SAL Post 105 wins awards

Attendees came for the clams, the refreshments, oldies music by “The Jersey Tones,” and the BBQ. Legionnaires Walter LaBar and Jack Robuck manned the grills, cooking up sausage, chicken, hot dogs, and hamburgers – but other posts pitched in as well, including Post 299 Commander Mike Serchio, who ran the team that shucked 1,500 little-neck Cap May clams this year.

Members from across the post family volunteered their time the day-of to serve food, to empty garbage, sell shirts and tickets, and to do anything that needed to be done to smoothly run such a large event. Towards the end of the day, Belleville Historical Society President Michael Perrone even dropped by with his vintage Good Humor ice cream vendor bike to hand out frozen treats to everyone, all decked out in his vintage uniform.

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The picnic, though, is more than food and good company – it is a day to celebrate the American Legion Family, which includes veterans, Sons, and Auxiliary members … to focus on carrying out the organization’s missions of supporting Americanism, Veterans Affairs, Children and Youth, and National Defense.

At around 2 p.m., SAL 105 Commander Steve Sangemino took the mic to welcome everyone to the event. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, he introduced the New Jersey SAL National Executive Committeeman (NEC) Bob Phillips, Jr., who then introduced the National Commander of the Sons of the American Legion Donald “JR” Hall, Jr of Maryland.

“I have to say just one thing … thank God for our veterans,” Hall said. “My slogan this year is ‘Representing More Than Me’ … We should all be representing more than ourselves. Sons, Auxiliary, the Legion, and the Riders – all out there doing what we do to take care of our veterans, our children, and our communities.”

Hall dropped by Belleville while on his official visit to New Jersey over the weekend, visiting Posts and going to events throughout the state. Stops throughout his weekend in New Jersey included Posts 262 and 281 in Camden County, the N.J. Vietnam Memorial in Holmdel, the POW MIA Watchfire in Seaside Heights, and the Battleship New Jersey.

Hall was elected national commander only three weeks beforehand at the national convention in Charlotte, N.C., and is charged with leading an organization of sons and grandsons of veterans which has reached this year a record 376,000 members nationwide.

“I like a party, and this folks, this looks like a party,” Hall said, speaking to the crowd. “Continue all the great work you do here.”

This was followed by a benediction written for the occasion by SAL Chaplain Carl Slaughter: “God thank you for the

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