22nd District
“The Nation that forgets its Defenders, will itself be forgotten.” San Diego County American Legion www.ALD22.org
“Serving San Diego County and Surrounding Areas”
Monday, May 29, 2017 MEMORIAL DAY 1
IN MEMORY OF ROD VAN ORDEN, PAST DISTRICT 22 COMMANDER 2013 AND FATHER OF DISTRICT 22 LEGIONNAIRE C OM MA N DE R 2 0 1 6 - 2 0 1 7 :
AUXIL IA RY PRESIDE NT 2016- 2017:
How quickly it all winds down — it seems just yesterday I was accepting the gavel for what turned out to be two full years as District 22 Commander. My goal at that time was to encourage all members of our American Legion Family to focus on community service, and to try and get out of the posts and into the community. I think we have done well to keep our Legion within San Diego County active and visible. We have done well "fixing up" some of our posts, notably San Dieguito Post 416, thanks to some very hard work and dedicated members.
Are you afraid? Have you refused to accept the presidency of your unit just because you were afraid to preside? If you are guilty of this, you may have deprived your unit of a good leader or yourself of a great and valuable experience. Have you refused to accept a District Chairman or office just because you were afraid? You may have deprived the American Legion Family of a good leader.
DESIREE HERRERA
DONNA SMITH
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So, it is with just a tinge of sadness that I graduate into my new role as Junior Past Commander and turn over District 22 to new and what I expect to be vibrant leadership. We have made great strides in drawing in new and younger members, and we are definitely going in the right direction: we have much to offer our veterans, and we need only to spread the word and inform a new generation of the "Four Pillars" we stand for. There are way too many people for me to thank, for me to try to do so in this short article. This is not by any means "farewell," because I will still be around, and I will
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We joined the American Legion Auxiliary because of our mission we remain members because of our dedication to uphold our mission. The American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary — what a great organization to be part of, as we soon will be entering our second century of making a difference for veterans and their families. Membership is the heart beat of our organization and our brand is our identity. Our brand is not just our emblem, our name, our tagline. Our brand is our promise. It is how the public recognizes us. Our brand is our image. Protect it. Promote it. No other organization is any more alert to present-day problems of American veterans and doing something about them in a business-like way — than the American Legion Auxiliary. Let us continue to study and work to become even more efficient. We learn by doing. Don’t be afraid.
PLUS INSIDE...
Legistative Agenda...........Page 5
Boy State.......................Page 12
Roy Van Orden Tribute.....Page 16
Marine Corps Trials........Page 22
Donna Smith President, American Legion District 22 Auxiliary
Law & Order Ceremony.... Page 30 A PROUD CALIFORNIA AMERICAN LEGION PRESS ASSOCIATION AWARD WINNING PUBLICATION