Newsletter # 77
January 6, 2004
THE AMERICAN
LEGION
“STILL SERVING”
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
Membership
Brieden's Rangers
National Commanders Membership Incentive
Program
For every five new members you sign up
you receive one Brieden's ranger hatpin. You can down load a copy of the form
at the American Legion National web page at www.legion.org
or simply send your name, street address or Po Box, city state and zip code,
membership Number, Department and post number. List the 5 members you have
signed up by name and address. E-mail the information to ccthompson@legion.org and upon verification with your Department
adjutant, a Brieden’s rangers cap pin will be winging its way to you. We are
working on our fifth, how are about you????
We
currently have 119 members paid up for 2004 including 20 new members placing us
at 76% of our goal for 2004. Please welcome
to the post Leo A. Dutilly Jr. a
U.S. Army Viet-Nam era veteran from Moab Utah, Michael G. Jolin a U.S. Army Viet-Nam era veteran from
Marathon Fl., and Gordon Guy Cappelletty ll
a U.S. Air Force Viet-Nam era veteran from Claremont NC. Please make out all
dues checks for 2004 in the amount of $20.00 (we keep as low as possible so 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”.
They
are out there
Imagine the results, if
each member of the American Legion signed up just one member in this year!!! We
would grow from 2.8 million strong to 5.6 million strong, That’s the results.
Heading
South
El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama, here we come!!!
Mark Walker, Department of
Mexico Commander, William Shetz,
Department of Mexico Vice-Commander will be leaving the 16th of January for a
16 day trip to Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and El Salvador. The purpose of
the trip is to contact with those veterans living in the countries we will be
visiting and to visit with members of Post PC-02, Cr-10, Cr-12, Cr-16, NI-01,
and ES-01.
The
Department of Mexico 85th Annual Convention 2004
Information packets for the convention have been distributed
to each post in the Department and more are available from Guatemala Post # 2.
Please reserve the week of 6th to the 13th of June to
visit “The Land of Eternal Spring”. Mr. Mark
Walker Department Commander has delivered over 30 information
packets including a CD rom and other
tourist information about Guatemala to National Headquarters and the Department
Executive Committee meeting in Mexico City held Tuesday the 14th of
October. Thanks Mark!!
We are currently in the process of talking to tourist agents
and hotel owners trying to negotiate the best possible prices for hotel rooms,
tours and airport transportation for anyone intending to come to the convention.
There are an ample number of web sites on the net that offer information about
Antigua Guatemala. Just type in Guatemala or Antigua Guatemala in your search
engine and up it will come. Anyone wishing further information need only send
an e-mail to the post at American_legion2@conexion.com.gt
and we will respond personally. We thank those who have already responded and
look forward to meeting everyone in June.
Dr.
George H. Boyce Memorial Scholarship Program
It’s that time of the year
again schools out and we will be signing the children up for the next semester
that begins in January. Shelby and Marina will be purchasing the necessary
school supplies anyone who wishes to volunteer their time or car will be warmly
received. For this program we collect donations over the year and when we reach
the magic number of $2400.00 U.S. we then have enough funds for 8 years of
education. We have been able to enter 12 children in the past 6 years and
hopefully through generous benefactors we will continue to place children who
otherwise would be field hands in this coffee growing country. The price of
coffee has fallen through the floor and many people are unemployed in
Guatemala. Anyone wishing to donate to this project please make your check out to “The American Legion” and in the
remarks section write “scholarship program”. Our appreciation extends to
everyone who has contributed to this worthwhile project. This month a special
thank you to William Harris for
his generous contribution.
The
Stephen Skelton Memorial Library
Of
The
American Legion, Guatemala Post # 2
The library is open 7 days a week from 11:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. With
extended hours on Saturday of 9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. The staff is totally made up
of volunteers from the community and we appreciate their wonderful work. As
more volunteers come aboard we will be extending the daily hours to accommodate
those people wishing to use the library. We currently have over 40 videos as
well as over 7,000 books 1,000 of which are in the Spanish Language. Annual
membership is currently available at $10.00 for an individual and $15.00 for
families. Give yourself a test and try to read our collection of the Harry
Potter series in Spanish. Jaime has organized a Latin America history section
that will educate us all to on our adopted surroundings.
Nido
Jesus Nino Orphanage
Just north of the West Virginia border on the Monongahela River
sits the famous town Point Marion,
Pennsylvania. What’s makes this town famous you say? How about the Wednesday
muster crew of the American Legion Post 499.
Namely Bob Abraham, Terry O’Neil, Gary Reynolds and George
Torbish. These gentlemen have once again come through with a
generous donation to the orphanage fund. We also wish to express our gratitude
to Lic. Ernesto Falla S. whose
continued donations and goodwill has meant so much to the children. Last week a
delegation from the post was present for the dedication of the new chapel on
the orphanage grounds. We are especially grateful to Cardinal Rodolpho Quezada Toruño Metropolitan Archbisop of
Santiago de Guatemala who officiated at the dedication ceremony.
Many people have offered to ship clothing and other items to
Guatemala for the 23 children currently housed at the orphanage. The cost of
receiving such 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. The orphanage has a
web site at http://www.casadeangeles.org . e-mail may be
sent to nidojesusnino@conexion.com.gt the sisters
only speak Spanish.
Guatemala
Post # 2 Officers
Each one of our elected
officers has taken the position to serve veterans and the community please feel
free to call upon them whenever you feel the necessity.
Commander-----------William
J. Shetz-------832-1018---- american_legion2@conexion.com.gt
Vice-Commander-----Jerry
Lightel-----------832-5289---- jjlgua@yahoo.com
Service Officer--------Milo
Vukovich--------831-0374---- mvuko68@aol.com
Judge Advocate-------Jerry
Williams---------832-3555---- hjwnofun@conexion.com.gt
Sergeant-at-Arms-----Milo
Vukovich--------831-0374---- mvuko68@aol.com
Historian---------------Jim
Gibbs--------------215-9006-----ochodemarcho@intelnett.net
Chaplain----------------Jaime
Ludowese------
A
very Special Thank you to John Barr
who after just returning from kosivo with the 1st Inf. Div. found it
a priority to contribute to our post projects. Thanks John!!!
House
for Rent
2
bedroom furnished house, with cable for rent in Chipalapa reduced rates for
long term lease. Contact Leslie at 410-0372 for information
Entertainment
and Activities
Our socials are open to
anyone who wish to attend so bring a friend to our twice-monthly dinners. This
months dinners are as follows.
Wednesday 6:00 P.M. January
14, 2004 at the Steak House Escobar 6th Avenida between 3rd
and 4th Calles opposite the Compania de Jesus.
Wednesday 6:00 P.M. January
28, 2004 The Restaurante Pavessi located behind the Cathederal on 4th
Avenida between 4th and 5th Calles .
William J. Shetz /Editor, post Commander / Department of Mexico 2nd
vice Commander/Chef de Gare
Voiture Local # 1624