2014 AMERICAN LEGION POST 197 HISTORY
01-08-2014 Building Committee meeting.
01-08-2014 Regular Meeting: Acting commander during Commander Ron Volmering’s absence is Senior Vice Commander Tim Robinson.
Don Ahrens gave a presentation about wooden plaques available at $25.00 each. The post ordered one for each branch of service and one POW-MIA . These have been received and are displayed in the entrance hallway.
Dave Reichelt gave a short talk about veterans rights concerning homestead tax relief. New countertop was approved for $1122.00, Guza Cabinets will do the work in April. County inmates will clean the hall January 29th and 30th. Charter draped in honor of member NATHAN GORRELL. Chili cook off winner was Jerry Bohn.
Drawing winners are: ($10) Darrell Connell
Attendance: Leroy Elliot (not present)
50/50: Richard Kirsh
01-30-2014 Hall cleaning by county inmates completed.
02-05-2014 Regular meeting
New outlet plugs installed in Bingo room and kitchen
Bingo machine moved to center of north wall
Drawing winners: ($10): Arnold Koehn
Attendance: Arnold Koehn ($35)
50/50: Terry Blanchard
02-08-2014 Veterans Party (formerly Stag Party) at VFW hall with 35 veterans in attendance.
02-27-2014 Member Johnny Kudlac passed away.
03-03-2014 Funeral for Leo Klee at St Peter and St Paul Church in Ruth
Arrangements by Ramsey Funeral Home.
VFW Members in attendance
Dan Vogel Eugene Peruski Harold Susella
Marvin Emming Jerry Mater Ed Messing
Dave Kramer Laverne Hanselman Tim Robinson American Legion in attendance
Terry Blanchard Bob Sopczynski Jim Leiby
Arnie Koehn Dan Lemanski Arnold Presley
Fred Mutart Jerry Bohn Bob Winkel
03-05-2014 Regular Meeting
Flag draped for Johnny Kudlac.
$200 donated to hospital long care toward the purchase of a wide screen TV.
Pistol Club discussed.
Drawing winners: ($10): Jerry Bohn
Attendance: Lee Woody (not present)
50/50: Arnold Presley
03-08-2014 Legion birthday party
Sixty members were present.
Mayor Gary Booms was the guest speaker.
Certificates were awarded to the following members
5 YEARS: APRIL D SMURDA
CHARLES M TAYLOR
CHRIS SCHOTT
EDWARD CIBULSKI JR
ERIC O’NEIL
JAMES SIEMAN
JOHN E SUTTON
MELVIN L BALK
PAUL J VOLMERING
ROBERT W OAKES
RONALD KOCIBA
RUDY FREER
STEPHEN R YOUNG
10 YEARS: DONALD AHRENS
DENNIS J ESSENMACHER JR
JAMES FLETEMER
ANTHONY E GRIFKA
KEVIN C HAGEDON
PAUL T KING
ROBERT J MEURN
15 YEARS: PAUL A FEICKERT
MICHAEL W JURGESS
JAMES O KEEFER
JOHN R LANDENBERG
GARY E ROBERTS
WILLIAM B THEDE
WILLIAM C WINN
20 YEARS: ALBERT C GRZESKOWIAK
JAMES A HESSLING
JOSEPH KUTZERA
25 YEARS: GARY M SUIDA
30 YEARS: JEFFERY CASTLE
ERNEST L DORSCH
EDMUND DUCHEMIN
PAUL C GINTHER
DAVID R GRATES
ALAN K KLEINKNECHT
FRANKLIN LORKOWSKI
ARCHIE J MENDALSKI
35 YEARS: STEPHEN L CAPLIN
EDWARD GUERNE
RONALD NOWISKI
40 YEARS: DENNIS C CAPLIN
BRIAN McARTHUR
TIMOTHY O’NIEL
45 YEARS: ROBERT J WOOD
60 YEARS DAVID KRUEGER
70 YEARS: LEONARD (PIC) DeFRAIN
03-29-2014 Commander Ron Volmering returned from Florida
04-02-2014 Regular meeting
New members are Fred Lorkowski and Carl Seiman, both are Navy veterans.
Kevin Ramsey, the quest speaker, spoke about the Veteran Fishing Outing.
Drawing winners: $10: Arnold Koehn
Attendance: Ray Emming (not Present)
50/50: Jerry Bohn
04-09-2014 Building Committee meeting. It was decided to paint the upper 6 feet of the large room and use beaded paneling on bottom 3 feet.
04-23-2014 Cart meeting at 6:00 PM.
04-25-2014 New counter top installed.
04-29-2014 Building Committee meeting included a report on pricing given by Ron Volmering and Ron Knepfler. Most materials will be purchased locally. Painting will begin the week of 05-12-2014
04-30-2014 Blood Drive
05 (1-3)-2014 Poppy sales
05-5-2014 Funeral at Ruth VFW for William Fenwick (US Army)
In attendance from Post 197
Jerry Bohn Tim Robinson Paul Ginther
Bob Winkel Terry Blanchard Jack Landenberg
Fred Mutart Leo Bennett Marvin Emming
05-07-2014 Regular meeting: Kevin Ramsey was guest speaker and gave an update about the fishing tournament. A $200 donation was given to the cart derby. Arnie Koehn was the big seller for the poppy sales. $100 was donated to help pay for fuel for the veteran fishing outing . Side by side refrigerator donated to Post 197 by Rudy Delucia’s son. Hall rental pricing will remain as is.
Drawing winners: $10: Dennis Essenmaucher
Attendance: Larry Biniecki(not present)
50/50: Jack Landenberg
Nomination of Officers:
Commander Tim Robinson
Sr Vice Commander Bob Winkel
Jr Vice Commander Jeff Blain
Adjunct Arnie Koehn
Chaplin Paul Ginther
Treasurer Al Kleinknect
Service Officer/Historian Jim Leiby
Judge Advocate Bob Sopczynski
Sergeant-at-arms Terry Blanchard
Asst. Sergeant-at-arms Jerry Bohn
Refreshment Officer Ron Knepfler
Hall rental Officer Ron Volmering
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05-08-2014 Painting started in large room.
05-15-2014 Cart Committee meeting.
05-18-2014 District 7 meeting in Port Huron, Arnie Koehn and Jim Leiby in attendance.
05-20-2014 Funeral for member Raymond Emming.
Arrangements by Ramsey Funeral Home.
American Legion members present:
Marvin Emming Terry Blanchard Arnie Koehn
Fred Mutart Bob Sopczynski Jim Leiby
Jerry Bohn Tim Robinson Darrell Connell
Ron Volmering Leo Bennett Harold Sussella
VFW members Present:
Larry Roth Robert Roth Dan Vogel
Bob Messing
US Coast Guard: Aaron Bradshaw
05-20-2014 Pistol Club meeting.
05-23-2014 Post 197 and VFW put flags on graves at Rock Falls Cemetery.
05-24-2014 Memorial Day Parade at Bad Axe. Veteran float won first place.
05-26-2014 Harbor Beach Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony at Rock Falls Cemetery.
05-27-2014 First Pistol Club shoot.
05-29-2014 Paneling in large room started.
05-30-2014 Flags removed from graves at Rock Falls Cemetery.
06-04-2014 Funeral for Thomas H. Guitar.
Arrangements by Ramsey Funeral Home at OLLH.
Attending from Post 197: Tim Robinson Terry Blanchard
Arnie Koehn Jerry Bohn Darrell Connell
Bob Sopczynski Paul Ginther Fred Mutart
Ron Kociba Leo Bennett Ron Volmering
Bob Winkel Jim Leiby
06-04-2014 Regular Meeting:
Lock on east wall door will be installed at a cost of $350.00
$100.00 donated to Veterans fishing outing.
Laura from HBCH senior care was the guest speaker.
New hall rental officer is Ron Volmering.
All reports read and approved.
Swearing in of officers by Judy Reiman from Bad Axe Veterans Affairs Office.
Poppy sales total is $2036.63 Drawing winners are: Jeff Blain ($10), Attendance: Doug Donaldson, 50/50 Al Kleinknect
Veteran’s float won 1st place in this year’s Bad Axe Parade. The recipients for the American Legion Post 197 Harbor Beach High School 2014 scholarships are: Kim Hessling and Matthew Booth.
06-04-2014 American Legion Post 197 scholarships presented at the high school awards ceremony by Tim Robinson and Ron Volmering. Congratulations to Kim Hessling and Matthew Booth.
06-14-2014 Veterans fishing outing and picnic. Approximately 110 veterans in attendance.
06-21-2014 Changing of command at USG Station Harbor Beach. Chief Boatswains Mate Michael J. Thayer will take over for Senior Chief Scott D. Cichoracki as Station Commander.
07-02-2014 Regular meeting: Flag disposal ceremony. Coast Guard Petty Officers Ball and Brown gave a presentation on their rescue boat and mission at Coast Guard Station Harbor Beach. Drawing winners were: $10.00 Harold Sussella, Attendance Robert Meurn (not present), 50/50 Jerry Bohn. Maritime donation will be 10% of our net profit. New member Raymond Gibson
07-04-2014 Funeral for VFW member Marvin Mausolf
Arrangements by Ramsey Funeral Home
VFW members attending
Marvin Emming Leo Bennett Don Ahrens Alex Burkhard Delbert Burkhard Ed Cibals
Lloyd Kramer Charles Wolford Raneen Gornowich Diane Lohr Dale Wilkowski
American Legion members attending
Bob Winkel Tim Robinson Jim Leiby
Darrell Connell Jerry Bohn
07-08-2014 New lock installed on east door.
07-08-2014 Large room paneling and painting completed.
07-09~13-2014 Maritime Festival.
07-12-2014 Funeral for Raymond Gibson at St. John Catholic Church, Ubly, MI.
Arranged by Smigielski Funeral Homes
American Legion members attending:
Terry Blanchard Tim Robinson Bob Sopczynski
Arnie Koehn Jim Leiby Jack Landenberg
Fred Mutart Jerry Bohn Ron Volmering
07-16-2014 Blood Drive
07-18-2014 Al Kleinknect is new beverage officer
07-19-2014 Cart Derby, 53 Drivers.
07-21-2014 Amigo electric scooter donated to Post 197 by the family of Ray Emming. Scooter was loaned to Leonard DeFrain for his use.
07-31-2014 Building committee meeting. Discussion about more hall updates. It was decide to use paneling for the kitchen serving windows.
07-31-2014 Cart derby committee meeting.
08-06-2014 Regular meeting:
Charter draped for member Raymond Gibson. New member Gary Erb. Maritime net profit is $772.00. Old dishes we have in kitchen will be donated to VFW garage sale. July blood drive netted 40 pints of blood. Cart derby profit is $1000.00 Next year’s cart derby date is July 18, 2015. Chili cook off is Sept 13, 2014. Post picnic is Sept 7, 2014. Ron Volmering is new hall rental officer. Post 197 raffle net profit is $1600.00
Drawing winners are: $10.00 – Tony Grifka
Attendance: Ben Koehn (not present) 50/50: Clarence Peyerk
09-03-2014 Regular meeting. Bob Meurn was guest speaker, he talked about the collision of the ships Andrea Doria and Stockholme in 1956. Darrell Connell is the Post 197 chili cook off winner. Other contestants were Bob Winkel and Jerry Bohn. Charter was draped for Paul King and Judy Harrington. Garrett Peterson is new member. Home football games are Sept 12th, Sept 19th, Oct 10th and Oct 24th. Christmas parade is Dec 6th. Drawing winners are $10.00 Gary Erb, Attendance: Leroy Schave(not present), and 50/50 Jack Landenberg. Charter was draped for members Judith Harrington and Paul King.
09-07-2014 Legion post 197 picnic, 40 in attendance.
09-12-2014 Honor Guard at home football game
09-13-2014 American Legion won the Harbor Beach Chili Cook off using Darrell Connell’s recipe. Those assisting Darrell were: Bob Sopczynski, Tim Robinson, Jim Leiby, Jerry Bohn and Al Kleinknect. Thank you Doug Donaldson for use of electricity and setup space.
09-18-2014 Building committee meeting. It was decided that the hallway will be updated to match the banquet room. Work will begin in January 2015. Because of wall space needed for bulletin boards, plaques, and other items for posting the north/south hallway wall will not be removed. Basement cleanup is scheduled for Saturday September 27th. The meeting room will be updated in a similar fashion as the banquet room at a time to be determined.
09-19-2014 Honor Guard at home football game.
09-23-2014 Member James O. Keefer passed away.
09-27-2014 Basement cleanup completed.
10-01-2014 Regular meeting. Charter draped for member James O. Keefer. Drawing winners are:
$10 Pic DeFrain Attendance: Jerome Meyer (not present) 50/50: Paul Ginther New member is USCG Commander Chief Boatswain Mate Michael Thayer.
10-10-2014 Honor Guard at home football game.
10-17-2014 Honor Guard at home football game.
10-20-2014 New gun safe purchased.
10-22-2014 Blood Drive.
10-24-2014 Honor Guard at home football game.
10-31-2014 Honor Guard at 1st home playoff game at Harbor Beach High School.
11-05-2014 Regular meeting. Guest speaker was BMC Micheal Thayer who is the new commander at Coast Guard Station Harbor Beach. $10.00 winner was Frank Lorkowski (not present), monthly attendance winner (Max Koch, not present), 50/50 winner was Gary Erb ($27.00). Bob Sopczynski was acting chaplain in Paul Ginther’s absence. It was decided to rent the meeting room for $25.00/hr, it does not include the use of the kitchen. A donation of $100.00 will be sent to the Good Fellows organization and they will be allowed the use of the hall to pack their boxes. Motion made and passed to pay for new gun safe from Ruth Bank acc’t ($315.00). Motion made and passed to give the old overhead lights in the hallway and meeting room to any member wanting them.
11-08-2014 Honor Guard for Harbor Beach High School football 2nd playoff game.
11-08-2014 Veterans Day Dinner. Speaker was Steve Young from the Veterans Affairs in Bad Axe. About 100 Veterans, spouses, and guests attended.
11-11-2014 New lights installed in hallway.
11-14-2014 Veterans Day Breakfast sponsored by Harbor Beach High School.
11-14-2014 Installation of new lights in meeting room began. Completed on 11-17-2014.
11-15-2014 Honor Guard at high school for 3rd playoff game.
12-03-2014 Regular meeting: Hallway update will be started after the Christmas season. A fund raising committee was established. Bingo starting time will be changed to 12:30 PM for the months of January, February and March. County prisoners will be working at the hall in late January. Tentative date for Stag party is Feb 21, 2015, tentative date for birthday party is Mar 14,2015. Winners for December are: $10.00(PicDeFrain), Attendance (David Veldman, not present), and 50/50 (Marvin Emming). New members are William Wells and Evan Beavers.
12-06-2014 Harbor Beach Christmas Parade.
12-11-2014 Football banquet at high school, Post 197 members are invited.
12-18-2014 Fund raiser committee meeting.
12-30-2014 Funeral for Army veteran Irvin Oparka at St. Peter and St. Paul Catholic Church in Ruth
In attendance from American Legion Post 197
Leo Bennett Jim Leiby Bob Winkel
Terry Blanchard Tim Robinson Gary Erb
Marvin Emming Darrell Connell Fred Mutart
Arnold Presley
Some of the activities Post 197 participated in for the year 2014
Various parties and post picnic
Building updates
4th Annual cart derby
Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Christmas Parades
Poppy Sales
Community Scholarship Program
Maritime Festival
Blood drives
Community Fund Raisers
Veteran Fishing Outing
Bingo
Funerals for any veteran
Flag raising ceremonies at home football games
Chili cook off (1st place)
Pistol Club
Flag Retirement Ceremony
Hospital Visitations
Funerals attended by Post 197 for the year 2014
Leo Klee
William Fenwick
Raymond Emming
Thomas H. Guitar
Marvin Mausolf
Raymond Gibson
Irvin Oparka
Members of Post 197 who passed away in the year 2014:
Johnny Kudlac
Raymond Emming
Raymond Gibson
Judith Harrington
Paul King
Nathan Gorell
New members to Post 197 in the year 2014:
Fred Lorkowski
Carl Seiman
Raymond Gibson
Gary Erb
Garrett Peterson
Michael Thayer
William L. Wells
Evan M. Beavers
Submitted by Jim Leiby, Post 197 Historian
