On June 17, 2023 the post monthly meeting was called to order, and the order of business was conducted to include an Invitation of a new member and the Installation of Post Officers Ceremony. We were honored to have Mrs Geneva Langston, Post 157 Auxiliary Unit Vice President, Mr. Devell “Bo” Durham, the Past Division III Commander, and the current Internal Affairs Committee Chairman and Ms. Ashante Ramirez, the daughter of Gabriel Carr, 1st Vice Commander in attendance.
Initiation of new members is an important post function. They need to be shown officially and formally that they are indeed a part of The American Legion. They deserve the courtesy of being introduced to the post that has accepted their membership applications and dues payments. The Sergeant-at-Arms escorted the new member into the meeting room and placed him properly before the flag and read his name as Mr. Michael Shaw.
Post Commander James Langston read him his obligation (ie: “raise your right hand and repeat after me.”) at the conclusion of the obligation the Chaplain Willie Pulley read "There shines the emblem of The American Legion." Post Commander James Langston welcome Legionnaire Michael Shaw to The American Legion. All post members present also welcome Legionnaire Michael Shaw as a member of Charles T. Norwood Post 157.
The Installing Officer Devell “Bo” Durham, the Past Division III Commander honored the Post by swearing in the newly elected and reelected officers. He then took control of the meeting and informed the Sergeant-at-arms to bring forward newly elected officers to be installed or reinstalled. He read the oath of office to the newly elected officers as they took the pledge to perform faithfully and impartially the duties of the office in The American Legion that they assume.
Officers sworn in: L to R: Installing Officer Devell “Bo” Durham, Post Commander James Langston, Gabriel Carr 1st Vice Commander/Adjutant, Charles Whitaker, 2nd Vice Commander, James Whitaker Historian, Michael Shaw Judge Advocate, Willie Pulley Chaplain, Michael Parrott Finance Officer, Ernest Adams, Sergeant-at-Arms. The Installing Officer Devell “Bo” Durham thanked and congratulated us on our accomplishments being that we are a smaller Post and gave us many words of encouragement. He spoke about carrying on the Legacy and history of the post to include Legionnaire Patricia Harris as being a member of the post and now one of The American Legion National Vice Commanders.
