We were vacationing, roaming roads far from home when I thought about dropping in on a Legion Post in the area and swap Post stuff with fellow Legionnaires.  Besides, I needed a drink, an adult beverage at a friendly price. 

After nearly 20 minutes of my poor direction sense and questioning puzzled natives, I finally found an American Legion Post home that I could visit.  It was on a side street, a stone’s throw from the highway on which we had been cruising. 

My wife spoofily congratulated me on my path finding skill. What had helped me was the huge curbside sign: “American Legion – Bingo Every Friday Night.” 

The parking lot was long and wide and smoothly blacktopped.  The large building was at the far end, sparkling with the evening sun on its dazzlingly white clapboard.  A ramp for the handicapped paralleled a wide set of steps leading to the front door.  Facing the end of the ramp was a window with a pub-like neon sign ”Open.”  I boldly escorted my wife through the open door, ready to have her see a Post home. 

What we saw was a very large room.  Long tables in white paper covers ranged down each side.  The middle was open, forming a big U.  There wasn’t a Legionnaire in sight.  At the rear of the room, a bevy of ladies was being taught the Electric Slide Dance. I steered my wife back out to the front porch, ready to go on our way.She said, “Let’s look around on the side.”  

Ah, there it was!  Another ramp and set of steps led to a door marked:” American Legion Members and Guests Only.”  I ushered us into a long, narrow room, dark in wood and shy of lighting.  A pall of cigarette smoke hid the ceiling.  Small tables hugged the wall.  A long oval of a bar filled up the rest of the room, except for a big TV screen at the far end.  A clique of mixed ages sat at the bar near the TV set.  They were engrossed in the lead talker’s tale. 

We sat at the bar. A man and his date were perched next to me.  No one spoke to us.  No one looked at us.  A lady bartender, deep in listening to a conversation just beyond us, finally shuffled up to us with a “What’ll ya’ have?”  We settled for a beer. 

After roughly ten minutes, we eased out the door.  No one waved farewell.  No one said,” Good to meetcha.”  We could have been IRS snoops or suicide bombers.  No one cared. 

My point here is not to belittle a Post.  I’m sure that at a regular meeting we would have been welcomed.  What I want to do is reinforce what we have claimed many times over – that our Post 134 is unique and special.  We welcome visitors.  We greet one another with warmth.  We enjoy camaraderie and conviviality.  We share laughter and stories. We don’t leave good manners at the door. 

Sometimes, it’s the little things that make for a big Post.  Let’s remember that as we invite new people to join us for a visit.  

                                                  A VERY SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT 

MAJOR TODD COPLEY is now LT. COLONEL TODD COPLEY.     

Todd is a member of the 700th Airlift Squadron which is part of the 94th Airlift Wing stationed as Dobbins.  He navigates those C-130s around the world always landing where he is supposed to.  Remember he was even able to get HAP CHANDLER safely to England last year. 

TODD joined our Post in December 07 and immediately became an active member.  He currently serves at our Junior Vice Commander. Todd and Connie and son and daughter live in Powder Springs. 

Congratulations Todd.  This is a well deserved promotion. 

The National American Legion Press Association [NALPA] publishes a quarterly newsletter.  The following was in their past issue. 

                                                             Send George a note
Past NALPA Executive Director George Hooten’s health has not been very cooperative this year.  Word has it his spirits can be buoyed when cards and letters are sent his way.  If you include pictures, make sure everyone in them is smiling-he’ll wonder what you’re all up to!

George Hooten
832 Pinetree Dr.                                            
Decatur, Ga. 30030-2331  

This is a good reminder not only for George, but for the rest of our ailing members. 

It has been said that our Post greets, meets, eats and goes home.  The implication being that we need additional activities.  So in addition to BOYS STATE, THE ORATORICAL CONTEST, THE MEMORIAL DAY SERVICES, WREATHES ACROSS AMERICA, THE EAST SIDE ASSISTED LIVING MEETING, THE BLOOD DONORS, AND THOSE WHO SPEAK TO VARIOUS SCHOOLS our SERVICE OFFICER, JOHN KAPSAROFF, sent on behalf of our Post a check for $100.00 to begin our participation in the HERO BOX PROJECT.    HERO BOX matches the needs and wants of our military overseas with willing contributors here.  They make their needs known and we try to fill their needs by sending to them the items they requested.  We expect to receive correspondence from the servicemen and women who receive the boxes so we may be of further help to them.  This may be a program that our members who can’t attend the Post meetings can be a major part of.  STAY TUNED.                                                                                 

Mark your calendars for THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10th at 12:00 at the PETITE AUBERGE to meet and hear PAT GARTLAND, our featured speaker.  PAT played football for BEAR BRYANT and later for the GREEN BAY PACKERS.  He is a Viet Nam Veteran and is current on the latest changes to V. A. benefits.  Pat is also up to snuff on what is going on in State Politics.  Maybe he will give us the inside scoop.  Come early and meet this very engaging individual.     

             During Black History Month this year of 2009, Eric Holder, U.S. Attorney General, referred to the citizenry as “a nation of cowards on racial issues” and observed that we “do not talk to each other about race.”              

             I didn’t become excited about the pronouncement.  I looked upon the statement as a bit of rhetoric fitting the occasion.  As a Black, with parents from Barbados, he probably wanted to emphasize a concern.            

             Over time, however, I began to create scenarios wherein I saw myself possibly overcoming my cowardice.  In these scenarios, I stayed close to home, of course.              

             I have a neighbor whom I meet occasionally at our stand of mailboxes.  He’s Black, well over six feet tall, somewhat of a recluse, hermit-like, given to the bachelor life.  He rarely has visitors to his nest.  When we meet to gather our mail, we chat briefly about matters of no consequence.  There is no air of hostility over our heads.  If I were to ring his doorbell, however, and ask if he’d like to talk about race, I’m sure that he would be dumbfounded and dismiss me with a look that suggests that I need help.   He’s from Chicago, you see. 

              After imagining such a scenario, I thought a bit about Mr. Holder’s utterance and wondered if he envisioned required college courses on race or a series of weighty textbooks on race or town hall meetings on race throughout the land on special days such as Earth Day or MLK Day or whatever.  The less cowardly might go for that approach. Maybe that’s what he had in mind.             

            Mr. Holder offered no quoted specifics.  There’s merit in that, of course, but there’s also adverse criticism arising from the generalization.  The assumption is easy to make that because of the time of the accusation, talk about race means the issue of Blacks in a White world.  For reasons known only to God, talk about race rarely includes the Brown, the Yellow, the Red.  It never entered my mind, for example, to ring the bell of another neighbor, an Oriental, a lawyer, who restricts herself to a wave in my direction.  She’d really be mystified if I wanted to talk race with her. She’d probably subpoena me for “loitering with intent.”  

            No, sir, I don’t see Ordinary Joes going about, looking for a chance to talk race.  I don’t see them as cowards.  They are simply discreet.  Most folks want to ”live and let live.”  Race is an accident of birth.    

 ON SUSTAINABILITY

These days, we often hear the word Sustainability used. In ecology, the word describes how biological systems remain diverse and productive over time. Sustainability is, in a broad sense, the capacity to endure.  

In order for Post 134 to endure, it is critical that we “Maintain and Gain” in the area of membership. Over many years, we have performed well on the “maintain” side; repeatedly making the annual District goal of 100% membership retention. The “gain” side is a different story, as we are anemic in the recruitment of new members. While we are all aware of this anemia, it is time to take steps to cure the ailment. 

I would like to initiate a program entitled “Together To Gather”. As the name suggests, this project will involve all members, not only the Officers and Executive Committee, in the pursuit of new member recruitment. Let us immediately embark on this extremely important opportunity to grow our numbers and insure the Sustainability of our Post. It is not a difficult task; as has been suggested, it’s as simple as each current member enlisting one new member!  

Remember: “Together To Gather”……..