Commander's Message - August 2008

Greetings to the great Detachment of West Virginia. I thank you for this opportunity to serve the Detachment as your Commander. Since our Convention I have had the pleasure to welcome home one of our Iraq Veterans in Rosedale WV. I then traveled to Washington DC and toured our Nation’s Capital and the solemn and revered Arlington National Cemetery. I watched in amazement at the changing of the Guard. It is an experience never to be forgotten. I have been communicating with the C. Sanders Co. and have designed a Detachment Pin for 2009 membership year. Above is the artwork for that design and the pins are now in production. I think that everyone in the American Legion Family will like to have one for his collection. I extend my thanks to Trish and the Sanders Co. for finalizing the details. We have a great core of officers this year and I have asked each officer to place an article in the News Bulletin. We had a productive organizational meeting immediately after the convention and we are all on the same page with our goals for the year. As they are invited and travel to your area, they will be conveying the message of our Detachment growth and service to Community. We especially want to focus on the Volunteer increase in our V.A. Hospitals. I have proposed a Commander’s Award For Excellence to each Squadron who meets certain criteria. I ask that your Squadron turn in a Certification of Officers, donate 50 cents per member to the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation, donate 50 cents per member to the American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund, donate 50 cents per member to the Children’s Miracle Network Morgantown University Children’s Hospital, volunteer 25 hours at your local V.A. Hospital or its outreach clinic within WV, obtain QUOTA membership by March 31st 2009, turn in your Consolidated Report Form of your activity, and finally show registered attendance of your Squadron at our Mid-Winter or July Convention. We endeavor to get better communication out to you to give you the tools to work. We had 20 Consolidated Report Forms turned in at Convention, which totaled huge numbers of donations and hours. I was very proud of your efforts, however, this was only half of our Squadrons reporting. I made a stop in Riverton WV. I spoke with Ray Day of Post 183 who was working a food tent for the Post at the Pendleton Co Fair just down the road in Circleville. They were the busiest tent there. He informed me that they need help at the Post and did not have a Sons Squadron. Mr. Day also led the parade with the Post Honor Guard. He deserves much thanks for all his hard work at his Post. I have made a promise to the fellows at Logan #19 to be at their annual Easter Egg Hunt. I may just show up to visit when you least expect it. I pledge to serve you the best that I can and ask of you to do your best this year. If gasoline prices burden your travels, please donate to your Squadron events from home. Keep our WV Veterans in your prayers. Let’s go to work. - roy.turner@wvlegion.org.