| Newsletter # 69 | | April 2, 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 Memorium
William C. Tobey lll
April 16, 1933-------April 28, 2003
MEMORIAL DAY 2003
MAY 30, 2003: We will be joining Guatemala post # 1 to remember those who have gone before us. The ceremony will be held in the general cemetary in Guatemala City followed by lunch at Montano's Steak House in zone 10. A van will leave from the Café Condessa at 9:30a.m. on the 30th of May and will return around 3:30p.m. Those interested in attending please contact Bill as soon as possible.
MEMBERSHIP
We closed out the 2003 membership year with 143 members (120% of 2002) who have paid their 2003 dues (112% of our goal of 128) including 25 new members. 20 members will be leaving us when El Salvador Post # 1 has its charter approved at the upcoming National Executive Committee meeting in May.
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. 12 children have so far receive this benefit and as contributions continue to come in more children will be added. Our most advanced student in now entering the 4th grade and our newest is REPEATING the 1st grade. 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. We wish to thank SARAH COHEN for her most generous donation to this fund. we may soon be in a position to select another student to enter the program.
The Stephen Skelton Memorial Library
Of The American Legion, Guatemala Post # 2
The library continues to prosper with now over 3500 books and many more to come. Milo Vukovich our post sergeant at arms, has been named as Chairman of the Library committee and will report to the post 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. The Library is located at 4th Avenida Sur # 21 between 8th and 9th Calle just past the entrance to the Hotel San Jorge. Anyone wishing to assist please contact Miloat 212-2457 or Bill at 832-1018 / 494-1560. A very special thank you to Lt. Col. Linda Gould of the U.S. Embassy Mil Group for their continuing donation of books ( This month we received 5 cases more ).
A very special thank you to Marta, Chloe, Maria, Pat, Jaime, Bonnie and Milo for contributing their many hours to help keep the Library Staffed.
The Library is open to the general public 7 days a week from 11:00a.m. till 3:00P.M.
Nido Jesus Nino Orphanage
Construction of the facilities is continuing as we continue to support this very important project. The two sisters 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. 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. We thank Sarah Cohen for her most generous contribution this month.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, Columbia, 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
A POLICY STATEMENT
Since the start of this newsletter it has been our policy to not distribute the e-mail or other contact information of our members and friends without the express consent of the same. Many times we have been asked to provide this information. If someone wants anothers information we will first contact the owner of the information and ask them if agree to provide the information.
WHAT'S IN A WORD
GRINGO First written in Spain in 1787 the word Gringo means "Foreigner" or "unintelligible gibberish." The root of gringo in turn, is thought to have been "Griego," Spanish for " Greek," often applied as slang to any foreigner. But why, I hear you ask, Greeks? Because the Greek language has long been a convenient metaphor for anything foreign and unintelligible. Even the Romans had a latin phrase for the feeling of being stymied by the unfamiliar: "Graecum est; non potest legi." Translation? "It is Greek--it cannot be read," or as we say today, "It's Greek to me."
VETERANS AFFAIRS
We are, of course, primarily a Veterans Organization and we try to give the most accurate up to date information we can.
The veteran's administration has a regular newsletter at http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrelor mailto:vaco.vanewsl@mail.va.gov
A very informative veterans newsletter can be had at mailto:raoemo@mozcom.com
If you need a copy of your military records go to http://www.archives.gov/research-room/vet
The Social Security Administration has a regular newsletter at http://www.ssa.gov/enews
To check to see what government benefits you may be entitled to check http://www.govbenefits.gov/
Post Officers
| Commander | William
J. Shetz | 832-1018 / 494-1560 |
mailto:american_legion2@conexion.com.gt |
| Vice-Commander | Jerry Lightel |
| mailto:Jilgua@yahoo.com
mailto:jjlgua@yahoo.com |
| Vice-Commander | Milo Vukovich |
831-0609 / 211-7198 | mailto:mvuko68@aol.com |
| Service Officer | Owen Gallogly |
831-0374 | |
| Judge Advocate | Jerry Williams
| 832-3555 | mailto:hjwnofun@conexion.com.gt |
| Sergeant at Arms | Milo Vukovich
| 831-0609 / 211-7198 | mailto:mvuko68@aol.com |
| Historian | Jim Gibbs
| 215-9006 | |
| Chaplain | James Ludowese |
| |
HOUSE FOR SALE
Between Antigua and San Pedro Panorama. Quiet Cozy and Secure. 180 sq. meters. Living room/Dining room with fire place, fully equipped kitchen; 3 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 2 phone lines, washer dryer, refrigerator, stove. 2 patios surrounded by gardens. Low utility costs. $125,000.00 contact Sue Patterson
011-502-832-8020 / 011-502- 219-0500 mailto:spatters@conexion.com.gt
HOUSE FOR SALE
PRICE SLASHED!!!! On this charming home 2 miles from Antigua in San Pedro Alto. Spanish style with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths with beautiful gardens. In a secure community on the road to Santa Maria de Jesus. Photos and contact information are available at http://www.geocities.com/marysantiguahouse/or contact Mary Thompson at
mailto:marydee2@earthlink.net or call 310-841-2154
Entertainment and Activities
Anyone interested in learning about Guatemalan Volcanoes go to http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/volcanoes/guatemala
Our Socials are open to anyone who wish to attend so bring a friend to our bi-weekly dinners. This month's dinners are as follows:
Wednesday May 14, 2003 we will meet 6:00 P.M. at "La Cuebita de Los Urguizu 2a Calle Oriente # 9-D
Between 2nd and 3rd avenida..
Wednesday May 28, 2003 we will meet 6:00 P.M. at "Le Café Des Artistes" 5a Calle Poniente # 15 (inside El Sitio) .
William J. Shetz
Commander/Editor