“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

Where will you be May 29^th, 2004?

They are coming back!!!!

I wiped a tear from my eye! It was November 11, 1952. I was 9 years of age. My father had taken me to the corner of Broad St. and Susquehanna Ave. in North Philadelphia, just a few blocks from our house. There in front of me was this group of men marching by. They had what my father called “Jump Boots” on their feet, I remember the two straps with buckles. They all wore the same clothes Khaki colored pants, Belt, shirt, a blue ascot and on their heads were these chrome helmets. They also had patches with an eagle on their shoulder, my father said it was a “screaming eagle” but I couldn’t hear anything. They were carrying “old Glory” my father said. My father knew the names of every one of them and he mentioned them to me. There’s G.I. Joe, Sad Sack, Sgt. Snorkel, Willie and Joe and Kilroy, the boogie-woogie bugler boy from company B, that guy was in Tarawa and Iwo Jima, he had a different uniform and they called him a marine. Darby and his rangers, Doolittle and his raiders. The guys with the little white hats and blue pants with the flap in front they were called sailors. They were on the mighty Mo and the Franklin and the Enterprise and something about the Silent Service. Some guys had little blue-stripped patches on their shoulder and my father said something about North Africa and Sicily, Anzio and Audie Murphy. There where guys with a big number 8 on their shoulders and my father said they were Air Corps. It took hours for everybody to go past.

Well it’s 2004 now and Dad’s gone but Guess what!!! They are coming back. On May the 29^th they are all going to be in Washington. Some will be at the Mall and others at Arlington National Cemetery and others yet will be looking on from above but they all will be there. There was an estimated 16,000,000 Military members who served during World War 11 now there may be 4,000,000 still with us. Honor them, they are not referred to as the greatest generation for nothing. I won’t get to see them in person as I will be here in Guatemala but I’ll watch the television coverage and one thing I know for sure I’ll wipe a tear from my eye.

Memorial Day 2004

Guatemala Post # 2 will be joining with Guatemala Post # 1 to honor those that have gone before us. The Ceremony will be held on Sunday May 30^th in Guatemala City. Anyone wishing to Participate should contact the post as soon as possible. After the ceremony a luncheon will be held at Montano’s Steak house.

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 130 members paid up for 2004 including 23 new members placing us at 83% of our goal for 2004.Please welcome to the post Bruce E. Bouford a Korean Era Army veteran who has transferred into our post from Post from Maine post 150, George T. Mitchell a U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran who is transferring in to our post as a paid up for life member from Post 0400 in Florida and Leonard A. Neal a U.S. Air Force Korean era Veteran also a paid up for life member transferring in from post 0400 in Florida. Both George and Neal are graduates of the American Legion Extension Institute. 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”.

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-011-502-832-1018---- american_legion2@conexion.com.gt

Vice-Commander--Jerry Lightel-----011-502-832-5289---- jjlgua@yahoo.com

Service Officer-----Milo Vukovich--011-502-831-0609---- mvuko68@aol.com

Judge Advocate----Jerry Williams---011-502-832-3555---- hjwnofun@conexion.com.gt

Sergeant-at-arms---James Gibbs-----011-502-832-3629---- ochodemarzo75@hotmail.com

Antigua, Guatemala looking south from cerro de la cruz towards Volcano Fuego

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 have some local tours planned for those not attending the meetings including a tour of the Mayan Indian village of San Antonio Aguas Calientes with a demonstration of their back strap loom weaving which will take place on Friday June 11^th at 10:00a.m. the tour will also include a lunch and return at 2:30p.m.

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

4^th Avenida Sur # 28 (between 8^th and 9^th Calles)

Next door to the Hotel San Jorge

The library is open 7 days a week, from 11:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. Sunday through Friday, with extended hours on Saturday of 9:00a.m. till 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 50 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. A special thank you to Jane Binaris for her kind donation of books this month.

Nido Jesus Nino Orphanage

The Sisters continue to express their gratitude to our members and friends for their wonderful generosity. For over five years we have donated milk, clothing, computers, vehicles and that all important commodity cash. The real gratitude of course goes to the two Nuns who have dedicated their lives so that these children have a happy and warm family atmosphere in which they thrive.

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.

HOUSE FOR RENT

Fully Furnished 2 Bedroom 1 & 1/2 bath out door hot tub off street parking fully equipped kitchen

Contact Leslie @ 619-7170 or Scott @ 903-6075

Our Policy in regard to e-mail and the net

Guatemala Post # 2 does not send attachments; all of our e-mail is “embodied”. We do not forward jokes or political information. The American Legion Guatemala Post # 2 is not a forum for anyone’s political or religious views. Our membership is made up of members of every possible religion and all political parties. We respect those differences and support their adherence to their beliefs.

Entertainment and Activities

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. May, 2004 at El Punto 7^th Avenida Norte between 4^th and 3^rd Calle.

Wednesday 6:00 P.M. May 26, 2004 Papasito’s Pizza 4^th Calle Oriente .

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