Welcome

Items to note...

Post and Auxilary meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:30 pm. 

The Post Hall is located at 3224 NE 12th Street (near the intersection of NE Sunset Blvd) in the Renton Highlands.  Click on the picture to the right to see a map of the Post Hall's location.

VISITORS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME!

Next Meeting:  11 March 2013

New SubPage:  Commander's Corner

Dear Fellow Legionnaires, Auxiliary Members, and Visitors -

Rumor has it that spring has sprung, but I'm still holding my breath.  There's plenty of moss on my lawn and my deck is still wet.  We'll beat these grey, drizzly days yet.  On a much more serious note, America is in the midst of recognizing our 150th anniversary of the American Civil War.  On July 1, 2, and 3 the National Park and Cemetery at Gettysburg, PA will hold all sorts of ceremonies in remembrance of that titanic struggle.  In dedicating the new national cemetery on Cemetery Hill in Gettysburg on November 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln spoke about "dedicating a portion of that battle field, as a final resting place for those who gave their lives that that nation might live.  It is altogether and proper that we should do this.  But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground.  The brave men living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add to detract."  When I see our veterans returning from those terrible struggles overseas, or watch my fellow Legionnaires performing their monthly duties for departed veterans at Tahoma National Cemetery I always go back to these words. We must always remember the sacrifices of those veterans who did not return from battle to get on with their lives.  We must always remember those veterans who DID return but find themselves unable to get on with their lives because of the physical and/or psychological struggles they continue to wrestle with.  As Memorial Day approaches in a few months, I invite you to reflect on the tremendous sacrifices of our men in blue and grey from the Civil War, while reflecting on those veterans who served in all the bloody conflicts in American history, as well as for those veterans who served honorably in peacetime.  I give my sincere thanks and special recognition for all that our veterans have done and will continue to do in organizations like American Legion Fred Hancock Post 19.  For God and Country, Rod Haynes, Commander.

March 2013

Greetings from the 11th District Chaplain-

Though we’ve had a relatively mild winter, I’m sure we’re all looking forward to the arrival of Spring just around the corner. Few events typify the anticipation of Spring more than Easter, when Christians celebrate the resurrection of Christ. It is seen as a triumphant finale of the story of his suffering death by crucifixion as a sacrifice on behalf of the human race, and as symbolic of hope for humanity. Easter is preceded by the season of Lent, a tradition among many Christians characterized by fasting and other deprivations in recognition of Christ’s sacrifice.

The American Legion, of course, is non-sectarian and made up of veterans of many faiths, not just Christians. So there are Legionnaires who do not observe Easter or Lent, and the practices of those who do vary across a wide spectrum. But all Legionnaires have a great appreciation of sacrifice. It’s something all of us have given to some extent, and some of our brothers and sisters have given in great measure, including the ultimate, on the battlefield defending our freedom as well as their fellow warriors. As scripture tells us, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (and we know that this refers to men and women).

Some of the greatest examples we have of sacrifice in response to the sacrifices of our fellow vets are the many Honor Guards we have in the 11th District that devote numerous hours to bringing dignity to them and comfort to their loved ones. We owe them a great debt of gratitude.

In recognition of sacrifice, we revere our comrades when they leave us to join the ranks of Post Everlasting, whether it be in the heat of battle or at the end of a natural life however well lived. As we have traditionally done, we will be honoring those departed comrades from the past year at our upcoming 11th District to be held at Kent Post #15, 25406-97th Place South, Kent WA, on April 21st. I request that all Posts send in their names for Post Everlasting to me, preferably by the end of March, so that I can compile the list of names to be read off. I also encourage all of you who can to attend, as there will be important information being shared. There will be a lunch at noon: Roast Beef, vegies, potatoes, roll, and desert. Contact: Janet Gunter 253-631-9415 or raygunter@msn.com for reservations. $14 if you RSVP by April 14th, after that or at the door price becomes $17.

In the meantime, feel free to contact me, your Post Chaplain or Department Chaplain Gail Porter if you need assistance with spiritual, memorial or other Chaplain-related matters.

As we say at every Legion meeting, “For God and Country”,

James P. Wilhoit
American Legion
11th District Chaplain
425-945-6093       WilhoitJP@comcast.net



Honor Guard

The Honor Guard is looking for new volunteers.  Many of our WWII Veterans are no longer able to volunteer for this duty.  Contact John King (at 425-432-0631) if you can help out for this very worthy activity.

Newsletter

The next Newsletter will coming out in early April 2013.  Copies of the December 2012 and January 2013 newsletters are available at the Post Hall.