&R Volunteer Regonition at Hunter Homes McGuire Elizabeth Piecek Turned 100!
- SAL SQUADRON 284 -
Squadron 284 would like to Wish everyone a very Merry and Blessed Christmas and a Happy of New Year as
we prepare to enter 2020.
2019 has been a year where we continue to see the huge impact of the 284-family in helping our Veterans,
their families, our community and in supporting countless 100’s. The 284 family is an example for all of the
American Legion families across this great Country. We as a family clearly make a difference in the lives of
those we touch and support in many ways.
We would like to thank everyone who supported our Semi-Annual Pork Butt sales in November. If you missed out and wanted
one, please let us know and we will get you name on the list for a make-up butt cook in the near future.
On behalf of all of squadron 284 we can’t thank our Post 284 family enough for the support we have received that allows us to
support so many. It’s an exciting year for the Detachment of Virginia. Clint Bolt a past Detachment Commander for Virginia
and a member of the Warrenton VA Squadron, has served for years on the local, State and National levels and was elected and
sworn in as our National Commander at the National convention in August. Please join us in continuing to support Clint as we
help raise the funds to support his year as serving as our National Commander. As we all know that when someone is sworn in
at a National Level the funding to support that individual isn’t over yet is ongoing.
As we gather to celebrate Christmas with our families and friends, we urge all to pause and remember all of our active duty
personnel who are protecting and defending all of us and for that reason won’t be at home with their families during the
holidays. Pray for them and for their families and give thanks for their incredible sacrifice. Many reading this have certainly
been where these folks are today and know better than anyone how hard it is to be away from those they love.
We look forward to another calendar year in the life of our 284 family, serving and supporting in areas that need us so greatly. For God and Country The Squadron of 284 & Joe Gallagher Commander SAL 284 For God and Country
The Squadron of 284
& Joe Gallagher Commander SAL 284
November was a fantastic month for the American Legion Riders. We have voted in our new officers for 2020.
The following is a list of our 2020 SVALR Officers: Director Bradley E Harter, Assistant Director Randy
Grenier, Adjutant Brandy Harter, Treasurer Phillip Vaughan, and Sergeant of Arms are Paul Jenkins and
Tommy Zadick. Congratulations to all.
November is always a great month for Veterans and their family. Thank you to all who served, or are currently
serving, our Country. We participated in several different events during the month of November. November 11th was an awesome
day for the riders. Several members went to the Colonial Heights Memorial Service, while some went to the Virginia War
Memorial with the Virginia Bikers Rally held by Chesterfield County Police, Fire and EMS. All of the day's events were really
great.
Upcoming events for the month of December are as follows:
December 7th is our SVALR Christmas Party/Meeting/Swearing in of Officers
December 14th Wreaths Across America, Wreath laying at City Point National Cemetery
December 14th Post 284 Christmas Party
Other things to keep in mind over the next couple months.
The SVALR is selling Brunswick Stew on January 18th for $8 a quart. We need to get as many quarts pre sold as soon as possible,
so we know how much to make. Bill Beatty is the POC for this fundraiser. Volunteers will be needed on the night we cook. We
will also be starting up the Queen of Hearts fundraiser for the SVALR on January 9th at the Topside Social Quarters. Randy and
Elaine will be heading this up for the group.
May hats off to every SVALR member who has helped with my membership goal of 100 SVALR members for the year of 2019. I
had set this goal to help celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the American Legion. Let’s keep up the good work. Get your dues
paid for the next year please. Remember, your legion dues have to be paid first. Contact our membership chairperson, Sue Rose,
or myself.
Keep an eye on the ride calendar for upcoming rides and events. The link is bit/ly.svalrCAL
Let’s make my second year as Director just as good, or even better, than the first year. You guys make it easy when we all work
together. Remember, this is your group, you can make it as good, or as bad, as you want.
Bradley E. Harter
Director, SVALR
American Legion Post 284
SOUTHERN VIRGINIA CHAPTER OF
THE AMERICAN LEGION RIDERS
- Building & Grounds - Our “Smoking/expanded deck” project awarded to ALL-Phase Renovators and Construction; LLC is still awaiting construction permit
approval from the City of Colonial Heights.
We had a successful 9 NOV Post Clean Up day after the Members Breakfast; and thanks to Jim Althouse, Tom Goudreault, Jerry
Chenault, Brad Hartner and Tim Farley for their help. Also, a big THANK YOU to our Boy Scout Troop 160 for providing 8 scouts and 6
adults to the effort. Great job!
We have added four Smoking/Ash containers to the Hall area, one at the main door to the Hall and three out back. We will procure more
to provide containers for smokers. Please do not litter the Post area with smoking residue.
Two projects that B&G will be adding to its project list and working with the Executive committee on is renovation of the Ladies restroom
in the Hall and replacement of the Admin Building on the Hill.
We are looking for Legionnaire volunteers with small engine and building electrical experience (for Hall problems) to help round
out the B&G committee’s skill sets and to maintain about 15 pieces of outdoor
power equipment. See a B&G member or call me.
Next B&G meeting is 4 DEC at 6:30PM in the Hall. Next Post Cleanup is 14
DEC (NO Post Members Breakfast) 0800-1200 in preparation of the Post 284
Christmas party.
John G. Woyansky
B&G CMTE Interim Chair
804-301-7990
