Volume 86, Issue 5
MAY 2015
DAVID A. GRIFFITH, COMMANDER
803-359-1278 e-mail: [email protected]
LINDA M. GRIFFITH, AUXILIARY PRESIDENT
WEB: http://sclegionpost7.org
1 8:30 AM-5 PM Remembering Our Fallen Exhibit in
Lexington County Administration Building (page 5)
(last day to see it—here for 2 wks)
2 11 AM—Auxiliary Meeting
12 PM—Legion Meeting/Luncheon
NOTE CHANGE IN TIME ABOVE
9 10 AM—3 PM Dang-It Doll Workshop
(Cayce Masonic Lodge-12th Street)
10 Mother’s Day
11 Confederate Memorial Day (County Offices Closed)
13 Honor Flight
16 Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Celebration
(see flyer on page 8 of this newsletter)
25 Memorial Day (County Offices Closed)
10 AM Caughman-Harman Funeral Home Program
(see page 5 for details)
(Poppy Distribution-Food Lion near
Kmart, Lexington, and ACE Hardware
on Emmanual Church Road)
29-31 Department Legion and Auxiliary Conventions in
downtown Columbia Marriott on Main Street.
(Contact Commander or Auxiliary President if you
would like to attend. Registration will be paid for
you!)
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
June — July —-PLEASE SUPPORT
OUR BASEBALL TEAM —
SCHEDULE WILL BE E-MAILED
AND IN NEXT NEWSLETTER….
June 13 Legion and Auxiliary meetings at NOON
July 11 Legion and Auxiliary meetings TIME TBA
(Girls and Boys State participants)
August 1 Legion and Auxiliary meetings TIME TBA
(Baseball Team members)
803-359-1278 e-mail: [email protected]
MEMBERSHIP AT LAST
MEETING VOTED TO
CONTINUE WITH NOON TIME
MEETING MEAL…..July and
August times TBA?
Greetings fellow Legionnaires...
our April
meeting was to be our last of our noon meetings for the
spring, but the membership voted to continue with noon
meetings for another month. We have several things coming up this month. Our meeting on the 2nd is to be a planning and assignment session for the upcoming Yard Sale
on the 16th. We are planning to have a Flag Disposal
Ceremony that day also if we can work it out. We also
have Legion and Auxiliary conventions at the end of the
month in Columbia. And last but not least Baseball is
starting on May 26 — a very busy month. I need by our
meeting all of those members who wish to attend the convention. The Post will pay for the registration. We need
at least 8 to fill out our voting allotment. The luncheon is
optional and you must pay for that at $25 per person. We
will be needing lots of help at the ball park this year so
please let Steve, Wayne, Doug or myself that you will
help. We are working on playing 3 games this year at the
new ball park. We have dates. Now, we are just trying to
work out the schedule. I do not like asking for money but
our insurance is coming due and it is over $3,000,. The
Auxiliary has given $1,000 toward the bill and if the yard
sale is a success it can go along way toward paying that
cost. We need a big turnout for our May meeting so
please call and let us know you are coming. We have a
POD for storage of your treasures you are willing to give
up for the Yard Sale. So if you can’t keep your stuff till
drop-off time (see page 4), we can store it. Please let us
know if you need us to pickup items from your house or
even a friend’s house. Remember what you give is a tax
deductable and helps our Post and Auxiliary support the
many programs we do for our veterans.
For God and Country,
David A. Griffith
Commander
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Legionnaire Contacts: (PO Box 421, Lexington, SC 29071)
Commander David A. Griffith (h. 359-1278 c. 587-9876) e-mail: [email protected]
Vice Commander Ernie Hall (h. 359-2941 c. 600-0927) e-mail: [email protected]
Adjutant David Davis (h. 358-0187 c. 767-3872) e-mail: [email protected]
Finance Officer Fred Sons (h. 359-4882 c. 260-3093) (No e-mail)
Auxiliary Contacts: (PO Box 1802, Lexington, SC 29071)
President Linda Griffith (359-1278 h 920-3975 c e-mail: [email protected])
Sr. V-P Barbara Leaphart (520-6206 h 609-6659 c (No e-mail)
Secretary Nila Ballentine (356-2272 h 760-3457 c e-mail: [email protected])
Treasurer Linda Roemer (520-6529 h 610-781-6454 c e-mail: [email protected])
Dear Ladies of Unit 7 Auxiliary…. UNIT 7 DUES ARE $30.
Be sure to mail them to
Treasurer Linda Roemer for Unit 7/American Legion Auxiliary, PO Box 1802, Lexington, SC 29071.
I T’ S T I M E T O V O T E FOR YOUR NEW L E A D E R S F O R 2015-2016! (PLEASE COME
TO THE MAY 2ND MEETING TO VOICE YOUR OPINION AND/OR MAKE IT KNOWN THAT YOU’D LIKE
TO SERVE AS AN OFFICER. I’ve been told the Nominating Committee has put together a slate for consideration.)
April Meeting Highlights:
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Attendance — 8 members present. Thank you to Nila Ballentine for filling in as our Chaplain today. We
welcomed Past Department President and Unit President Dot Tunstall back who has been traveling the USA!
Minutes — Approved as submitted by Nila for March.
Treasurer’s Report — Linda Roemer indicated that it was time for another audit as we would soon be turning the books over to a new leadership. She will coordinate with Patsy Horton and President Griffith.
Veteran/Military Support & Advocacy — Barbara Leaphart indicated that we would distribute Poppies on
May 23rd at the Food Lion located on West Main Street near Kmart and the ACE Hardware in Three Fountains. Girls State participants will assist. All members were asked to assist. Call Barbara for a schedule of
times. 1-2 hour shifts are recommended.
Youth Development — Doris Reynolds, Marge Carter, Willie Wingard, and Dot Tunstall interviewed lots
of candidates for Girls State on March 19 at Lexington, River Bluff, White Knoll, and Pelion. WE
ARE STILL IN NEED OF FUNDS TO SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS TO SEND DELEGATES! Please call
Doris with any amount you’d like to donate to help support these girls. Some of the girls will also be helping
out with the Yard Sale next month.
Family Support Programs—Mary continues to send cards. Great job filling in for Jeanne Crone during her
absence. Please call Mary if you know of someone who might need a ’little sunshine’ and she’ll be happy to
send a card wishing them well!
Membership Development-- If you have paid your dues and have not received your membership card,
please contact Barbara Leaphart. We have 90 members paid with some 8 outstanding. $50 was donated to
the Auxiliary Emergency Fund at the recent District meeting with a charge to other units.
Constitution & Bylaws — Jean presented a document for review and members were asked to take it home
for review and comments at our May meeting. Hopefully, Jean will be available to discuss her suggestions
and make any changes necessary before a vote is done. Members were asked to call Jean if they had any
questions, concerns, and/or suggestions.
Unfinished business—Thanks to all who came and helped out with the recent District Meeting at Post 7 on
March 21st. Nila indicated that she’d be in touch with Stanley lady to pick up some outstanding orders.
Members were given Yard Sale flyers to distribute and post everywhere they can. A sign-up sheet with
times to help out will be available at the next meeting. Mary and Doris indicated that they would be available at the Hut to take ’stuff’ in on Wednesday, May 13 from 9 to 2. Still available is: Thursday, May 14
from 9-2 and Friday May 15 from 9 to 3. WE WILL STILL NEED TO BE AVAILABLE SATURDAY
from 7:30 till about 2/3.
New Business—The nominating committee will consist of Mary Hazelton (Chr), Dot Tunstall, and Nila
Ballentine. Call them if you are interested in serving; otherwise, they might call YOU! A MOTION WAS
MADE BY Nile and seconded by Dot to donate $1,000 to the Legion to help pay their $3,000 insurance bill.
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Fifth and final in the series of the five Auxiliary PODS
The Family Support Programs POD consists of the following: Americanism — Jean Testruth and Patsy
Horton; Education — Barbara Leaphart and Doris Reynolds; Community Service — Betty Mathias and
Evelyn Moss; and Chaplain/Sunshine with Carolyn Mathias and Jeanne Crone. Evelyn Moss, Chair
FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAMS
AMERICANISM -- The Americanism Program seeks to inspire, recognize, and perpetuate responsible citizenship
through education and acts of patriotism, and to promote and demonstrate American Legion Auxiliary Americanism in the
community through leadership and support of our country and our military. It seeks to increase awareness and participation in
youth activities that promote proper respect for our flag and loyalty to our country, and to show the community our pride in
belonging to the world's largest patriotic women's organization--the American Legion Auxiliary. In our unit, we have taken
brown paper grocery bags to ten of the thirteen local elementary schools to have students draw patriotic pictures and designs on
them. The bags will then be given out at our May 16th yard sale. A flyer advertising the yard sale was also sent along to be
posted in each school's teachers lounge. Girls State participants from last year will also help us with Poppy distribution helping
to tell the story about the American Legion and what the poppy represents.
EDUCATION -- The Education Program promotes the American Legion Auxiliary's role in providing quality education
for children and adults through classroom activities, literacy programs, scholarship programs, and support of education beyond
high school for veterans' and military members' children. It promotes respect for the sacrifices of military heroes by providing
veterans to participate in classroom programs and promoting these events in local media, by wearing American Legion Auxiliary apparel when going into the schools and by providing transportation for the veterans to and from the schools, as well as
providing relevant information to the teachers. We can also support American Legion scholarship opportunities at all levels
and provide scholarship information and forms to local schools. We can award scholarships locally and publicize the winners,
as well as building relationships with schools to promote "Give 10 for Education" and "American Education Week". We can
also support veterans who are pursuing higher education or vocational education opportunities. The Girls State committee are
working with local high school girls who took part in Girls State last year to assist with poppy distribution this year. We continue to collect soup labels and box tops for education although we no loner collect toilet paper/ paper towel rolls for art classes
due to health reasons.
COMMUNITY SERVICE -- American Legion Auxiliary strives to help all veterans, active duty military, and their
families all over the world by working to develop at Unit and Department levels the criteria to implement and monitor all community services that can aid veterans, active duty military, and their families and provide a voice for their needs. We work to
provide helpful information to veterans and military families while raising community awareness for our military. We work to
raise funds to aid local veterans and military while making the community more aware of the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary and all we do for our military. In addition, we try to raise community awareness of National Days of
Service, such as Memorial Day in May, Flag Day in June, Patriot Day on 9/11, POW-MIA Day also in September, Veterans
Day in November, and Pearl Harbor Day in December. Several ladies make lap quilts for the VA hospital and thirty or more
have been delivered this year. We also continue to make and deliver pillows to the hospital and have made and delivered at
least forty of them this year. Our unit continues to work in our individual service and social organizations to bring about peace
and justice by sharing the story of the American Legion Auxiliary. Our yard sale will be a big community service project requiring a lot of volunteer hours by many workers. We also continue to collect magazines and books for the VA hospital and the
local Veterans Retreat Center for homeless veterans.
CHAPLAIN/SUNSHINE -- It is the belief of our organization that God should be at the helm and guide us in our work
helping our veterans and their families, our community, and each other. We want to preserve our freedom to worship as we
feel is right and to not take that right away from others. The chaplain shall support by word and actions our service to God and
country and celebrate diversity between people and faiths. The chaplain shall provide emotional guidance when needed or requested, with dignity and respect for the occasion. She shall pray for members and leaders with appropriate nondenominational
prayers and provide support and guidance through cards, e-mails, phone calls, and prayers to members during the year. She
shall act as the spiritual ambassador for our organization and educate members on the diversity of all faiths and cultures. The
chaplain shall provide invocations and benedictions at all official meetings, as well as memorial services for deceased members. Carolyn Mathias, our chaplain, and Jean Crone, our sunshine chair, have both had numerous health issues lately, so
Marge Carter has been serving as chaplain and opening and closing our meetings with a prayer. Mary Hazelton has been sending numerous cards to unit members who are ill, injured, or in mourning. Barbara Leaphart serves as the Department of SC
chaplain and also sends cards to members who need them, as I well know since having received cards from both Mary and Barbara while nursing my injured leg.
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See page 7 to sign
up to help us out!
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If you know someone who
would like to schedule the display, please contact Dan Williams, South Carolina Representative at dwilliams@Remembering
OurFallen.org or 402-885-0061.
More information is available at:
www.RememberingOurFallen.org
OR
www.PatrioticProductions.org.
Lexington, SC: A very emotional
exhibit, “Remembering Our
Fallen,” is a stark reminder of the
ultimate sacrifice made by 88
Fallen from South Carolina killed
in The War on Terror while wearing our country's uniform in a war
zone. The photo display, which
includes military and personal photos of each of South Carolina's
Fallen, will be leaving Lexington
soon and going to Orangeburg.
LAST FEW DAYS TO SEE IT.
Please go see it.
FALLEN”
Photo Exhibit of South
Carolina's Fallen on Display
April 20-May 1, 2015
8 am - 5 pm
Lobby
County Administration
Building
“REMEMBERING OUR
REMINDER: 2015 Palmetto Patriots’ Ball is scheduled for May 16th
Honorees will be Clebe McClary, Fowler Cary, Jr., and Lou Fowler.
Embassy Suites, Columbia.
FUNDS USED TO SUPPORT BLUE STAR MOTHERS AND THEIR
PROJECTS TO BENEFIT OUR VETERANS, ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY AND
THEIR FAMILIES.
Tickets are $60. For information and sponsorships:
www.palmettopatriotball.org or
call Jennifer (803.269.4411) or Ann (803.206.6088).
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SIGN-UP SHEET TO HELP OUT AT THE YARD SALE
We will need a lot of folks so help us out so we’ll know who will be where and when. Please..
TIMES NEEDED:
Set-up
Monday, May 11
2 pm — 3 pm
__________________
Sort Items to tables
Tuesday, May 12
1 pm — 4 pm
__________________
Take Items In
Wednesday, May 13
9 am — 2 pm
__________________
Thursday, May 14
9 am — 2 pm
__________________
Friday, May 15
9 am — 3 pm
__________________
Saturday, May 16
7:30 am—3 pm __________________
Sale & Clean-up
Check all that apply to you. If you can only work 1 or 2 hours at a time, be sure to scratch through the time above and write
YOUR TIME in. PLEASE LET US KNOW WE CAN COUNT ON YOU! Please call, e-mail, or mail to Commander
Griffith (359-1278 h, 587-9876 c; 3963 Brutus Pass, West Columbia, SC 29170; or [email protected])
NAME: _________________________________________ PHONE NUMBER: _______________________
(If you have other family members who are willing to help out, list their names on this sheet.)
___________________________________; _________________________________; ______________________________
The receipt below is provided to you to use for your personal donations and/or to give to someone else who would like to
make a donation. Thank you.
The American Legion Post 7
211 Harmon Street, Lexington, SC 29072
Donation Receipt
Thank you for your contribution/donation to the American Legion Post 7 Yard Sale. Funds raised from this sale will be used
to support our many veteran projects. Items left over from this yard sale will be donated back to our community through several service organizations including but not limited to LICS (Lexington Interfaith Commnity Services), Angels House (a
home for female veterans), The Central Midlands Transitional Retreat for homeless veterans located behind the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.
We will not be issuing receipts for items donated and/or purchased; however, you may take this sheet and list any items you
wish for tax purposes. Please use the back if additional space is needed. Our Post and Unit are both 501C charity organizations.
Thank you for your support for our veterans. Visit our website for more information about the American Legion/American
Legion Auxiliary and the many programs we sponsor and/or rental of our building. (http://www.sclegionpost7.org)
Linda Griffith, Chair
American Legion Post 7
American Legion Auxiliary Uniy 7
Yard Sale Committee
Month/Year: _____ 2015
TOTAL Goods Value: ________________
List of Items Donated (Please use back, if needed)
Item
How many
Estimated Value
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
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REMINDER NOTICE TO ALL
THE AUXILIARY IS NO LONGER TAKING THE
FOLLOWING DONATIONS
Magazines more than 3 months old and
paper towel/toilet paper rolls
Coupons WITH LESS THAN 6 MONTH expiration date
REASON: VA no longer desires older magazines
Schools have new guidelines in place due to health issues
Commissary has changed its policy on call coupons
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT WITH THESE DONATIONS IN
THE PAST….WE APPRECIATE IT.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO SAVE THE SOUP LABEL
COUPONS AND BOX TOPS
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May
2015
KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS AND A
REMINDER TO SEND CARDS
The family of Frances D. Price, wife of
Legionnaire D. Murray Price, who passed
away on April 14th. Please send Murray a
card.
Birthdays and Anniversaries
1 - Harry & Myra Wolfe
4 - John & Sissy Frierson
Curtis E. Morton
Edward & Patricia Salkind
5 - Patsy Horton
6 - Agnes B. Corley
7 - Levi C. Singley
Carol O. Taylor
8 - Sarah Futrell
10 - Kathy Schreiber
12 - Paul R Kerr
13 - Bruce W. Cunniff
Donald E. Ellisor
14 - John C. Nowakoski
16 - John C. Adams
Barbara Brown
Ruth S. Koon
18 - Steve & Margaret Barfield
Robert E. Cook, Jr.
Elizabeth Maynard
21 - Mike & Linda Brown
Myra Wolfe
22 - William H. Lee
23 - Paul & Kay Kerr
24 - Ernie & Carolyn Hall
Richard & Linda Kerr
25 - Clarence Richardson
Alice Richardson
Delores J. Rucker
26 - Terry Atwater
Sydney M. Griffith (Junior)
Robert W. Herring, III
28 - E.B. & Ann Purcell
29 - Edwin & Prissy Morehead
30 - Albert & Sarah Futrell
Kurt Gerstenberger
Bethany Roemer (Junior)
Jeanne Crone is home and is continuing to
recuperate. Send her a card. She hopes to resume some
activity soon.
Amy Davis, niece of Mary Hazelton, had one of her kidneys removed recently. She is now at home resuming normal activity. Please send her a card at her home in Mt.
Pleasant.
Ethel Davis, sister-in-law to Mary Hazelton who is home
now, who had a pace maker put in during April. Please
send Ethel a card at home. She is one of our former Unit
7 presidents.
Betty Mathias has been under the weather and continues
to work on therapy from her surgery earlier this year.
Carolyn Mathias is back and forth from hospital with cancer. Please remember her often in your thoughts and
prayers and, I am sure, a card would certainly cheer her!
Bill and Edith Masters are in an advanced care facility in
assisted living. Neither are doing well. Send cards to this
address:
PO Box 1305, Watkinsville, GA 30677-0027
Evelyn Moss continues to be homebound, so please remember her with a card from time to time. She has a
wound that just will not seem to heal.
Jean Testruth continues to have eye issues from her recent procedure, so keep her in your prayers and send her
a card.
Willie Wingard is at Still Hopes Rehab. You can send her
a card at her home as her niece picks it up daily.
IF WE’VE MISSED ANYONE, DID WE KNOW? PLEASE
LET COMMANDER KNOW IF SOMEONE IS ILL.
If your name and/or your spouse’s name has been omitted,
please let us know. Also, since so many of our WWII veterans are getting up in age, please let us know if you have
turned 90 yet as we would certainly want to make sure you
are recognized.
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MAY 2015
HOPE TO SEE YOU ON May 2nd FOR ANOTHER
NOONTIME LUNCH/MEETING! MEMBERSHP
PRESENT VOTED TO CONTINUE WITH NOON
MEETINGS.
NEW POLICY -- Reservations Required
YOU MUST CALL COMMANDER
(359-1278) ON OR BEFORE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015
IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE
LUNCH. $5.00 pp.
See Commander’s report from October 2014.
NOTE: IF ANYONE CAN HELP WITH POPPY DISTRIBUTION,
PLEASE CALL BARBARA LEAPHART.
SHE HAS THE SCHEDULE.
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