Newsletter # 73 August 5, 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


The Department of Mexico Convention 2004
We are of the belief that the purpose of the convention is to bring together members of the Department for business of the department and comradeship, not centered on fund raising. Everyone that attended 4 years ago were aware that we did our best to keep the quality high and the prices low. Good clean comfortable rooms are available here in Antigua from $10.00 a night and good bargain hunters can do even better. We are also hoping to do away with what I consider to be a poll tax and that is the convention registration fee. It is, in principle something that I find abhorrent. Why should you have to pay a fee to vote?? We will keep everyone informed through the newsletter and hopefully will see you the week of the 6th to the 13th of June 2004.There will be activities for guests as the meetings take place. Whoever comes early (The weekend before) will be able to tour some of the beautiful Guatemalan countryside at very reasonable rates on Monday and Tuesday of the Convention week. These trips will include the Pacific beaches and Lake Atitlan in the highlands.

MEMBERSHIP
We currently have 77 members paid up for 2004 including 8 new members. Please welcome to the post, William A. Guinn a U.S. Army Vietnam era veteran from Seattle Washington, Peter Johanson a Vietnam era US Army Veteran from Mt. Vernon, Washington State. H. Wayne Lovett a U.S. Army Vietnam era veteran from Gonzalez Fl. That makes us 49% of our goal for 2004. Please make out all dues checks for 2004 in the amount of $20.00 (we keep it low so that we may serve as many veterans as possible) and mail to "the American Legion" Codigo A-178, P.O. Box 669004, Miami Springs Fl. 33266. Please write in the remarks section of your check "dues 2004".

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 received this benefit. We almost have accumulated enough funds to select our 13th scholarship recipient to start school in January 2004. 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 funds of this program are maintained in a separate account and are not subject to use for any other purpose than that of the scholarship program, to insure that every child is funded through the completion of the program. We estimate that it takes approximately $300.00 per year to purchase uniforms, books and pay the tuition of each child, a rather good investment.

The Stephen Skelton Memorial Library
The new shelving has been installed and the over 700 Spanish books have been given their own location. We also have small but growing German, French and Dutch sections and 5,000 books in English. 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 Milo at 212-2457 or Bill at 832-1018 / 494-1560. Please take the time to mention the Library to your neighbors and friends as membership pays the rent. We wish to thank the members of Sunshinetenango for their generous donation toward the rent for August. The Library is open to the general public 7 days a week from 11:00a.m. Till 3:00P.M.

Nido Jesus Nino Orphanage
We have provided the funds for planting 50 citrus trees including Tangerines, Oranges, grapefruit, limes, lemons and pineapple plants. The six students from Kansas State University who provided the muscle, Andrew Wright, Joan Redmond, Michael Ashley, Katherine Keller, Javier Crespan and Tommy Reynolds will always be in our thoughts as the children enjoy the fruits of their labor. We also wish to Express our gratitude to Godwin Orkeh, MD of the Experimental station Vahalla for his input and oversight of this project. The average cost per plant is estimated to be $10.00 U.S. or Q80.00 Guatemalan. Anyone wishing to help purchase these and the future vegetables may send a check to "The American Legion" in the remarks section of your check please write "orphanage". Many people have offered to ship clothing and other items to Guatemala for the 25 children currently housed at the orphanage. The cost of receiving packages is truly prohibitive and the trip to Guatemala City is just as problematic.

The post maintains a separate fund solely for the needs of the orphanage that may not be used for any other purpose than the orphanage. The orphanage has a web page and is on line at:
mailto:nidojesusnino@conexion.com.gt and 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 2000 e-mail address throughput the world including the following, Afghanistan, Australia, Austria, 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 (Bold Lettering indicates a new location in that country or state)

Veterans Affairs
REUNION OF KOREAN WAR VETERANS
The 92nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion ( Red Devils) Korean War Veterans, will hold their reunion September 7th through the 9th 2003 at the settle Inn, in Branson Mo. Please contact Pete Taormina at 1011 SW 16 St. Boynton Beach, Fl 33426
Tel# 561-732-8881 e-mail mailto:taorminap@yahoo.com

Post Officers
Commander
William J. Shetz
   832-1018 / 494-1560    mailto:american_legion2@conexion.com.gt
Vice-Commander
Jerry Lightel
        mailto:Jjlgua@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
       


CARIBBEAN COAST PROPERTY FOR SALE
1-1/2 Story, 1100 sq. ft. house of the scenic Rio Dulce on Guatemala's Caribbean coast, 1/2 mile from Livingston. Boat dock with 8-foot depth. 0.42 acre - 270 foot water frontage. U. S. Style bath and kitchen, patio & veranda. Great View, $ 75,000.00, also 28' fiberglass sloop, $16,000 U.S. and Ural sidecar motorcycle) copy of a 1939 BMW), $ 6,000.00. Call Murph (In Guatemala) at 490-8931 or 201-5361 mailto:murfbill@hotmail.com

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

Entertainment and Activities
Our Socials are open to anyone who wish to attend so bring a friend to our bi-weekly dinners. This months dinners are as follows.
Wednesday August 13, 2003 we will meet 6:00 P.M. at "Papasitos Pizza" 4th Calle Oriente # 39, across the street from Jade S.A.
Wednesday August 27, 2003 we will meet 6:00 P.M. at "Weiner" Alameda Santa Lucia Portal del Comercio in the portal between 3rd and 4th Calles.

William J. Shetz
Post Commander/Editor