Salvo - June 2021
COMMANDERS CORNER
FLASH!!! The really good news is we are back to live meetings!! We only had 12
intrepid souls to join us but that is a great start, including: Robert Mixson, a
member who we had not been able to contact for some time because of bad info but
reconnected based on a personal visit; and Ed Ott who we had not seen for over a
year. Don McInnes a long-time member checked in on Zoom. Glad to see you all!
We will continue with live meetings going forward as well as Zoom for the time
being. We will work on making the Zoom hookup more inclusive so maybe
everyone can see everyone else if that will work.
The Officer election was held at our May regular meeting. The following officers
were elected:
Commander – Mark Heinemann
1st Vice Commander – Michelle Lee
2nd Vice Commander – Alan Scharlach
Executive Committee – Neil Giles, Gary Soto, and Ron Roe
Appointed Officers are:
3rd Vice Commander – Randy Reid
Junior Past Commander – Eric Ardell
Adjutant – Bob Landy
Finance Officer: Phil Connolly
Chaplain: Jon Heinson
Historian: Gerald Lindahl
Judge Advocate: Ron Lowe
Sgt-at-Arms: Floyd Cox
Service Officer: Leroy Vares
Executive Committee – Dick Seavey
We are planning on Officer installation at our regular meeting on 7 July 2021.
Please plan to attend in person.
I know I have been tracking our membership status for 2021 but guess what. 1 July
we move on to start 2022 membership renewals. I hope you will consider renewing
your membership at your earliest opportunity and thank you for your continuing
support.
We are going to start a fourth round of Buddy Calls and focus on those members
who we have not reach so far and those members who we have not talked since last
year. We would really love if members would volunteer to help.
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 8:00 am to 12:00 pm Coffee at the Vets Hall IS BACK!!
May 23rd, Sunday VMB High School Swearing-in Ceremony
May 30th, Sunday VNVDV Memorial Day Ceremony, CANCELLED
May 31st, Monday Memorial Day
June 2nd, Wednesday Regular meeting with speaker Alberto Aranda, 12:00 pm
June 14th. Monday Flag Day
June 19th, Saturday Executive Committee meeting, 8:30 am
June 19th to 25th California Boys State (virtual)
June 25th to 27th Dept of California Convention (virtual)
June 28th to July 3rd California Girls State (virtual)
July 4th, Sunday Independence Day Kiwanis Parade (CANCELLED)
July 7th, Wednesday Regular meeting with speaker, 12:00 pm TBD, In-Person Installation of Officers
July 17th, Saturday NO Executive Committee meeting
August 4th, Wednesday NO Regular meeting
August 21st, Saturday Executive Committee meeting, 8:30 am
September 1st, Wednesday Regular meeting with speaker, 12:00 pm TBD
September 6th, Monday Labor Day
September 18th, Saturday Executive Committee meeting, 8:30 am
October 3rd, Sunday Boys & Girls State Recognition Luncheon, 1:00 pm
October 16th, Saturday Executive Committee meeting, 8:30 am
October 31st, Sunday Halloween
SPEAKER FOR JUNE
Our speaker for June will be Alberto Aranda, M.S., Faculty Counselor-Veterans/
General, Diablo Valley College, USMC/OIF Veteran. He will speak on issues facing
student veterans, in general; and about issues the DVC Student Veteran Alliance
faces, anything on the horizon for student vets, any good news or success stories.
FROM THE DESK OF NATHAN JOHNSON, CCC VETS SERVICE OFFICER
VA announces public virtual listening sessions on development and implementation
of the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program
The VA will be holding two public virtual listening sessions to help inform VA’s development of the
Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program (SSG Fox SPGP) and its
implementing regulations. The virtual sessions will occur on May 25 and May 26, 2021 from 10:00
a.m. to 5:00 p.m. eastern standard time. Virtual check-in will begin at 9:00 a.m. for registered
speakers. Oral comments, testimonies, and/or technical remarks will be time limited based on the
number of speakers (see notice for details).
Registration information is located in the Federal Register.
The SSG Fox SPGP, created pursuant to Section 201 of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans
Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019, is a three-year community-based grant program that
would provide financial assistance to eligible entities to provide or coordinate providing suicide
prevention services to eligible Veterans and their families. On April 1, 2021, VA published a request for
information in the Federal Register (86 FR 17268) seeking written comments from the public with an
accompanying Press Release. Listening sessions are an opportunity for interested persons to help
inform VA’s development of the SSG Fox SPGP.
or more information about the SSG Fox SPGP please visit www.mentalhealth.va.gov/ssgfox-grants.
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR BOB WRIGHT
Bob was a long-time member of
the Marine Corps League as well
as VMB docent. Most
importantly he was the host for
Saturday morning coffee for
several years. Please contact Jon Robbins at
jonathanrobbins@hotmail.com
For questions or to RSVP since attendance may be limited.
CALVET: ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER VETERAN
CELEBRATION
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have a rich heritage thousands of years old,
have both shaped the history of the United States, and had their lives dramatically
influenced by moments in its history. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have
answered the call to duty through every major war and continue to serve diligently
today through all branches of our military.
The California Department of Veterans Affairs Minority and Underrepresented
Veterans Division is hosting an informational webinar to commemorate Asian
American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, recognizing and celebrating all
Asian and Pacific Islander American Veterans and their contributions to our
Armed Forces.
Join us on Thursday, May 27 at 10 a.m. to ask us questions, share ideas, and learn
more about our Division and how we continue to support underrepresented
veterans. All veterans and family members are invited to join the conversation,
which will take place via Zoom.
Registration Link:
http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=r85aptzab&oeidk=a07ehyxzjid
1caea901
DEPARTMENT OF CALIFORNIA CONVENTION
The Department convention will be held 25-27 June 2021 (Friday to Sunday)
virtually. Eric Ardell, Mark Heinemann, Randy Reid, Michelle Lee, Raoul
Miranda, and Bob Landy will be the Post 246 delegates.
AMERICAN FLAG RETIREMENT
Do you have an old or worn US flag you would like to have retired in the proper
manner? Alan Scharlach will be doing so in June so bring your flag(s) to the
Veterans Memorial Building by noon on June 2, 2021 and place in the flag basket at
the front entrance.
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
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
AMERICAN LEGION BASIC TRAINING COURSE
American Legion self-paced online course; go to https://www.legion.org/alei.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
“If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led,
like sheep to the slaughter.”
--
George Washington
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) 272-8480
Keep saving your pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters for Helmut for Heroes at a future live meeting!!
