Salvo- February 2021
COMMANDERS CORNER
As the pandemic, in the short term, appears to be going in the wrong direction,
there is good news. The vaccines are here!! And some us, sorry just some over 75,
can get a shot now at the VA Martinez. You need to call for an appointment at 382-
8387, selection 4 or 5. Be persistent, you may not get through right away. Raoul
Miranda already got his shot and I have an appointment on January 14. Meantime
keep wearing a mask and social distance. Let us do our part and wear them in any
public setting.
There is an important message from our Department Commander below; please
read completely.
Our NO Crab Crab Feed Virtual Auction is here! The site has gone live for
browsing and will go live on 24 January. See the notice below for all the details. We
have sent the Auction flyer and notice to all of you and ask for your help by sending
it on to your family, friends, neighbors, and business associates.
We still want to say hi to Robert Denison, House, Sally Malone, Dr. Conrad
Rougeux, Lee Sarty, William Shewry, Bob Wattles, Kenneth Winters, and Richard
Zaslove. We want to make sure you are doing well and ask if you need any
assistance. We will keep trying to reach you.
We have now reached 88% of members renewed as of 1/8/21! That’s 137 out of 157
members that continue support of our post and the Legion. Thank you!! We did
not reach our goal of 100% by 31 December, but we will continue to pursue that
goal.
A great big thank you to the Boy Scouts of Troop 888 who showed up in big
numbers to remove all the wreaths at the Alamo Cemetery and then follow Roxanne
Lindsay to the dump to dispose of them properly.
Our Boy Scouts are looking for Eagle Scout projects, especially for ones that
support veterans. If you have ideas, contact Alan Scharlach directly.
Be sure to see our new website at www.americanlegionpost246.org. Check it out!!
Stay safe and wear your masks!!!
Eric, Commander
UPCOMING EVENTS
**** Every Saturday 9 to 12 Coffee at the Vets Hall **** Still on hold
January/February (TBD) Post Oratorical Contest
January 24th to 30th, Sunday to Saturday No Crab Crab Feed Auction Fundraiser
February 3rd, Wednesday Regular Zoom meeting with speaker, 12:00 pm
TBD
February 20th, Saturday Executive Committee meeting, 8:30 am
March 3rd, Wednesday Regular Zoom meeting with speaker, 12:00 pm
TBD
March 20th, Saturday Executive Committee meeting, 8:30 am
April 7th, Wednesday Regular meeting with speaker, 12:00 pm
TBD Nominations for Officers/Exec Committee
April 17th, Saturday Executive Committee meeting, 8:30 am
May 5th, Wednesday Regular meeting with speaker, 12:00 pm
TBD Election of Officers/Exec Committee
May 15th, Saturday Executive Committee meeting, 8:30 am
May 23rd, Sunday VMB High School Swearing-in Ceremony
May 30th, Sunday VNVDV Memorial Day Ceremony, Oak Hill Park
May 31st, Monday Memorial Day
June 2nd, Wednesday Regular meeting with speaker, 12:00 pm TBD
June 19th, Saturday Executive Committee meeting, 8:30 am
THE NO CRAB CRAB FEED ONLINE AUCTION EVENT
We have received numerous donations from our members and local businesses for
the auction. We also have five sponsors donating up to $2,500 for the event:
www.aqueoUS.com www.awmfs.com/ alamohardware.com/
www.cmforming.com www.autotech.com
Always nice if you patronize our sponsors and donors, so please do so.
COMMANDERS MESSAGE - THE AMERICAN LEGION WON’T TOLERATE HATE
The American Legion, like the rest of society, enters 2021 with a sense of reflection about what place we have in this world. The problems of 2020 would seem to be out of our control, but we are all responsible for our actions and reactions to that world.
As a non-partisan organization, The American Legion typically abstains from public political debates, but we exist in this world and so do our members. Of particular focus these days is our divided nation and the emergence of radical thinking and groups that leverage that perspective into hate.
When the scenario turns to hate, The American Legion cannot stand silent. It is no longer about free speech or simple political discourse, rather it morphs into an affront to both Legionnaires and our communities, states and nations. As sworn defenders of this country, when lines are crossed, we must take a stand. A prime example occurred in 2017, when a resolution was passed that reaffirmed an 84 year old position of The American Legion. The original resolution resolves that:
“The American Legion considers any individual, group of individuals, or organizations, which creates, or fosters racial, religious or class strife among our people, or which takes into their own hands the enforcement of law, determination of guilt, or infliction of punishment, to be un-American, a menace to our liberties, and destructive to our fundamental law.”
Each member of The American Legion takes an oath and lives under the Preamble to the Constitution of the organization. That Preamble is recited at the start of every meeting and is printed on the back of the very membership card that all members carry. These words are defining of both the individual and the larger organization. We pledge, among other things, to support ideals such as:
• – “to promote peace and goodwill on Earth” – In this promotion of peace and goodwill, we endeavor to be an inclusive organization, and in that mission, must reject the principles of hate.
• – “to maintain law and order” – To this end, we cannot become lawless by creating, encouraging, or magnifying the chaos of violence, even if the individual feels a sense of moral justification.
• – “to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation” – This clause binds us to the larger world. In this world, we lead by example, thus conducting ourselves with conduct becoming a Legionnaire. Violating this principle can be grounds for expulsion.
It should be clear that The American Legion has no room for hate in its membership, nor will we silently tolerate hate in any form. With the current tone of the nation’s dialog, these principles, without discipline and attention, can be lost in the fray. This cannot and will not be tolerated. The American Legion has internal mechanisms to deal with actions of
malintent that violate the core values of the organization, as voted on by the members of the organization.
The core values are not a reaction to any news of the day. They are printed and carried in our wallets. They are recited at our gatherings, and they reside if the hearts of those members who conduct themselves in congruence with the principles expected of Legionnaires.
ROXANNE LINDSAY THANK YOU NOTE, WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA
USS OAKLAND THANK YOU LETTER & CARD FOR DONATION
AMERICAN LEGION BASIC TRAINING COURSE
Learn about the American Legion in this self-paced online course; go to
https://www.legion.org/alei.
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE
Welcome to the Veterans Service Office where we help local veterans, and their
families obtain veteran benefits from federal, state and local agencies.
***Notice To All Visitors and Veterans***
All Of Our Office Lobbies Are Currently Closed For Public Safety
We still look forward to serving Veterans and their families. Veteran Service
Representatives are currently working from home and ready to help.
Please email Veterans@vs.cccounty.us for assistance!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Veterans Service Representative can assist you virtually. We are
available Monday thru Thursday 9am – 12pm & 1pm – 4pm,
and Fridays 9am – 12pm.
***Please Note: We are not open online beyond these hours***
Join the Zoom Meeting by clicking on this link
CVSO Virtual Office
Or connect to our virtual office at: (669) 900 9128 Meeting ID: 979 2501 6051
POST PHOTOGRAPHER
Still no takers? Like to take pictures with an iPhone or camera? We need YOU!!
We are looking for a post photographer(s) to help capture pictures and videos of our
post activities. There is a need to attend many our functions. Please give me a call.
FLAG & EMBLEM STORE
The post now has a Tax-Free account with the Flag & Emblem Store. Alan
Scharlach is our post “Supply Officer” and is available to order items for individual
post members. Go to https://emblem.legion.org/ to do your shopping; then email
Alan with the item number, quantity, color, and any other item details needed to
purchase the item you want.
TOWN OF DANVILLE
The Town of Danville website contains links to notices, alerts, news flash, calendar,
etc. about all things Danville: http://www.danville.ca.gov/list.aspx
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the losers."
--Socrates
POST OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Post Officers for 2020-2021:
Commander: Eric Ardell
1st V. Cmdr: Mark Heinemann
2nd V. Cmdr: Alan Scharlach
3rd V. Cmdr: Randy Reid
Adjutant: Bob Landy
Finance: Phil Connolly
Chaplain: Jon Heinson
Historian: Gerald Lindahl
Judge Advocate: Ron Lowe
Sgt-at-Arms: Floyd Cox
Service Officer: Leroy Vares
Executive Committee:
Gary Soto
Dick Seavey
Ron Roe
Neil Giles
Michelle Lee
Appointed Officers & Committee Chairpersons
Asst Adjutant: vacant
Asst Finance: Raoul Miranda
Asst Sgt-at-Arms: Raoul Miranda
Supply Officer: Alan Scharlach
Boys State: Eric Ardell
Girls State: Michelle Lee
Oratorical: Neil Giles
Pgm Dir: Michelle Lee
Scouting Rep: Alan Scharlach
VMB Ops Committee: Bob Landy
Museum Committee: Ron Farrell
Protocol Officer: Floyd Cox
Board of Trustees: Ron Lowe / Eric Ardell
East Bay Standdown Rep: Mark Heinemann
Veterans Outreach: Mark Heinemann
Post Website: www.americanlegionpost246.org Post Webmaster: Rusty Orvik
Salvo Editor: Eric Ardell
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 133, Danville, CA 94526 Message Center: (925) 277-7775
Keep saving your pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters for Helmut for Heroes at a future live
meeting!!
