Newsletter # 68
March 4, 2003

THE AMERICAN LEGION
Master Sergeant Mario Enrique Gonzales Acker
Guatemala Post # 2
Antigua Guatemala
Founded July 19, 1997

Meetings 1st Tuesday of the Month	Mail: Codigo A-178
Restaurant "Personajes" 1:00 P.M.	P.O. Box 669004
6 Avenida Norte # 6	Miami Springs Fl. 33266
Antigua Guatemala	E-mail: american_legion2@conexion.com.gt
Telephone 011-502-832-1018	Cellular 011-502-494-1560

IN MEMORIAM

RALPH ELBERT ANDERSON
U.S.Army Korean Era
OCTOBER 4, 1927 --- MARCH 1, 2003

JOHN H. SALOW
U.S. Army Korean Era
MAY 21, 1934 --- FEBRUARY 23, 2003

A MEMORIAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD MARCH 6, 2003 AT THE CHURCH OF THE MERCED 1a CALLE AND 6a AVENIDA 5:00 P.M.

POST ELECTIONS
We are 30 days away from the post elections any member in good standing interested in filling any of the following positions, Commander, Vice-Commander, Service Officer, Judge Advocate, Adjutant/Finance Officer, Chaplain, Sgt-at-arms, or Historian please contact our post Judge Advocate Jerry Williams at 832-3555 / 495-4463 or e-mail mailto:hjwnofun@conexions.com.gt

EL SAVADOR POST # 1
El Salvador post number one was called to order at 12:30 on February 21, 2003 by Guatemala's post 2 commander, William J.Shetz. The initial meeting was held at the Spanish Club in San Salvador with 23 members present. Members represented every conflict from World War 2 to the present. The opening ceremony included the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, and a moment of silence for those soldiers who have died or are missing in action.
The meetings agenda included:
1. The introduction of each member to the group, with a short background of their service and life in El Salvador.

2. An Overview of the purpose and goals of the American Legion.

3. Completion of the application for the Temporary Charter for approval by the Department and National Executive Committees, to recognize the post in San Salvador, El Salvador.

4. Election of Temporary Officers. The membership nominated and elected an acting commander and adjutant. Those selected by the membership were: Commander: Roberto Urbina, Adjutant: Jose Alfredo Marti

5. Selection of the time and place for future meetings. A nomination was made, discussed and passed that the American Legion Post # 1, San Salvador, El Salvador will meet the 4th Wednesday of each month at 12:00 noon. The place of the meeting will be the Spanish Club.

6. Special Projects: Commander William J. Shetz, Guatemala Post 2, covered some of the Special projects that the American Legion Post 2, Guatemala is involved with both in Guatemala and El Salvador. One project that was discussed was the continued development of a Muscular Dystrophy, program to assist those in El Salvador.

7. Open Discussion: The meeting was opened to the floor for any new business. To better understand the direction and focus of the new post, one member asked that each member explain why he was here and what that member felt the post could provide to the American Legion the individual member and the community.

8. Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 3:30 P.M. following the completion of business.
A special thanks goes to the American Ambassador to El Salvador, Rose Likens, Counsel General, James W. Herman, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Barre', Defense Attaché' Office and the many others for helping bring these military personnel in El Salvador together. The initial search and Veterans Day Activities made possible the reality of this new American Legion post. Without their interest and efforts American Legion Post # 1, El Salvador would still be a dream. Thank you Mark Walker

MEMBERSHIP
We have 143 members (120% of 2002) who have paid their 2003 dues (112% of our goal of 128) including 35 new members. Please welcome to the post Guillermo Alberto Cortez Are'valo a U.S. Army Vietnam veteran from San Salvador El Salvador, Mitchel A. Bohnstedta U.S. Army active duty member from San Salvador El Salvador, Louis A. Cbarruviaz a U.S. Army Vietnam era veteran from San Salvador, El Salvador, R. Arturo Araujo Caceros a U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran from San Salvador, El Salvador, Walter A. Kenna a U.S. Marine Corp Lebanon/Granada Veteran from Houston Texas, Jose Miguel Gasteazoro a U.S. Army Korean War Veteran from San Salvador, El Salvador, Francisco Morales a U.S. Air Force World War ll Veteran from San Salvador, El Salvador, Mario Rios a U.S. Army active duty veteran from San Salvador, El Salvador Reynaldo Antonio Sanchez Sanchez a U.S. Marine Corp Lebanon/ Granada Veteran from San Salvador, El Salvador, Darrell R. Cupp a U.S. Air Force Vietnam era veteran who has transferred in from Missouri post 69 A. Paul Buianoa U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran from San Jose Ca. and Ivan Mena a U.S. Army Korean War Veteran from San Salvador, El Salvador. How about making my job a little easier by sending in your dues now? (Regular Annual dues checks should be made payable to "The American Legion").

Dr. George H. Boyce Memorial Scholarship Program
The scholarship program has flourished due to the generosity of our members and friends. We accumulate individual donations until we have sufficient funds to enter a child for 8 years of education. Donations to this fund go a long way in helping a child move from a future of menial labor to that of self -sufficiency and higher education.

The Stephen Skelton Memorial Library
We have increased the space in the Library by over 200 shelf feet and now will be able to accommodate the many books offered to us through donations. Milo Vukovich is the Chairman of the Library committee and will report to the post Executive Committee and general membership on a Monthly basis. Anyone wishing to volunteer time or donate books should contact Milo at 212-2457 or come to the library in person. We wish to express our appreciation to David Bansley, David Jickling and Ken Verondaand all that were involved in the very generous contribution of the Verle L. Annis book "The Architecture of Antigua" . No Library in Guatemala would be complete without it.The Library is located at 4th Avenida Sur # 21 between 8th and 9th Calle just past the entrance to the Hotel San Jorge. Milo Vukovich has agreed to volunteer for Sundays giving us one more day of accessibility by the general public. The Library is open to the general public and the hours are Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00a.m. till 3:00P.M.

Nido Jesus Nino Orphanage
The two Nuns have informed me that they now have a usage rate of 25lbs.of milk every 15 days. When translated into annual figures it means that we need to purchase 26, 25lb. Cans at Q 330.00 or at the current exchange rate of Q7.70 per $1.00 or $43.00 per can the total annual cost is $1118.00. This month we wish to thank Donald R. Monaco, Richard and Becky Cupp for their generous contribution. We also want to express our gratitude to Larry Gottschammer and his crew for their offer to plant a full garden at the orphanage with the coming of rainy season. This program will help supplement the diet of the children with fresh nutritious fruits and vegetables. The post maintains a separate fund solely for the needs of the orphanage and anyone wishing to contribute may send a check to "The American Legion" in the remarks section of your check please write orphanage. The orphanage has a web page and is on line at: mailto:nidojesusnino@conexion.com.gtand their web page is http://www.casadeangeles.org/ As the Sisters are from Spain their English is lacking so unfortunately communication can only be in Spanish.

Publicity and Public Relations
We now send the newsletter to over 1200 e-mail address throughput the world including the following, Afghanistan, Australia, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Shanghai China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, El Salvador, England, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Kosivo, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Yugoslavia, The Azores, The Bahaman Islands, The Marshall Islands, The Philippine Islands, The U.S. Virgin Islands and 42 of the United States including; Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C., West Virginia, Wisconsin Via e-mail, Fax, handouts and regular mail delivery. If you are interested in receiving our post newsletter just contact us at: mailto:american_legion2@conexion.com.gt

Post Officers

Commander	William J. Shetz	832-1018 / 494-1560	mailto:american_legion2@conexion.com.gt
Vice-Commander	Julio Ericastilla	490-9559
Service Officer	Owen Gallogly	831-0374
Judge Advocate	Jerry Williams	832-3555	mailto:hjwnofun@conexion.com.gt
Sergeant at Arms	Jerry Lightel		mailto:Jilgua@yahoo.com
Historian	Harlan Nels Foss	832-1927
Chaplain	Milo Vukovich	831-0609 cell 211-7198	mailto:mvuko68@aol.com

LOCAL INFORMATION
Want to save time instead of standing in line to pay your phone bill? Telgua has an Office at #21 6th Avenida Norte (South of epicure) that takes your phone bill and there are no lines.

Entertainment and Activities
Our Socials are open to anyone who wishes to attend so bring a friend to our bi-weekly dinners. This months dinners are as follows:
Wednesday March 12, 2003 we will meet 6:00 P.M. at "El Punto" 7a Avenida Norte between 3rd and 4th Calle across from the Compania de Jesus.

Wednesday March 26, 2003 we will meet 6:00 P.M. at "Café Flor" 4a Avenida Sur between 5a and 6a Calle.

William J. Shetz
Commander/Editor