Turnbow-Higgs Post & Unit 240’s Annual Awards & Officer Installation banquet was held July 16th (Third Tuesday Monthly Meeting) for the purpose of awarding the exceptional 2024 performance of members, and to install 2025 Membership Year officers. American Legion Department of Texas, 17th District Installing Officers, Commander, Jeff Eaton, and Auxiliary President, Nancy Cobb traveled from the home Post 163 in Weatherford to conduct the induction ceremony. Guests and members were treated to a Texas-Style BBQ buffet meal of brisket, sausage, and chicken with all the fixins and several choices of desserts.
Auxiliary Unit 240 began the event with President Martha Fredrickson presenting a summary of Unit 240’s previous year accomplishments, Martha expressed her appreciation for the support of members as she acknowledged their hard work and exceptional contributions resulting in the following 2024 membership year accomplishments: 1) Post & Unit 240 joint participation in the presentation of Memorial, Veteran, and Flag Day programs, and Post 240 open house; 2) Thank ‘You for flying the Flag’- mailers; 3) Presentation of ROTC Military Excellence Award; 4) Participated in Donation to Waco V.A. gift shop and hospitalized Veterans; 5) Set up a Christmas gift tree for 33 nursing home veterans, then delivered gifts; 6) Donations to; Foster’s Home, National Fire Safety, Meals on Wheels, T.R.E.A.T., U.S.O., Creative Arts, and The Tree House; 7) Sponsored 1ea Girls State Delegate; 8) Awarded two scholarships; 9) Distributed Poppies at Dowell Ace Hardware; 10) Updated Unit 240 Facebook page; 11) Presented Cancer survivor program; Organized and served12) monthly meals for Post & Unit joint meetings; 13) Attended District Conventions.
Martha continued the program by introducing 17th District President Nancy Cobb who presented the following District Certificates of Appreciation: 1) Donating to the Department Education Fund 2) Contributing to Community Service 3) Narrative Report on the Unit's activities for Children & Youth 4) Certificate of Achievement for support of the Poppy Program. 5) Americanism Program Year-End Submission report.
District President concluded the Auxiliary awards presentations by congratulating Unit 240 for a job well done and challenging Unit 240 for an even better performance in 2025. She continued the program by administering the oath of office to Auxiliary Unit 240 members Paula Maness & Decie Jones, who will serve as 2025 Executive Committee members; Incumbents, Joanna Lay, Treasurer; Julie Littlefield, Secretary & Co-Chaplain; Jan Anderson, Vice President; and Martha Fredrickson, President. Mallory Litchfield (Executive Committee) and Nita Griffith (Co-Chaplain) were unable to attend the induction ceremony. Unit 240 President will administer the oath to them later.
With Auxiliary Unit 240 Awards and Officer Installations accomplished, Unit 240 President, Martha Fredrickson, expressed her gratitude to Unit & Post 240 members for making her fifth consecutive year as Unit 240 President a success and ask for their continued support, as she begins her sixth consecutive year as 2025 membership year Unit 240 President. She then passed the gavel to Post 240 Commander, Keith Fredrickson, who continued the program with Post 240 Awards and 2025 Officer induction ceremony.
Commander Fredrickson began Post 240’s Awards segment of the program by announcing and presenting the Post 240 Legionnaire of the Year Award to Navy and Vietnam war era veteran, Tim Tatom.
Tim joined the American Legion Post 240 in 2021. From day one of his membership, Tim exhibited his exceptional leadership qualities and eagerness to serve Post 240 where his talents are most useful. He has held Post 240’s Service officer position since joining Post 240 in 2021 and will continue as Service Officer in 2025. He will have dual Officer roles of responsibility in 2025 having been sworn in to serve as Post 240 Second Vice Commander during the 2025 membership year. He also holds Post 240 Honor Guard, Officer in Charge position, responsible for organizing and responding to requests for flag & rifle salute presentation events, such as Veteran Funerals, Schools, Patriotic Community events, Parades, and others.
Following the Legionnaire of the Year Award presentation, 17th District Commander Jeff Eaton presented National & Department awards to Post 240 Commander Keith Fredrickson and Adjutant Chris Grantham. From The American Legion National Headquarters: 1) National Membership Retention Award for retaining 90% and above 2022 Membership by the May Target date and from The American Legion Department of Texas: 1) Post Retention Award for retaining 90% and above 2022 Membership by the May Target date. 2) Certificate of Recognition for achieving an All-Time High membership of 152 as of June 2023. 3) Post Recruiting Award in recognition of achieving a 10% or higher increase in New Members over 2023 Membership Goal for the Membership Year.
The meeting agenda continued with17th District Commander, Jeff Eaton administering the oath of office to the following 2025 Post 240 members elect. Commander, Keith Fredrickson; First Vice Commander, Frank Maddy; Adjutant/Finance Officer, Chris Grantham; Second Vice Commander & Service Officer, Tim Tatom; Judge Advocate, Curtis Anderson; Chaplain, Matt Hallgarth; Sgt. At Arms, Sid Moon, and Executive Committee Members at Large, Walter Dotson, Willis Moon, and Bruce Delater. Historian, Roger Easter, and Sgt. At Arms, Sid Moon were unable to attend the Induction Ceremony and will be sworn in later by Commander.
Husband-and-Wife team, Keith, and Martha Fredrickson will once again be at the helm in 2025, Keith, (2nd consecutive term) as Post 240 Commander, and Martha, as Auxiliary Unit 240 President her sixth consecutive year as Unit 240 President. She is a graduate of Abilene Christian College and a retired schoolteacher.
Keith earned his American Legion membership via 20-years of United States Air Force service retiring in the rank of Lt. Colonel in 1989. He joined The American Legion Post 240 in 2015. During his 8-years of continuous service he has served as 2024 Commander, Vice Commander, and Chairperson of Post 240 Veteran Visitation committee. In 2020, Keith played a leading role in improving Post 240 public awareness by overseeing the purchase and installation of an LED outdoor sign and obtaining city and state approvals to proceed with the project. He was the recipient of Post 240 Legionnaire of the year Award in 2020.
