Community Post News
Post 68 Supports North Brunswick High School Freedom Wall dedication
May 7th, 2018
Members of the Brunswick school system, Kiwanis, Key Club, Exchange Club, Post 68 American Legion, Brunswick Forest Woodworkers club along with Mayor Brenda Bozeman were present today at the dedication of this important historical and educational feature. The School’s Principal, Paul Price, has a designated wall in the School’s library where the Shrine has been placed. This Freedom Wall dedication is made possible through a partnership among the North Brunswick Kiwanis Club, the American Legion Post 68, The Cape Fear Exchange Club, The Brunswick Forest Woodworkers club and the Brunswick County School District.
Kiwanis and Post 68 member Rick de Moya was the MC for this event. Rick has worked tirelessly to make this project happen. In all, 30 framed copies of historical documents such as the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, etc. regarding the United States of America are mounted on this wall for students to read and study. Principle Paul Price indicated that students would be given assignments based upon these documents. Many thanks to the members of the Brunswick Forest Woodworking Club who provided their skills and expertise today in constructing the Wall
Freedom Wall background:
The dedication of a Freedom Shrine Wall will be made to North Brunswick High School. The FREEDOM SHRINE is an impressive display of historic document replicas serving to remind all of us of the blood, sweat, and tears that have been invested over the years to ensure our freedom as Americans. The Freedom Wall originated with the Freedom Train which toured the nation in 1947 carrying an exhibit of historic documents. (Source: WWAY.com)
LINK for YouTube video of Rick de Moya being interviewd
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| FREEDOM WALL of historical documents | Freedom Shrine plaque | Exchange Club dedication plaque |
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| BF Woodworkers club members who erected the wall | Principle Paul Price and MC Rick de Moya | Visiting dignitaries from each partnership group along with Leland Mayor Brenda Boozman |
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| Rick de Moya speaks to the crowd | Post 68 members present | People inspecting documents |
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| People inspecting document | Post 68 Commander Zelenski in discusson | Post 68 members at ceremony |
Post 68 monthly meeting March 15th
Thank you to Anita Hartsell for being our speaker of the evening
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Commander-Jim Zelenski, Service Officer-Dale Todd, Public Affairs Officer-Lane Adrian, Guest Speaker - Anital Hartsell, Supply Officer-John Marone, Finance Officer-Greg Miller
Above: 1st Vice Commander-Alan Simmons presents momento award to Anita Hartsell-Senior Veterans Service Officer for Brunswick County Veterans Services office
Post 68 Meeting - 1/18/2018
Post 68 receives recognition
In a surprise visit to Post 68, Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Michael De Slaughter presented Post 68 with a
Memorandum expressing thanks for our participation in providing cards, letters, and cookies to Air Force personnel deployed in
Incirlik, Turkey over the 2017 holidays. Accompanying the letter was a flag that was carried aboard an A-10 Warthog from the 74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (Flying Tigers) on December 17th and onboard an KC-135R Stratotanker during Operation Inherent Resolve on December 27, 2017. Appropriate Certificates of Authenticity accompanied the flag. Thank you to all our members who took the time to write cards (each envelope also included a Post 68 business card and cut-out star) and in particular, to Patty Kelley for baking delicious chocolate chip cookies for the troops!
MSG De Laughter was presented with Post 68 ball cap and coffee mug as a thank you for speaking to Post members and personally delivering the Flag and certificates.
Chief MSG De Laughter with Post 68 Commander Jim Zelenski and Adjutant Eric Mens
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| Air Force Letter of Appreciation | Flag Presented to Post 68 |
| 74th Fighter Squadron | 22nd Air Refueling Wing |
Guest Speaker from Brunswick County Board of Elections
Eric Mens introduced Melissa Monroe, Deputy Director, Brunswick County Board of Elections. Melissa addressed issues
related to voting in Brunswick County, her job responsibilities, how the growth in the County (particularly the influx of residents into the northern part of the County) has affected her job, and the need for volunteers to work at the polls on each election day. During Presidential election years, as many as 400 poll workers are needed to work at locations throughout Brunswick County. Pay is a minimum of $150 on Election Day. Orientation and computer skills training for potential poll workers starts this month and runs through February. The attached brochure provides additional information on how our members can become poll workers for the 2018 elections.
To sign up to be a poll worker, go to: https://doodle.com/poll/tv796inv53f554y
Melissa and Adrian were presented Post 68 mugs from Commander Zelenski as a thank you
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PULL YOUR FOR THE RONALD McDONALD HOUSES OF NORTH CAROLINA |
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Save those aluminum can pull tabs!!
Please join your fellow American Legion Leland Post 68 members in supporting the Ronald McDonald Houses of North Carolina. Since 1997, the North Carolina Department of the American Legion’s Children and Youth Commission has supported Ronald McDonald Houses of North Carolina (RMHNC) primarily through the collection of aluminum can pull tabs.
In 1997, the Department of Children and Youth Commission and the Department of North Carolina elected to adopt the support of Ronald McDonald Houses as one of its Children and Youth Programs. Your recycled beverage tabs support Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Carolina. Every tab donated helps provide a temporary home away from home for the families of seriously ill children.
Bring your collected pull tabs to the monthly Post 68 meeting (6:00 PM on 3rd Thursday of each month at Magnolia Greens Blossoms meeting room)
PULL TAB FACTS
- It takes about 1270 tabs to equal 1 pound.
- Tabs are cleaner and easier to store than cans.
- You can save pull tabs from any aluminum can – soup, soda, beer, pet food, etc.
- Ronald McDonald Houses (RMH) recycle the aluminum at market value (about $.50/pound), plus an additional donation.
- RMH of Greenville raised over $4,000 from pull tab donations in 2016.
- In 2017, 90+ North Carolina American Legion Posts donated nearly 6,500 pounds of pull tabs (8,255,000 pull tabs!!).
Contact: Richard Fry (910) 769-8961 E-mail: richard.fry8700@gmail.com
1/24/18
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Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall
26 September 2018 through 1 October 2018
It is with great pleasure that Gary and myself are able to announce that American Honor Guards will be bringing the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall into Wilmington on 26 September through 1 October of 2018. The wall will be resting at Independance Mall between Wells Fargo Bank and Firehouse Subs.
We had been looking for spots for quite sometime now. Being that Wilmington is so rich in military history dating back to the Civil War and Wilmington herself was the assembly line for the Liberty Ships during WWII. It only seemed fitting that this be the location for the Healing Wall.
Chip Jones, President
American Honor Guards of North Carolina
AmericanHonorGuardsNC.org
910-524-2829
Gary (Grandude) Anderson, Vice-President
American Honor Guards of NC
© 713-557-8413
andersonga@ hotmail.com
Post 68 Receives a THANK YOU from a member of our Community!
The following post was placed onto NextDoor 20 Nov 2017 after Commander Jim Zelenski left a Flag Star on a local Veterans windshield.......
(https://nextdoor.com/news_feed/?post=70995597)
Thank you Post 68
From: Sherry DeLoose, Lanvale Trace
I just wanted to take a moment and say thank you to Post 68 for their kindness. I convinced my husband, a veteran, to use the parking for veterans at the Harris Teeter at Waterford today. He always refuses, wanting to keep it open for someone who may need it more due to injuries and whatnot or who has served longer, or a long list of other reasons why he shouldn't be taking the space for someone more deserving and parks elsewhere. He reluctantly finally agreed to use it after I pointed it out for the millionth time on a very busy day when there was almost nowhere else to park. I was nervous for a moment when I saw something on our windshield when we returned to our vehicle. I have seen news stories about veterans having their status questioned and people getting nasty with them. I was really hoping it wasn't insulting. I am happy to say it was a beautiful card and star from Post 68. It made our day. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
1/19/18
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Local Story: UNCW breaks ground on Veterans Hall
Read story at Wilmington Star News online
1/24/18
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Post 68 Commander invited to Town of Leland Planning Session
This is good news for Post 68. It shows that all the involvement the post has had in Leland is being recognized within the community. Kudo's to Jim and those who support the Post's activities within the Leland community and within the greater Wilmington area.
From: Alice Corl <acorl@townofleland.com>
Subject: PROS Plan Focus Groups - Community Leaders
Date: January 11, 2018 at 8:26:51 AM EST
Because you are involved as a Community Leader in our community, The Town of Leland invites you to participate in a focus group meeting for the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan. The intent of this comprehensive plan is to identify our community’s park, recreation and open space needs so we can proactively plan for the future. In order to identify these needs, we are asking for your input.
The Town of Leland has engaged the services of GreenPlay LLC, a nationally renowned park and recreation consulting firm, to help conduct a community needs assessment as part of the Plan.
As a component of the planning process, GreenPlay is conducting a series of focus group meetings with community leaders and residents. Because we value your opinion, we invite you to participate in one of these focus groups. The meetings are expected to last approximately one hour. GreenPlay will ask participants a variety of questions to assess customer satisfaction, parks, recreation and open space needs of the community, and issues that should be addressed in the comprehensive plan. With a focus group, there are never wrong answers, so everybody is encouraged to be open and freely express their thoughts.
The meetings will take place on Jan. 23 and 24 at Leland Town Hall (102 Town Hall Dr.). You are encouraged to attend the meeting noted for Community Leaders, but if you are unable to attend at that time, feel free to attend another focus group that interests you.
1/24/18
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Don't forget to particpate in Post 68 survey! Let your voice be heard!
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Membership: Dues for the 2019 membership year are payable soon. Please remit by check to Finance Officer as soon as possible.
The American Legion financial year runs from July 1st thru June 30th. We’ve done exceedingly well the past two years, coming in second overall state wide last year. Let’s keep the ball rolling, renew early and bring in new members. Our Treasurer/Finance Officer, requests that if you receive your dues notice either from State (snail mail) or National (web payment), please bring your notice and dues ($40.00 check) to the meeting. Don’t pay via email and credit card. When our Finance officer sends the money to the State, we receive membership credit the following month. Payments going to National takes three months to filter down to the State and more often than not, updated membership cards are lost.
Finally, if you haven’t done so, please submit a copy of your DD214 or discharge papers to Adjutant. We must retain them on file. If you submit a DD214, please block out the first five digits of your SS#.
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Display Your Pride: Post 68 baseball caps are available. One free to each new member. Additional caps are available at a cost of $15.00 each. If you are a new member and haven’t received you cap please see Kathy McDonough, Membership Chair.
Post 68 polo shirts are available to order. Cost is $28.00 each. $2.00 extra for sizes 2XL and up. Cost must be paid at the time the order is placed ($5.00 from each sale benefits the Post 68 general fund).
Post 68 jackets should be available for order at the March meeting. Cost is $45.00 each. $3.00 extra for sizes 2XL and up. Cost must be paid at the time the order is placed.
Army, Navy, Air Force Marine Corps and Coast Guard baseball caps are available at a cost of $15.00.
The additional Post caps, polo shirts, jackets and service caps are available from John Marone, Supply/Logistics Officer at the monthly meeting or jonflyfish@aol.com.
Please Note: The Post 68 baseball caps are not part of the official uniform of the American Legion. Only the service caps, available through the Legion Flag & Emblem Sales, are the official uniform and should be worn at all official functions, including Post meetings. Kathy McDonough will keep track of all members who have received the Post baseball cap.
Order your official American Legion Post 68, service Leland, NC cap from the Flag and Emblem website.
https://emblem.legion.org/uniform_caps/legion.asp