The American Legion St Marys Post 323

2880 Celina Road, St Marys, Ohio, 45885

Phone---419-394-3792 E-Mail—johnmcj3@gmail.com

Facebook Page--https://www.facebook.com/legionpost323

Legion Officers Commander— Justin Arnold

1st Vice Commander— Mike Bower

2nd Vice Commander— Bill Gillis

3rd Vice Commander— Gary

Gallimore

Adjutant—John McJunkin

Finance Officer—Ron Kline

Chaplain----Luther Gibbons

Historian---Paul Gossard

Sgt-at-Arms—

Executive Committee- Steve Huff,

Randy Micheal, Tom Grunden

Auxiliary Officers President—Diane Rush

1st Vice — Georgia Grunden

2nd Vice —

Secretary-Kitty Danaher

Treasure—Georgia Grunden

Chaplain—Sue Weadock

Historian—

Sgt-at-Arms—

Executive Committee—

Deanna Anderson

S.A.L Officers Commander, Paul Gossard

1st Vice — Dave Jacobs

2nd Vice— Brian Gossard

Adjutant—Dave Coleman

Historian---Paul Gossard

ALR Officers

Director-Mike Bower

Asst.- Arlan Makley

Finance-DeWayne Marsee

Secretary-Stephanie Nodine

Historian—Paul Gossard

May/June

Steve Huff

4-25-2021

The last year has been difficult because of the COVID-19 pandemic and I hope you are all

well and healthy. I am optimistic the worse of it is behind us. I for one am happy things are

starting to get back to normal. It is nice we can eat at restaurants and attend social events.

Hopefully, it will not be much longer before we are back to the way life was before the

pandemic.

As with all things in life, nothing stays the same. My time as Commander is coming to an end.

It has been an honor and privilege to have represented the post and members the last three

years. I want to express my sincere thanks for all the support you have given me. I would also

request that you give the same support to the next commander.

May 5th will be the annual election of officers at the post. All current members are eligible to

cast a vote. You may cast your vote at the post from 1700 to 1900 hrs. Make sure you have

your membership card with you. I hope to see many members casting their votes along with

new faces running for positions. It takes veterans like you to bring new perspectives and

ideals to keep the post healthy and continually moving forward. It is your post, and your

support is needed for it to survive.

As May approaches, I would like to invite everyone to the Memorial Day Parade and

Ceremony May 31st, 2021. We will be placing flags on veteran’s graves on Saturday 29 May

at 1000 hours in preparation of the ceremony. All volunteers are welcome in helping place the

flags. The parade begins at the library at 1000 hours and ends at Elm Grove cemetery. The

ceremony at Elm Grove is a great way to remember the meaning behind Memorial Day.

Please join us and pay your respects to those who have paid the ultimate price to keep us all

safe and free. I look forward to seeing all of you there.

mailto:johnmcj3@gmail.comhttps://www.facebook.com/legionpost323

I am happy to report that the post has made quota for 2021. I want to thank all of you who

have paid your dues. If you have not paid your dues, please do so. You can stop by the post

to pay your dues, pay by mail, or go online. If you know someone who is eligible for

membership, please let them know what the American Legion stands for and bring them out to

the Post so they can see for themselves. We would be happy to have them as our guest.

As always, we are always in need for volunteers. There are many opportunities to volunteer at

the post. We can always use help at Bingo and numerous other activities. Volunteers are what

make the post. Without them we could not function. Please consider volunteering. You can

volunteer as much or as little as you like. All help would be greatly appreciated.

If you ever want to know what is going on at the Post, please go online and check out all the

latest event news on our website or Facebook page, or stop in the Post to get the latest news.

Until next time,

Steven D. Huff

Commander

The post is open, most games and drawings are now back and there are a couple new games in the post. Members and guest come to the post for an evening and enjoy. Check out

the new games and a great place to watch football, nascar and other sporting events.

The Post membership news, our quota is 272, I am incredibly happy to report the total

2021 membership is now 274. The membership does continue, as it stands now, I want to

thank all post members for paying your dues and I want to also welcome the new members. Of

course, membership drives never stop, I am guessing by the 1st of August I will have the 2022

membership cards. At this moment I penciled October 2nd as the post membership drive party.

More information soon, currently I am happy to think out post is presently quota.

Bingo is going great. If you happen to be a bingo player and have not been to the post

323 game, well maybe you should come out and see for yourself. You will have fun; we have

a great bingo crew working to make sure you have a good time. Of course, food is available.

Just remember, doors open at 430, those popular games start at 5 and the Bingo starts at 7. If

you would like to help the Bingo Committee out, please contact me or Ron Kline. Once a

month would be a big help.

Nascar and baseball, front row seats available for all the action here at the post.

The Fish Fries have been canceled at this time; we hope to get them started again soon

as we can.

Wednesday, May 5th will be the election of officers here at the post from 5-7pm in the

hall. Those wishing to vote please have your paid-up post membership card with you.

Memorial Day Ceremony, May 31 will start with a parade at 10am, from the Library

Parking Lot. The parade will end at Elm Grove Cemetery, the High school band will play

music and there will be several speakers, including students the local schools. Tributes to our

local fallen Veterans, is always so important to our members and families and the community,

we hope to see many of you. On Saturday, the 28th 10am, we will meet at Elm Grove for the

purpose the having a flag placed on every veteran’s headstone.

About food, the canteen now has food available Friday and Saturday off the menu. I

hope many of you will plan to eat at the post soon. If enough meals are served, the service will

be expanded to more days of the week.

The 2nd Wednesday every month from 5-8 will be Frog-Leg Night for members and

guest.

In the canteen, more going on, so stop by and say hi to Lamonica and everyone else

their working for you. Most of the drawings are now being played, come out and play your

favorite ones. Of course, the daily and weekly drawings, stay signed up for more chances to

win.

Summer youth sports organizing now. The post donates to all the summer sports, so as

always, we are extremely interested and proud in the success of games.

High School Seniors, the post has scholarships for qualifying students, check it out in

the school office.

During the pandemic, the post has donated to the Rider Nation Station, so many family

members could still have the opportunity watching the games and the students.

The post has also donated to food banks and groups helping shut-ins during these times

of sadness and loneliness of so many.

Of course, during this pandemic, the post does not have the money as in the past, Ron

Kline and the exec committee have learned to spend money carefully. Currently the post is

supporting and funding all programs and donations as usual.

Veterans on Mondays, Lamonica is paying for your first beverage. Come out, have fun,

and enjoy the time you spend at the post.

John McJunkin

Post Adjutant

Fellow SAL Members The 2021 membership year is ending. The SAL year runs from May 1 to April 30. We are

close to quota with 144 members paid up and quota is 150 members. As I write this newsletter

and I am also getting ready to send in the end of the year reports so we can get started on 2022

membership after the state convention. Without the reports and officers being certified we will

not be sent the new membership cards. There are new reports this year and everything is going

online this year for paying your dues and Nationals is having trouble getting everything up and

running, so bear with me on getting membership out this year. All the officers remained the

same at our post. We are keeping our dues at $20.00 dollars for regulars and raising the juniors

and duals members to $12.50 to cover the cost. Thanks to everyone that has paid for the year.

The Bingo Committee needs help on Thursday night. Bingo is keeping the doors open

at the Legion and without help we will have to discontinue it. The money that is made at

bingo goes back into the community to support programs in the school and city. So, if you

want to help the community come out and support bingo. Even if you can only work an hour

or two that would help to keep Bingo going.

The fish fries have been cancelled until further notice due to Covid and all the

restrictions.

SAL Adjutant

David Coleman

Auxiliary News Greetings to all Post Members

A few words from the AUX., they have also been busy working membership and

Legion Programs. They want to thank all who have already paid and hope the rest of the

members will soon pay. The post Aux. was quota last year, and hoping to quota again 2021,

with your help, that goal will be within reach.

We are asking for new ideas and projects to get more women interested. It

will be a good time to share ideas and keep our Auxiliary going.

All auxiliaries are busy but need more active members to continue serving our

veterans, youth, and community.

The monthly meeting time has been changed to 330 pm starting in May.

Hopefully, we will see you at a meeting.

John McJunkin Public Relations

PR NEWS

I want to thank all the members who have paid their dues. Having a quota

post is so good for us and the legion programs, for post scholarships and the

student summer sport programs.

At the post we hope that the COVID-19 issues will start getting better for all.

We are going schedule activities here at the post. As we all work our way through

the virus and other issues, please check the website or stop in to check any changes

that could be happening. We all will get through all this and move forward.

May will be a busy month, starting the 5th the post elections will take place.

As the post will have a new and old member working together for the good of the

post and the American Legion. Members are invited to vote May 5 from 5 to 7 in

the post hall. To vote you must show your paid-up membership card.

Memorial Day, May 31, the post ceremony will begin with a parade

commencing at the Library parking lot, starting at 10am. The parade will proceed

through town and end at Elm Grove Cemetery. The St Marys High school

marching band will play music in the parade and at the ceremonies in Elm Grove.

There will be students and other guest and post members speaking, to honor the

Veterans who served in the time of war. Our St Marys community have always

been proud to stop a couple hours be part of this ceremony for our service men and

women who served and died for us.

Bingo has been going good at the post, if anyone could spare some Thursday

evening time to help at Bingo, it would be great. Contact either Ron Kline or me

for more information, once a month would be great.

At this time, the post has canceled fish fries.

I am still the Post and District American Legion Oratorical Contest

chairman; I would like to see more students take part in this program there is a lot

of scholarship money that can be won. The American Legion has no losers in this

program, just having students learn more about the U.S. Constitution is a win, win.

I will post more information later, any students who have questions about this

contest please get in contact with me.

The Department of Ohio and the National Organization has scheduled online

training and information programs. All post officers and all members thinking

about being a post officer or just learning more about the American Legion should

check out these options. Check the Ohio Website for more information,

/www.ohiolegion.com.

Liberty Menke accepting the State Oratorial Award

VA NEWS

All eligible to sign up at the County Veterans Service please contact me or

the office. Veterans in need to medical, monetary, or transportation should at least

check it out. Those, who are or may have been affected with Agent Orange

Illnesses should already be in contact with the VA. The lawmakers have included

three more illnesses to the AO list including, bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, and

Parkinson’s symptoms. I believe the AO list is up to 17 illnesses that may had

been a cause from the Vietnam war.

John McJunkin

Auglaize County Commissioner

THE POST RIDERS’ NEWSLETTER

The Riders have been busy escorting veterans to their final resting place. They also will be

riding in benefits this summer for veterans, youth, and the elderly. Look for them in the

upcoming Memorial Day parade that will be in St Marys.

The 3rd annual American Legion Riders Toy Run will be held on August 29th, 2021. It will be

$15 for a single rider or $20 for a couple. If you bring a packaged toy, you will receive $5 off.

ONE toy per bike will be allowed. Sign-ups will be starting at noon. Kickstands up at 1:30pm.

VIP Detailing will be back again this year. Come out and have your bike washed and detailed.

The Chained Eagles of Ohio will have the POW/MIA wall on display. There will be food and

music as well. Mark your calendars to attend this great event!

The Riders welcome and encourage new members. For 2021 the Riders have welcomed 7 new

members. If you are a veteran, family member of a veteran, a legion member, and ride a

motorcycle it is $10 a year. If interested, contact a Rider member or plan to attend a meeting.

Meetings are held the 3rd Sunday of every month at 2pm at the Legion.

May 22, 2021

A group of Boy Scouts placed flags on Veterans graves for Memorial Day.

They worked with American Legion Post 323 members, placing flags in Elm Grove and

Gethsemane cemeteries and 4 smaller ones in town. Over 1100 flags were placed in honor of

the local people who served from the St Marys area.