Summer Newsletter

FALL - SUMMER 2014-2015 NEWSLETTER
Just a reminder, the Post would appreciate being notified in the event a member becomes deceased. Please ask your family members to keep the Post in the loop if this should occur by telephoning the Commander or Adjutant. Current telephone number is 423-337-2398. We do not wish to add to your grief by sending out dues notices or other communications to a deceased member.
Also please update mailing addresses and telephone numbers when they change. If you have an email address, please send to Post Adjutant: ttcwalk5@aol.com (will save on postage costs—newsletters, events and post communications can be sent on regular basis, should also be updated as changed). If you are ill, having surgery, being hospitalized, need help to build handicap ramps, etc., please notify Post so that we are aware of life changes.
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 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 2015-2016 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 third year in a row. This goal was reached prior to the first renewal notice in October 2014; we should be getting a monetary award at the State Conference in Murfreesboro 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. Please note, LegionCare coverage has been extended to our Auxiliary and SAL members starting now for enrollments and enrollment is a one time process. You may recall the requirement used to be that members had to renew every five years.
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 is still trying 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 members, at least two must be Legion members in good standing (current dues paid, the others can be auxiliary and/or SAL or a combination of the two) and the SAL must have 10 members (Legionnaires may also be eligible for the SAL if family members (mother, father, etc) are members in the Legion), in order for each unit to become chartered. During the fall months of 2014, Post 106 lost two members, Buddy ( J.O.) Sutton and Joe Gaines, the Post Everlasting Ceremony was conducted in November. During our spring months, Post 106 lost another member, Harlan Harris, the Post Everlasting Ceremony for him and if there is anyone else will be held in the Fall months. RIP Comrades, Sutton, Gaines and Harris.
No meeting was held in July 2014 since the Cmdr and Adjutant made an emergency visit to Virginia to take care of some personal matters. However, members of Post 106 and auxiliary Unit 106 participated in the 4th of July parade this year.
At the meeting in August 2014, Riley Mitchell and Will Vineyard spoke to the membership about their experiences at Boys State. Both young men were very appreciative of being given the opportunity to attend. Riley ran for County Trustee and was elected, Will was not elected to an office in spite of applying, too many candidates and not enough offices. Both young men told about meeting the Attorney General for the State of TN who spoke about what it was like in the service, about the political processes it took in being elected to an office both for the State, Counties, and Cities/Towns in TN the discipline they went through in making beds, running for office, etc. That it was a worthwhile experience, that they made many friends and enjoyed seeing how the court system operated and seeing/experiencing the in and outs involved in the political system they were exposed to. Also due to the resignation of Suzanne Parker, the Auxiliary nominated and elected new President, Joyce Nelson.
In September 2014, Post 106, VFW Post 5156, DAV Post 93 and the and Blue/Gold Star Mothers held a joint POW/MIA ceremony at the VFW, Rolling Thunder performed the ceremony for all. It was a very moving ceremony. Clint Riddle traveled to Normandy to celebrate the 70 year Anniversary of the invasion. An Open House at the Post was also held October 18, members and the public at large were invited to celebrate with us. If you didn’t make it , you missed a good time. Also in October, the Post held a Post Everlasting ceremony for deceased members Buddy Sutton and Joe Gaines. In November the Post participated in Veteran’s Day activities jointly with VFW Post 5156.
In December, the Post and Auxiliary members met at the DinnerBell Resturant for our annual Christmas Party instead of holding the regular meeting. This was a great way to reconnect with our members.
In January 2015, 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. It was also decided by the membership to sponsor a team in the Sweetwater Dixie Youth Baseball for the second year to give the Post exposure in the community. February 2015 the Post members selected David Lewallen as the Post Law Enforcement Officer of the Year and in March 2015, the Post received word that the American Legion Department of TN had also nominated him as their candidate as the National Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. This is the second year in a row that Post 106 has submitted the winning candidate.
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. April brought a busy month, officers for 2015-2016 were nominated. Billy Walker was nominated as Post Commander, Aurther Stakely and Eric Spurbeck were nominated as Vice Commanders, Clint Riddle, Ivey Smith, Fred Beatty, and Arthur Stakely were nominated as Post Chaplains, Bobby Wilson, as Sgt @ Arms, James Lenz as Historian and Theresa Walker as Adjutant. During April Billy Walker was also nominated and elected as 3rd District Commander at the District Commander’s conference.
In May 2015, all of the nominated officers were selected to serve for the 2015-2016 timeframe. Also in May, the Post participated in the National Day of Prayer held at noon at the Monroe County Courthouse. On June 9, 2015, the new officers were sworn in at the conclusion of the joint Post/Auxiliary meeting, 3rd District Commander Lester Norton officiating. The joint meeting being held to honor the Girls/Boys State Citizens: Blaine Boruff, Allie Kyle, Caleb Starnes, D. J. Vanderwerf and Noah Kile. David Lewallen was presented his plaque at the Department of TN conference held June 27, and on Sunday, June 28, Billy Walker was seated as 3rd District Commander. Lester Norton (3rd District Commander from 2013-2015), was slated to move into the East TN Vice Commander position, however, he passed away in his sleep on June 26. RIP Commander Norton. Plans were also made for the Post/Auxiliary to participate in July 4th, activities.
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.
If you have something you’d like to see addressed in the newsletter that isn’t, please let us know. My telephone number is 423-337-2398. That’s it for now….until the next time. Have a great year