14TH DISTRICT
LEGION
Serving Fresno & Kings County
NAIRE
FRESNO & KINGS COUNTY AMERICAN LEGION
VETERANS DAY 2016
“The Nation that forgets its Defenders, will itself be forgotten.”
COMMANDER’S CORNER
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
COMRADES’ OF THE THUNDERING 14TH DISTRICT Veterans Day is upon us once again Comrades. I want to take this opportunity to thank each of you for your service to our great nation. Many of JD Bennett you endured the rigors of combat, others served in positions of combat support. What ever your role, you served our Country honorably and now you support our Veterans and active duty Military through further service in the nations largest wartime Veterans Service Organization, The American Legion. Thank you for the honor and privilege to serve as your District 14 Commander. This is a position I take seriously to insure the four pillars of our organization is upheld in the highest esteem. As with the oath I took when I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and again in my Law Enforcement career, I will continue to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution and bylaws of the American Legion.
convince him the American Legion was a worthy cause. With that, the Central Valley Mustang Club organized the Central Valley Fallen Heroes Car Show which was held at the Sierra Vista Mall October 1. An unprecedented, 280 vehicles registered. This was an amazing event with opening ceremony colors being presented by Post 509 Color Guard, a young lady who belted out a tremendous rendition of our National Anthem, for which I'm proud to say, everyone stood for. It was wrapped up by an equally outstanding playing of Taps by SAL Squadron 20 member, Steve Boltz. I spoke about the American Legion and the great things we accomplish for our Brothers and Sisters who proudly serve(d). At the end of the day, they presented the American Legion District 14 with a check for $3000. What an awesome event and such a generous donation. I want to thank everyone for your continued support of me, your Posts, our District and the American Legion. Let’s get our membership paid and work on being number one in the State this year. Semper Fidelis Comrades!
I was contacted by a gentleman a few months ago about doing a fundraiser for a Veterans Organization and I was able to
Hello to the members of ALA District 14, As we begin a new fiscal year I would like to congratulate all incoming Unit Presidents and officers. I know you will have a good year. To begin, I would like to thank all those units and members who helped with the 2016 Department Convention held in Fresno this past June. It could not have been done without your help, so my many thanks to all of you. Gloria Jean Sinopoli
Of course we all know that membership is at the forefront of everything we do. Without members we cannot support our veterans or children and youth programs. So please keep striving to maintain and renew your current members as well as recruit new ones. Our district meetings are every other month beginning in September. The next district meeting will be held at the 509 American Legion Post in Fresno on November 12th. I would like to see every Unit President in attendance. This is where you learn what is going on in the Auxiliary state wide; learn about the various programs and the information you need to carry them out, including making those dreaded reports. I would like to make my official visit to your unit as soon as possible. If I have not already made a visit to your unit or have not made arrangements with you to visit please contact me. I would like to complete all the visitations before the end of the year. We are here to help you in your units in any way we can.
JD Bennett Commander District 14
Gloria Jean Sinopoli District 14 Auxiliary President
PLUS INSIDE The Merci Box Car......... Page 10
Oratorical Contest........ Page 12
New PTSD Program...... Page 20
Problem Solver............ Page 22 1