Dear Post 523 Legionnaires:

We want to give you an update on our recent accomplishments as well as our current shortcomings.

Despite very low and disappointing attendance at our regular monthly meetings, we have continued our work to serve our veterans, our community and to educate our young people on Americanism and Patriotism.  Due in large part to joint efforts with our Auxiliary Unit, we had the following successful projects in calendar year 2009:

• Hosted quarterly bingo parties at the Salisbury VA Medical Center
• Collected goods and distributed 200 Christmas gift bags to hospitalized veterans at the Salisbury VAMC, the State Veterans Home and in Harrisburg at the Carillon Assisted Living Center and The Oaks Nursing Home
• Sponsored three (3) young men for Boys State in July 2009
• Participated in a Flag Retirement Ceremony with Harrisburg Boy Scouts
• Participated in Veterans Day activities at the Boys Club in Concord and hosted our first Veterans Day program in Harrisburg
• Participated in Harrisburg’s Annual July 4^th parade
• Purchased new flags of each branch of the military for Veterans Park
• Several members continue to serve with the Cabarrus County Veterans Honor Guard
• And, deserving mention, a Post member won $500 in a Department Legion Raffle 

In order to continue these activities and to expand on those projects, we need more participation from our Post Legionnaires.  Our Post is still alive but is facing challenges due to limited participation.  Members do not have to participate in every project or undertaking, but it is critical that we have more participation in order to guarantee success.  In discussing plans for this year, several Post and Auxiliary members met and discussed our needs, our successes, and possible projects or fundraisers for the coming year.  Ideas discussed included a golf tournament, some sort of food sales during race weekends in Harrisburg, and re-energizing our efforts to work with young people in our community as we promote good citizenship and service to our veterans and active military.  All those ideas hinge on the participation of more Post members. 

As you know, we meet the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM in Town Council Chambers, and our next meeting is next week on January 12^th.  We need your support and ask that you attend our meetings.  By doing so, you support our officers and help strengthen our organization.  Our veterans, our service men and women currently serving our country and their families deserve to be remembered and supported and, with the help of more Post members, we can continue to make a difference in our community.  If you have female relatives who qualify for membership in our Auxiliary, please bring them along with you so that they can become acquainted with our group of ladies who are very involved and very successful with many service projects. 

We need your input, your ideas and your support.  We hope to see you next Tuesday and at future monthly meetings.

For God and Country,
 

Robert F. MacLeod

Post #523 Commander
Cell Phone 980-253-0566
Email: rgbysheast@aol.com 

FLAG COLLECTION BOX:

HARRISBURG POST#523 HAS A FLAG COLLECTION BOX FOR THE COLLECTION OF WORN AND TORN U.S. FLAGS OF ANY SIZE.  THIS BOX HAS BEEN PLACED IN FRONT OF LOWES' FOOD STORE IN THE SCHOOL HOUSE COMMONS.  THE FLAGS WILL THEN BE DISPOSED OF PROPERLY.  THE AMERICAN LEGION HAS A FLAG DISPOSAL CEREMONY FOR THIS PURPOSE.  IF YOU NEED TO DISPOSE OF ANY AMERICAN FLAG, PLEASE PLACE IT IN THE COLLECTION BOX.