“STILL SERVING”

Master Sergeant Mario Enrique Gonzales Acker

Guatemala Post # 2

Antigua Guatemala

Founded July 19, 1997

Meetings 1^st 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

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 125 members paid up for 2004 including 22 new members placing us at 80% of our goal for 2004. Please welcome to the post Ernest J. Lenz a U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran from Austin Texas a Robert R. Ashley a U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran from Savannah Ga. 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”.

POST ELECTIONS

APRIL 6, 2004

As Guatemala Post # 2 approaches it 7^th anniversary and another milestone in membership the workload increases. There are many members whose talent and experience would be beneficial to the post, its members and the general veteran population of Latin America as well. Why not take the time to be more involved in the operation of the post and it’s many community services. The following positions will be up for election at our April 6^th meeting.

Post Commander Post Vice Commander Post Adjutant/Finance Officer

Post Service Officer Post Sergeant at Arms Post Judge Advocate Post Chaplain

Post Historian

ANY member in good standing (dues paid up for 2004, and must be able to attend meetings) is eligible to be on the ballot and all members interested in being on the ballot should contact the Post Judge Advocate Jerry Williams at 495-4463.

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--------831-0609---- mvuko68@aol.com

Judge Advocate-------Jerry Williams---------832-3555---- hjwnofun@conexion.com.gt

Sergeant-at-Arms-----Milo Vukovich--------831-0609---- mvuko68@aol.com

Historian---------------Jim Gibbs--------------215-9006-----ochodemarcho@intelnett.net

Chaplain----------------Jaime Ludowese------

The Department of Mexico 85^th 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 6^th to the 13^th of June to visit “The Land of Eternal Spring”.

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.

The Stephen Skelton Memorial Library

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. We wish thank Bob Ashley for his generous donation to the library this month.

The Grand Tour

El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica and Panama we thank you all!!!

Mark Walker, Department of Mexico Commander, William Shetz, Department of Mexico 2nd Vice-Commander Toured all of the Central American posts. What a great bunch of people!!! Our first stop going south was Golfito Costa Rica and the great hospitality of Steve Silverman, Pat O’Connell and Charles Band. Golfito is a little bit of paradise on the Pacific Coast with bill fishing and world cruising sailboats sitting at anchor. The Banana Bay Yacht Club provides a great plate fried shrimp for about$9.00 U.S. Next stop Panama City and Panama Canal Post # 2. Ed Bradley and Carl “Andy” Anderson between their activities with the American Legion and the VFW there is very little else a veteran in Panama needs more than the two of them. The Hospital National of Panama City and the veterans living in Panama have formed a partnership that should be the model throughout Latin America. The San Jose Costa Rica area is the home of two posts, San Jose Post CR-10 with Chuck Turner and the famous Ed Ives (famous for his great hospitality and local knowledge) and Heredia Post CR-16 with Howard Singer and Kenneth Johnson. Chuck is trying to find a new post home and increase membership while Howard and Kenneth are helping provide benefits to retired military throughout Latin America. San Jose is a rather large and busy city whereas our next stop Granada Nicaragua has a relaxed and comfortable small town atmosphere. In Granada we visited with Leonel Poveda, Fredrick Belland and the membership of Post NI-01. We enjoyed a boat trip to a resort island where we enjoyed a no host lunch and discussed membership and growth. The Polo club was a highlight where we met most of the membership and discussed the upcoming convention in Antigua. Roberto Urbina was our next host in San Salvador, El Salvador. Roberto and Paul Barre’ were our hosts as we attended an international air show. The United States Air Force provided 2 warthog A10’s and flew a demonstration flight that was quite impressive. San Salvador is a modern and exciting city with sidewalk café’s and great restaurants and should not be missed on your next trip. The purpose of the trip is to contact with those veterans living in the countries we visited and to let them know about programs available through the American Legion. We will be getting them books for the American Legion Extension Institute so that they may have a better understanding of where the American Legion came from and more importantly where we are going. The hospitality was outstanding as was the warmth and friendliness. We are looking forward to seeing everyone in Antigua the 6^th through the 13^th of June for the Department convention.

Nido Jesus Nino Orphanage

A delegation consisting of Department Commander Mark Walker, 1^st Vice Commander William Brandt, 2^nd Vice Commander William Shetz and Sergeant at Arms Arthur Herbruger where given a tour of the nearly completed new dormitory that will house an additional 50 children upon completion. What a wonderful home of caring and love these two sisters have created. Just seeing the smiles on the children’s faces tells the whole story.

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.

Entertainment and Activities

“Basket Show”

A tisket, A tasket, come to see a basket (really a big pile of them)

When? March 6 – 10

Hours? 11 AM – 3 PM

Where? Casa Del Sol 2a Avenida Norte # 13 Antigua

See you there !!!!!

Our socials are open to all who wish to attend so bring a friend to our twice-monthly dinners and our weekly Sunday breakfasts. This months dinners are as follows.

Wednesday 6:00 P.M. March 10, 2004 at “Martedino’s” 6^th Avenida Norte between 3^rd and 4^th Calle opposite the Campania de Jesus

Wednesday 6:00 P.M. March 24, 2004 The Café Flor 4^th avenida sur #1

Sunday breakfasts are spontaneous as to the location, call 494-1560 at 8:00a.m.

William J. Shetz /Editor, post Commander / Department of Mexico 2^nd vice Commander, Chef de Gare Voiture Local #1624