December 2019
On October 26th, 10th District Commander Harry Bauer along with 10th District S.A.L. Commander Janson Brantner and 1st Vice Commander Gary Lubich were in Osseo to help charter and install newly formed Sons of The American Legion Squadron 324.
POST UP
Colonel LaVerne H. Griffin received the folded flag at the Portage High School Veterans Day Program. Colonel Griffin served 28 years in the Air Force after graduating from Portage High School in 1948. Dean Simonson, Griffin’s cousin, said Griffin flew reconnaissance missions during the Vietnam War. Simonson and Griffin are both members of Legion Post 47 in Portage.
Shout out to West Salem Legion Post 51 for donating all their proceeds from their Ontario July 4 onion ring sales to Ontario Legion Post 467; whose building was severely damaged in the August 2018 flood.
Posts throughout Wisconsin display patriotism and American pride while being active in their communities. This supplement showcases how The Wisconsin American Legion Family supports the four pillars upon which we were founded. Submit your news to: badger@wilegion.org Find us on Facebook: Wisconsin American Legion
POSTS SERVING THEIR COMMUNITIES
Netzel-Zenz Post #413, Crivitz, WI, will hold its 4th Annual PTSD Run for Recovery on Saturday, June 20, 2020, in the Village of Crivitz. The main event is a 5K run/1-mile walk. Other activities include a military equipment display by the Wisconsin Army National Guard, a Kid’s Fun Run, and information booths representing numerous veteran-related organizations. The post is taking nominations for two groups to share the net proceeds from the 2020 event. If you would like to nominate a group, contact Natasha Hanson at 715-475-8889, e-mail ncb_87@yahoo.com or Bob Kleba, 715-938-2049, e-mail bobkleba1@msn.com to receive a grant application form. The deadline for the grant application is April 10, 2020. The organizations selected will be required to attend the event. The run is the initiative of Natasha Hanson, past post commander and a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Hanson came up with the idea in late 2016 as a way to raise money for organizations that treat veterans affected by PTSD. The first three events raised over $10,000 which was donated to six organizations. Information on registering for the event will be published on the post website: https://www.americanlegionpost413.com.
Baraboo Post 26 donated a U.S. Flag to the Baraboo St. Vincent de Paul store. Store Manager, Mike Grogan, accepts the flag from Baraboo Post 26 Commander George Stopper.
On August 22, 2019, the American Legion Riders District 4/5 held there 7th Annual Brat Fry for the patients at the Spinal Cord Unit at the VA Zablocki Medical Center in Milwaukee.
POST CELEBRATIONS Post 93 (Tomahawk) Celebrates 100th Anniversary
State Senator Tom Tiffany stopped by to congratulate Post 93 on their 100th Anniversary and thanked the Post for their support of programs in Tomahawk that help children and veterans.
On Saturday, October 5th, members of Post 93, Auxiliary Unit 93 and Boy Scout Troop 548 gather as Commander Gerry Johnson cuts the 100th Anniversary Cake.
Post 350 Celebrates 100 Years
Brothers Part of Same Honor Flight
Legionnaires Joe Gray and Lenny Mayer wore their official issued attire as Post 350 (Reedsburg) celebrated their 100th Anniversary. On September 11, 2019, four Wisconsin brothers participated in the 52nd Honor Glory Flight out of Appleton. Back: Al Youngbauer, Paul Youngbauer, David Youngbauer. Front: Joe Youngbauer. Joe belongs to Legion Post 70 in Oshkosh. Al, Paul and David all reside in Berlin, Wisconsin.
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POST—PATRIOTISM POST 52 R O Y L. V I N G E R S
L A C R O S S E
Post 52 Color Guard at Oktoberfest USA Opening Ceremony in La Crosse, pictured with Ellen Poeschel, an Army Reserve Captain who sang the National Anthem. She was Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest in 2011.
Color Guard leads the 2019 Maple Leaf Parade in La Crosse. Left to Right: Jim Fisher, Rick Overby, Bill Tauscher, Jack Richmond, Roger Young & Gene Phillips. Back row: Gale Berchholtz, Jim Schwaegerl. The parade draws 100,000+ parade watchers on this 2.3 mile route.
Post 33 (Neenah) The Milwaukee Police & Fire Posts (415 & 426) of the American Legion have been honoring Wisconsin veterans with a special program since 1939. On Monday, Nov. 11, they turned out at the Milwaukee County War Memorial Center to keep the tradition alive. The keynote speaker was Ms. Meg Jones, a veterans affairs reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The Greater Milwaukee Fire and Police Pipes and Drums performed during a wreath-laying ceremony. The Veterans Board of Directors hosted the annual Veterans Day Banquet and announced the 2019 Veteran of the Year, Post 455 Legionnaire Craig Ellis. The 2018 Veteran of the Year, Legionnaire Ray Stubbe (Post 416), addressed the crowd. The keynote speaker was retired Waukesha County Veteran Service Officer, and historian, Tom Ludka.
Post 33 Honor Guard Rifle Salute at the Veteran's Day Ceremony at Shattuck Park in Neenah.
Post 33 Honor Guard Rifle Salute on Veteran's Day at Island Shores Retirement Home in Neenah. If you look close, you can see the shells being ejected. (photos by Post 33 photographer Larry Peterson)
POST—PATRIOTISM Oconto American Legion Post 74 Visits School Veterans Day Programs On November 11, Post 74 in Oconto visited Oconto Elementary School, where they were served breakfast by the students. Students then performed several songs and joined the Legionnaires for conversation.
Students at the Oconto Elementary School sat down for breakfast with Carl Plaster Oconto Post 74 Historian. Left to right: Bailee Matthews, Lilian Osmon, Dakota Allard, Jaden Viestenz, Hunter Rogers, Kayden VanNorman
Oconto Elementary School student, Parker Ragen, serves breakfast to the Oconto Post 74 Dick Pinkart Service Officer at the right and Legionnaire Gordon Olson.
Oconto High School was the next stop. Principal Adam DeWitt welcomed the veterans and guests and Post 74 Commander Chad Trepanier introduced the veterans. The speaker was Army Sgt. Ken Kluge. Music was by the Oconto High School Band under the direction of McKenna Van Leest, while the OHS choir, directed by Laura Cortright, performed the Armed Forces Salute. A lunch reception for the veterans followed at the OHS Media Center. The American Legion Post 74 thanks OES for the breakfast and the concert, and thanks OHS for the program and the Student Council for the reception.
Post 74 Legionnaire’s Duane Bourassa and William Leigh, Second Vice Commander.
Post 74 at Oconto High School for Veterans Day program. Left: Post 74 Chaplain Kenny Sallee Right: Legionnaire Jean Young with the Gold Star Mothers Flag.
WWII veteran and one of the Army’s last muleskinners, Clayton “Clay” C. Fultz died April 30, 2019. While aboard a Liberty ship transporting mules to India his ship was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine and sunk. Clay survived on the open ocean in a crowded lifeboat for 26 days before being rescued by a Navy destroyer whose captain disobeyed orders to return to base the day before. His experience is documented in the book “Mule Ship.” Clay was a PUFL Legionnaire, belonging to Post 301 in Woodville.
POST—GOOD NEWS Legionnaire Receives Harley From Hogs For Heroes Retired Marine Mark Provencher, Jr. became the 11th recipient of a Harley through Hogs For Heroes, a non-profit dedicated to healing the mental and physical wounds suffered by WI veterans during the course of active duty. Mark entered boot camp right after graduating, serving 5 years before separating. Two years later he reenlisted and later deployed twice to meet the demands of war. In 2015, after 22 years of service, Mark retired. Excited to return home with multiple medals, skills and plans, he didn’t know he’d be bringing home PTSD. After struggling to make ends meet, Mark took a position with the Center of Veterans Issues as a Veterans Advocate. He had found his calling. Last year he transitioned to the WDVA’s Veterans Outreach and Recovery Program as a Coordinator for an 8-County Area, assisting Veterans through struggles he understands and connecting them with needed support services. An American Legion Post 243 (Plymouth) member, he joined the District 2 Riders and rides most days through his 8-county area supporting veterans. Mark, his wife Amber, and children Marcus and Cody live in Plymouth.
An unveiling ceremony was held at the Clintonville Veterans Memorial with major donor, Duane “Butch” Zabel. Zabel celebrated the unveiling with his longtime friend and fellow veteran Harry Hamilton, both members of Legion Post 63 in Clintonville. Zabel’s $25,000 donation brings the memorial closer toward their goal.
George Washington Bay View Post 180 (Milwaukee) members attended a Military Ball fundraiser for UWM's Military Veterans Resource Center on November 8th. The event gave members the opportunity to build comradeship, while at the same time fulfilling the Legion's mission of Veterans supporting Veterans. Pictured are Post 180 Commander Robert Schlemm, Finance Officer Gregory Roth, Adjutant Ian Nunn, and Members Pete and Luella Dooley.
POST—GOOD NEWS Footville Legion (Post 237) Helicopter Gets New Paint Photo and article by Hillary Gavan, Adams Publishing Group
The attack helicopter at the Footville American Legion hasn’t looked so good in a while. The 1968 AH-1 Cobra at the Devins-TeehanMcGuire Post #237 is sporting a new paint job. Although the Vietnam-era warbird has been a popular and beloved tribute to military personnel in Footville since its arrival in October 2002, its paint had lost its luster. It took a crew of post volunteers two months to carefully hand-paint the helicopter in two coats, said former commander and Vietnam-era veteran Steve Sarow and former commander and Vietnam-era veteran Dennis Curry. “Service Officer John McGuire acquired the paint to use, and Commander John Harnack helped spearhead the initiative along with the crew,” Sarow said. “Helicopter specialties president and owner Jim Freeman helped select the correct paint color.”
Former Footville American Legion Commander Steve Sarow, left, and former Commander Dennis Curry, both Vietnam-era veterans, stand in front of the post’s 1968 Cobra helicopter Nov. 12. The helicopter was recently repainted thanks to a crew of volunteers.
This summer the paint crew will return to stencil numbers on the historic aircraft, Sarow said. The Cobra is illuminated from dusk until dawn at 406 Old Highway 11. “It represents the power of our military to protect our country,” Sarow said. The Cobra always has occupied a special place in the hearts of those at the post. Members had been dreaming for years of a proper tribute to military personnel before Sarow along with former Adjutant Marc Johnson pioneered a joint effort to bring it to Footville. The warbird arrived in 2002 after paperwork was given an extra push through bureaucracy by then-U.S Rep. Paul Ryan. Sarow and Curry recalled it being a momentous day when the Cobra arrived at the Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport. Richard Woodstock Trucking and A&H Trucking hauled the Cobra to its home at the Legion with a Rock County Sheriff’s Office escort. T&K Helgeson Crane Service workers lifted the pieces out of the trucks. Former Commander Ron Kimball had worked on Cobras in Vietnam and gave his expertise to erecting the tribute. The Cobra is a two-seat, twin-engine attack helicopter capable of land- and sea-based operations, flying at speeds higher than 200 mph. “There’s honor in seeing military equipment taken care of to protect our country,” Sarow said. “Our military is one of the best in the world, and I feel that if we continue to maintain our military presence in the world, it’s a safer place.”
2020 DEPARTMENT MEETING DATES & HOLIDAYS January 1 January 16-19 February 1 February 8 February March 1 March 1 March 1 March 7 March 8-11 March 8 March 9-20 March 28 May 4-7 May 8-9 May 25 June 12 June 13-20 June 13 June 22-26 July 3, 4 July 10 July 15-19 August 9 August 28-Sept. 3 September 7 September 11-12 October 12-15 October 16-17 November 1 November 11 November 26, 27 December 25
NEW YEAR’S DAY (Dept closed) Midwinter Conference Junior Shooting Sports: Target Order deadline Oratorical Regionals & Finals – Ripon College Lincoln Pilgrimage – Springfield Jr. Shooting Sports: Postal Match ends/Targets due to Headquarters Eagle Scout of the Year Application Deadline Schneider-Emanuel Scholarship Deadline Badger Boys: State Board of Directors meeting @ Headquarters Washington Conference, Washington D.C. Daylight Savings Time Begins Americanism & Government Scholarship Test Commander Wischer’s Testimonial Dinner: Post 537-Milwaukee National Spring Meetings - Indianapolis Department Spring Meetings - Portage MEMORIAL DAY (Dept closed) Badger Boys: State Board of Directors Meeting-Ripon College Badger Boys State – Ripon College Samsung Scholarship deadline WALLECA – Ft McCoy INDEPENDENCE DAY (Dept closed July 3) Baseball Scholarship Application Deadline Department State Convention -Appleton National Headquarter Closed Baseball – All Star Game – Miller Park January 20 National Convention – Louisville, KY February 17 LABOR DAY (Dept closed) April 10 Celebration of Freedom – Portage May 25 National Fall Meetings – Indianapolis, IN July 6 Department Fall Meetings – Portage September 7 Daylight Savings Time Ends November 11, 26, 27 VETERANS DAY (Dept closed) December 23, 24, 25 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY (Dept closed) December 31 CHRISTMAS (Dept closed)
The American Legion, Department of Wisconsin; PO Box 388; Portage, WI 53901 608-745-1090 www.wilegion.org