March Commander’s Corner

This month’s meeting was nominations for officer positions for the upcoming year. The following people have been nominated for the following positions. Commander: Tricia Thurston, 1st Vice: Marcel Martineau, 2nd Vice: Robert McPherson, Adjutant: Dane Curato, Chaplain: Scott Touchette, Sgt-of-Arms: Jeremy Pulk, Americanism: Fred Milligan. Executive Committee: Ralph Arsenault, Mike Mann, Edward J. Roach Jr. and Joe Arsenault.

The following positions are vacant at this time: Finance Officer, Historian and Service Officer. Nominations are open until the next meeting to be held April 7. Once nominations are closed voting will be conducted by written ballot. If anyone is interesting in any of the positions or would like more information on these positions please contact me at the Post (369-9053) or my cell (357-3287).

This month District 5 (Oxford County) will elect their new officers at Post 82, Norway on Wednesday March 20 at 7 p.m. The following people have shown interest in the positions of Commander: Kirk Thurston, Rumford, and Ed Ellis, Dixfield, 1st Vice: Harold Wilbur, West Paris, 2nd Vice: Joe Cooney, South Paris, Adjutant: Neil Bickford, Oxford, Chaplain: Marcel Martineau, Rumford, Sgt-at-Arms: Charlie Green, Dixfield and Finance Officer: Rich Grover, Bethel.

The month of February was a very busy month for hall usage and each event was well attended. Everyone seemed to have a great time. Keep us in mind the next time you or your group is looking for a place to have a fundraiser or gathering of any kind.

The American Legion’s Position this month is Foreign Relations. The American Legion is dedicated to a foreign policy that promotes peace, justice and democracy by continuing to strengthen our relationships with well-established allies and cultivating new and meaningful international relationships and agreements. America’s engagement in foreign affairs is imperative to spreading freedom, building security, and eradicating international terrorists and terrorist groups who promote extremist ideologies with the aim of destroying America and western culture. Among the broad range of international issues that are vital to America’s national interests and advocated by the Legion are the strengthening of sanctions against rogue nations to prevent nuclear proliferation; building stronger multinational alliances; arranging fair global trade agreements; and strengthening the United Nations while arranging a more acceptable U.N. funding structure.

POW/MIA: The American Legion urges the U.S. president and every member of the U.S. Congress to speak out to the international community on every occasion to expedite the return of those U.S. servicemen who remain Prisoners of War and/or Missing in Action.

The American Legion urges Congress and the administration to properly fund rescue and recovery operations of all servicemembers who have died in service to this nation and particularly POW/MIA personnel. The American Legion is a strong advocate for and urges support for the POW/MIA families.

The American Legion Program for this month is Operation Comfort Warriors (OCW), which is also National Commander Jim Koutz’s, Commanders project for this year. OCW is a program dedicated to meeting the needs of wounded military personnel, providing them with comfort items not usually supplied by the government. OCW ensures that patients at U.S. military hospitals and warrior transition units are given items like sweat suits, DVDs, puzzles, electronic devices, books, calling cards and more. OCW also provides larger items such as ping pong tables, entertainment centers, computers, kayaks and other recreational goods for use by wounded warriors in common areas.

From December 2008 through June 2011, the American Legion family raised more than $650,000 for this effort, which has helped improve the quality of life for military men and women in hospital settings and warrior transition units. Included in this amount is a $250,000 grant awarded by the Pepsi Beverage Company after OCW won the most votes in Pepsi’s Refresh Everything project, finishing ahead of hundreds of other charities in an Internet voting competition. More than 400,000 American troops have been injured since the War on terrorism started; countless others have been hospitalized. There’s always an injured servicemember in need of comfort. From gift cards for patients at Walter Reed to electronics for Marines at Camp Pendleton, and every place in between,

Operation Comfort Warrior is the American Legion’s expression of gratitude. You can help by visiting www.legion.org/ocw for the latest news about OCW and to donate online. You can also mail a check to Operation Comfort Warrior, The American Legion, PO Box 1055, Indianapolis, IN 46206.

Upcoming events open to the public: Friday, public supper with a Mexican meal and karaoke and dance music to follow, Saturday is Texas Hold’em tournament starting at 9 a.m., Sunday is the Pampered Chef’s party at 3 p.m., March 16 is St Patrick’s Day supper from 4:30-6:30 p.m. or until sold out, March 30 at 1 p.m. is a Veterans Recognition Ceremony and every Tuesday night is singles cribbage starting with a meal at 5 p.m. Look for updates in the local paper.

Membership is currently at 90 %, which mean 49 members have not paid their dues for 2013. If your membership card does not have 2013 printed on it, then you are delinquent. If you have any questions, or concerns please call me at 357-3287.

Next month’s meeting is April 7 with the meal at 5 p.m. followed by the meeting at 6. Hope to see you there!