Summer Newsletter

SUMMER 2014 NEWSLETTER
The IRS requires that the Post keep copies of your DD-214 and/or discharge papers showing each member’s duty tours. Would each of you who have not furnished a copy during 2014, please send the Post a copy as soon as practical. If the post is audited and these documents are not on file, the Post will be subject to a fine of $1,000 dollars per day until the documents are furnished. If for some reason you cannot locate a copy, please contact the Monroe County Veterans Service Officer (VSO) and he can order one for you. Currently, Chuck Mullins is the VSO for Monroe County; his telephone number is 423-442-5812. Just a reminder, if you have lost your medals, new ones can be obtained free of charge on a one-time basis by applying to Monroe County Service Officer, Chuck Mullins, (Monday through Wednesday, 8:00 am to 4:30). A copy of your DD-214 or other discharge paperwork listing the earned medals is required for him to order them.
Sweetwater Area Ministries (SAMS) is distributing food donated by Walmart on Wednesday or Friday of each week from 1:00-2:00 p.m. to all Monroe County residents at the SAMS building on Sweetwater/Vonore Road. In addition SAMS also provides a Food Pantry to Monroe County residents by appointment only on Tuesday.
Dues renewal notifications are sent out in July of each year so that the budget can be prepared. Please send your 2014-2015 dues payment in prior to October for the coming year to PO Box 817, Sweetwater TN 37874 or you may also pay them online. We have reached our 100% membership dues payment goal for the second year in a row. This goal was reached prior to the first renewal notice in October 2013; we should be getting a monetary award at the State Conference in Knoxville this year. With your help we can do this each year.
LegionCare limited accidental death insurance is available to you at no cost and covers you regardless of where the accident happens. The application information was sent to you in 2013 but for some reason, most of the members have not taken advantage of this free benefit. If you have misplaced your card, please contact the Post by telephoning 423-337-2398 and another card will be sent out. Or if you have any questions regarding the insurance, please call.
Department of Tennessee is requesting that each Post support the Emergency Relief and Children and Youth Funds. Please consider making a donation to each fund and send it to PO Box 817, Sweetwater, TN 37874. Any donations made for the Emergency Relief Fund or Children and Youth Fund is tax deductible.
The post would also like to form a “Sons of the American Legion” (SAL) unit and also a “Legion Riders” (motorcycle) unit. In order to do so, we need an indication of interest from the members and their eligible members. For the riders group there must be at least 5 Legion members in good standing (current dues paid) and the SAL must have 10 members in order for each unit to become chartered. Please let us know your thoughts.
In January, members of the post and auxiliary visited veterans domiciled in local nursing homes and distributed goodies donated by various community sources as part of our veteran outreach. Also the Executive Committee met to decide on the disposition of the small strip of land owned by the Post located behind the Sweetwater Fruit Market which was classified as “Wetlands” property. Property given this classification cannot be built on nor can any improvements be made. The post has been paying taxes on this property and cannot qualify it to be tax free due to the restrictive requirements made for wetlands property. The committee reviewed the proposal/purchase offer submitted by new owner of Sweetwater Fruit market property and made a decision to present the proposal/purchase offer to the membership. After a discussion by post members of the pros/cons a motion was made to sell by Pete Peterman, and seconded by Bobby Wilson. It was also decided by the membership to sponsor a team in the Sweetwater Dixie Youth Baseball to give the Post exposure in the community.
In February the Ladies Auxiliary held a pancake breakfast for the members and the community as part of our veterans outreach and children and youth support in the community. Also a spaghetti dinner was held during February. The Post and Department began to plan a merger with Madisonville Post 65 due to little or nonexistent activity by the veteran population. This will make a stronger post in Sweetwater. Once everything for the merger is in place, it will be presented to National for final decision. Meanwhile, the Post has acquired several members from the inactive Madisonville Post.
In March the Post and Auxiliary selected their Boys State and Girls State representatives, Riley Mitchell from Tellico Plains High School, and Will Vineyard and Abby Mason from Sweetwater High School. Department of TN wants to send at least 700 young men to Boys State in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Boys State. Also new VA clinics have opened in Athens and Harriman in March which will give more convenient access for veterans needing care. To transfer to the Athens clinic telephone 615-873-8422 or contact VA at website www.ava.gov/healthbenefits/apply. Also a “Welcome Home” to Vietnam Veterans celebration and parade was put on by the Blue Star Mothers group and was held at the VFW Post 5156.
April is Children and Youth Month and to celebrate this event, Sweetwater Mayor Doyle Lowe and Monroe County Mayor Tim Yates both signed proclamations to this effect. Also in April the Post presented a certificate to Deputy Christopher J Williams, Monroe County Sheriff’s Department who was selected as the State 2014 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year and his application is being submitted to National for consideration. Officer Williams will be receiving a plaque at our convention in Knoxville in June from the Department of Tennessee. Also the ladies auxiliary held their annual Easter Egg Hunt at Sweetwater Primary School. The ladies also have been volunteering in the multi-level classes at the primary school for the school year. Plans are being made to continue this activity in the schools.
In May, the Post received a grant from Walmart to help defray the veteran and children and youth expenses and Sweetwater Mayor Doyle Lowe indicated that the Post may also be receiving a grant from the City. Lester Norton, newly re-elected Third District Commander spoke with post members, thanking us for our support for his re-election for the 2014-2015 year. That members could always contact him as needed by telephoning and that he would get back to them within 30-50 minutes. He also spoke about the various programs which are supported by the Legion, such as the Scouting Program, Boys State, Oratorical Program, Legion Baseball, the Emergency Relief Fund, etc. Also recommended that if no one had attended the Boys State ceremonies, to do so as it would give some insight into the program as to what occurs while the Boys were attending the function. That members could stay overnight but needed to bring own bed linens. Mr. Norton touched briefly on the membership, State needs another 5 to get TN 100%, and members who had not renewed could do so online and be counted. The Blue Star Mothers organization held a Veterans Appreciation Day at the VFW post, our ladies auxiliary assisted in providing deserts for this event. The Post and Auxiliary participated in the three-state yard sale during May and also a road block fund raiser to raise funds to assist in the costs associated with our ongoing veteran and children and youth activities.
In June our own Clint Riddle traveled to Normandy to attend the 70th Anniversary of V-Day and of course the State Convention was held June 13-15 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Knoxville. Deputy Christopher S. Williams received the State of Tennessee Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award.
The post would also like to publish your war stories and military experiences. Those “war stories” are slow in coming, so far we only have two members who have furnished their stories. Please consider giving us a write up of your stories so that they can be compiled and possibly used as a fund raiser for the future. The publication may be something your family, children and grandchildren might like to keep or read about your funny/sad or general experiences you had during your service career.
Am looking forward to receiving those “war stories” and military experiences. Send them to the Post Adjutant, PO Box 817, Sweetwater, TN 37874. That’s it for now….until the next time.