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American Legion
Post 217
College Park, MD 20740
(301) 441-2783
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College Park, MD 20740 (301) 441-2783
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"The Four Star" Edition Nov - Dec 2007 Commander's
Corner The good news is our new roof was completed October 11. There were additional costs of $5,750.00 to repair defective wood and gypsum in the sub-roof. We now have a good roof that should last for more than 20 years. Thanks to everyone that assisted in this project including the contractors Harry & Sons and their employees. If you have a friend or acquantancce who is Legion eligible, do them a favor and offer to sponsor them as new members. Bill Blade of Post 217 has been named Legionnaire of the year ny the Prince George's County Counsil if the American Legion. "Congratulations Bill". It's good to know that his efforts and hard work are appreciated. On the afternoon of September 24, 2007 my good friend Fred Schaffer suffered a "massive stroke". As of October 16th, Fred is still comotose. Please keep Fred and his family in your prayers. Fred has been a member of this Post for 44 years. He is a Past Commander and held nearly every office and committee chairmanship at least once. currently he is our Department Executive Committee representative. His instintutiona; memory, advice and council is invaluable and appreciated. Tom Davis Post Commander **************************************** Chaplain's Corner I would Like to take this opportunity to thank you for your prayers and support during my recovery from surgery in September. September the 14th, we celebrated the 60th birthday of the United States Air Force (1947 -2007). The Post was honored to have Major Sal Nova, who heads the R.O.T.C. program at the Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt Maryland, as our guest speaker. Hats of to Major Bova and approximately twenty of his cadets including the Color Guard. Well done! Bryan, the food was excellent. Nanny, thank you for getting the beautiful cake to me on such short notice.Thanks to our members and guests who helped make our program a success. This year is winding down as we turn our thoughts to Thanksgiving and Christmas. We as a nation truly have much to be thankful for. Let us keep this in mind as we celebrate with family and friends during the holiday season.
Remember the sick, shut-ins and hospitalized. Always keep in your prayers our
men and women in uniform, our POWs ans MIAs. Wishing you all the Blessings of
the Season.
For God and Country Ron Gray - Chaplain Post 217 ******************************** Membership Report Legion First I would like to thank you recruiters and welcome all our new members. We have added 14 active duty
(2008)members to our ranks so far.
Membership is proceeding ahead of last years pace and we are on track to make
"Three ( Please look at your membership card and if the year is not 2008 Please send in your renewal - Now We have not increased your dues although the amount we must pay to Department of Maryland for each member has increased significantly. Currently the Post gets $4.50 from each members dues, hardly enough to cover the cost of key cards and mailings. We can only maintain your dues at $25.00 if you do your part. Our goal for 3 star is 420 and by the time you read this we will be around 300. Let's make this our best year yet. You still have time to be an "Early Bird" and get in on the drawing for two (2) years paid membership. The lucky winner will be drawn at our December membership meeting. PUFL - Paid-up-for-life is always an option and the fee may be paid with credit card in installments if required. 2008 key cards have been received and will be available for pick-up at th Post after 15 November. You must show your 2008 membership to receive a key card.
2007 Membership exceeded expectations ending with 62 members - Well Done! Keep Up The Good Work 2008 renewals are now being accepted and are proceeding on schedule.
Yours
in service Bill Robertson 301
- 345 - 4873
If asked ‘What’s In your wallet?” I hope your answer is a membership application.
DD 214’s Accessible On-Line Military veterans and the next-of-kin of deceased former military members may now use a new on-line “National Personnel Records Center” system to request documents. Other individuals must still complete the Standard Form 180, which can be downloaded from the internet. Both are available at http://vetrecs.archives.gov This new system provides a portal to obtain discharge documents. If you are trying to recruit new members into the Post and they don’t have a copy of their DD-214, It can also be obtained by writen request to... National
Personnel Records Center 9700
Page Avenue St.
Louis, Mo. 63132-5100
Include complete name, Social Security number, and return address. Membership
applications are available at the Post. Get some and carry them in your car or
your wallet, whatever, just make sure you have some if the occasion arises.
Don’t miss an opportunity to sign up a new member. You never know where
you’ll run into a vet. ****************************************** Service Officer's Report Hello everyone! I hope everyone enjoyed their summer vacation. Now it's time for the children to get back to school and we return to work. Speaking of work, since our last correspondence, I have been busy reviewing benefits for several of our veterans, and helping them submit claims.
Now, on to our Wounded Soldiers
Committee. We have continued our
support with Walter Reed's Fisher House and Bethesda Naval Hospital. We have
taken many snacks and other items that the veterans needed or can't get through
the hospitals. We had a great picnic at Fisher House! It was a complete success
attended by our Department Commander, Batch Haggard,
Department Adjutant, Tom Davis, Past National Commander, Clarence Bacon,
your POST Commander, Tom Davis and the "cookie" Your Adjutant, Mike
Odum, as well as numerous veterans from the hospital. Yours in Service for God and Country Mike
Odum Service Officer Home - 301 - 317 - 8681 My cell - 301 - 404 - 6175 my e-mail - modum@comcast.net ******************************** Americanism Report This is just a reminder to all. Since school has started, I would like to remind everyone of some of the Legion Scholarships that are available for your children. The education assistance programs that are now available are the Oratorical Contest, Eagle Scout of the Year and the Girl Scout Achievement Award. With these programs there are funds available to assist in further education of our young adults. If this sounds or gives you a lift, then get in toudh with me at the Post or call me for more information. Home
- (301) 317 - 8681 - Cell (301) 404
- 6175 e-mail - modum@comcast.net Mike Odum Americanism Chairman Unit Presidents Message Fall greetings to everyone. Fall is personally my favorite time of the year, the leaves are changing and the cool weather is coming in. With that means that our programs for our young people kick off! I would like to inform all who may not know, but our Miss College Park, Shannon Beam, has accepted the appointment to chair the "Children and Youth" committee. Along with Shannon's wonderful way with children, she brings her youth, energy and new ideas to help us out in this area. The Halloween Party may be over by the time you receive this newsletter, (10/28 at 1:00 PM) but I hope you and your family will join us for our Kids Christmas Party, Date: Sunday, December 16th at 1:00 PM. Also, our Youth Recognition Day is planned for January 13th and will start at 2:00 PM. Miss College Park is slated for February 16th and will start at 6:00 PM at Northwestern High School. We are also pleased to announce that the Auxiliary is preparing Sunday Dinners at the Post on the 2nd Sunday of the month. Please come in, watch the game with your family and enjoy a wonderful meal for only $5! Also, if you have a speciality desert that you would like to bring in for all to share, give me a call. And a big thanks to all who have donated food for this cause so far. All proceeds go to help us with our programs. Another big thanks to Joyce Owens for organizing the Ways and Means Catering activities. We have been keeping busy! I had the pleasure of attending the Fall Conference this year where we were given guidence to improve our programs and to membership. We will begin implementing some of the suggestions immediately. In addition to being a member, please remember your help is needed at our meetings which occur the first Tuesday of the month, except July! We hope to see you there. Finally, let us all keep the Schaffer family in our thoughts and prayers Angie
Rodriguez Unit 217 President ******************************** Auxiliary Chaplain Our Hearts and Prayers are with Barbara and Fred Schaffer and their Family. Fred has suffered a severe stroke and is so far showing no response. God go with Fred and his family during this sad time. At the regular meeting for October, the 217 Family and I wished longtime member Pearle Weidner a happy birthday with a small party. Pearle turned 90 on October 20th. Quote for the month "For, believe me, in this world, which is ever slipping from under our feet, it is the prerogative of friendship to grow old with ones friends . (Arthur S. Hardy) Thanksgiving Blessing & Christmas Love A New Years Toast to you all. Mary
Keller Unit Chaplain Auxiliary Membership Report We want to begin this message with a welcome to our new members, Yvonne Wilkinson, Kathryn Delude and Teresa Brown who were recruited by Barbara Schaffer and a transferee from Unit 108, Elizabeth Carr. We hope to see you soon. Membership renewals should pick up soon and the first National notice went out in mid October. Remember your dues are now $20.00 and that is still a bargin when one thinks about all the benefits that are available for American Legion Auxiliary members. Jr. dues remain at $3.00. If you want to retain your "early bird" status and be eligible for the the drawing for the free 2009 membership dues you must have your dues paid by the 15th of November. So far we only have 66 names in the drawing. You can leave your dues at the bar or mail it to me at 11508 Allview Dr. Beltsville, MD 20705 or to the address on this 4-Star. Make your check payable to: College Park, Unit 217. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. We meet at 8 PM on the first Tuesday of each month. We congratulate Pearle Weidner on reaching her 90th birthday. This active young member still holds an important chairmanship every year. Ivy
Christoffers Membership Chair 301 - 595 - 5225 MORE
LEGION NEWS
Maryland State Veteran's Affairs
Secretary Jim Adams, presenting William Bladen a personal check from Governor
Martin O'malley On September 14th 2007 at POST 217
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NEW YEARS EVE Dinner Dance Dinner at 7 PM BAND 9 - 1 Tickets on sale at the Bar $25.00 per Person *****************************************************
Veteran's History Program A Nation-wide program whose mission is to educate and preserve our country's memory of those involved in war, is underway. This is an effort to document every individual's war efforts. The College Park Aviation Museum is the local site set up to interview veterans and civilian workers of hte great wars. The Library of Congress will catalog all oral histories. Documentation and names of all those interviewed will appear on the Library of Congress Web Site Log. For more information on this program, visit the Veteran History web site: www.loc.gov/vets locate American folklife Center and highlight "Veterans History Program" or call the College Park Aviation Museum at 301 864-6029. Submitted by: Harry Moore 410-672-7312 What About the Notch ? I recently read an article in an American Legion Newsletter that excited my curiosity. I wanted to see the device that held this notch. I wrote to the Museum of the U.S. Army, but got little information. Then to Walter Reed. They suggested several sources, but what I wanted was a picture of the device. Even Bethesda Naval Hospital didn't help. Finally, a friend here at Riderwood, who had worked for Adress-o-graph Co., gave me an internet clue. Bingo! I hit it lucky. Maybe Veterans of WWII will be interested.
The Addressograph Model 70 Medical Imprinter was designed for one sole purpose and that was to transfer the imprinted information on dog tags onto military paperwork. To facilitate the proper orientation of the imprinted information on to the military paperwork the Addressograph Model 70 utilized the "notch" in the WWII, Korean and Viet Nam dog tags to properly orient and locate the tag for the imprinted transfer of information. The imprinted dog tag will only fit into the Addressograph Model 70 one way and fully seat into the proper position. Once seated in the proper position the Addressograph Model 70 will then operate and the information imprinted on a given tag can be transferred to the paperwork much like old credit card receipt machines transferred embossed credit card information onto paper receipts. If a imprinted dog tag is inserted into the Addressograph Model 70 backwards, upside down or incorrectly it will not properly seat into the operating position on the Addressograph Model 70 and the device will not work. The answer the question for all those wanting to know what the "notch" in the dog tag was for - is simple, it was a locating notch used to properly orient the "imprinted" dog tag in the Addressograph Model 70. Simply put - there is NO
other use for the notch and the military engineers that drafted the
specifications and drawings for the military identification tags known as dog
tags had no other intentions when they designed in the "notch" other
than for the Addressograph Model 70.
http://www.dogtagsrus.com/addressograph%20model%2070%20notched%20dog%20tags.htm
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