Summary of 91St Department Convention of New Hampshire

Summary of 91st Department Convention of New Hampshire

We sent one delegate at large and 3 delegates, Carol Maynard, Diana Thomas, Bridget Ivey, and Joyce Murnane to convention. We also had three guests attend: Heidi Brown and Anne Willette and Carol Rogers

We really owe these three girls a big thank you for all their help throughout the weekend.

During the Executive Board meeting on Thursday it was voted that the wave hats can only be worn at unit activities. Department and District require the Scotty hats to be worn or no hat.

Epping received one award for our Child & Youth report on the district level and also one award on the Department level for the same report. We will have the plaques engraved with our unit and the year and they will soon be hanging in the canteen.

Epping also received a plaque for the best Poppy Centerpiece that was made by Bridget and Joyce and was displayed on the head table at the Convention banquet. The award plaque for the center piece will also be engraved and displayed.

We have asked Ken Maynard to take all three plaques to Portsmouth to be engraved for us and he will give us a receipt for the cost so Cheryl can reimburse him.

Post 51 Auxiliary also received a certificate for over 100% membership.

Bridget Ivey was elected as District 3 Director and Joyce Murnane and Alternate Director.

Joyce is chairperson of the Legislative Committee.

Carol Maynard is Chairman of the Auxiliary Emergency Fund and 2nd member of the Veterans Assistance and Rehabilitation committee.

Carol Maynard received an appointment as Alternate Delegate to National Convention in Minneapolis.

In short, we attended meetings all day Friday and Saturday and attended the banquet Saturday night.

Bridget and Joyce also marched in the parade on Sunday afternoon.

All in all Epping Unit 51 has reason to be very proud of our accomplishments.

Respectfully submitted by,

Carol Maynard, Secretary

Congratulations to our Auxiliary. Job Well Done!

Around the Department

Monday’sBingo every Monday at the Raymond VFW - Hosted by Post 90 39 Main StreetRaymond, NH Doors open at 5:00pmEarly Bird begins at 6:00pm

Thursday’sBingo every Thursday - Hosted by Post 1 849 North MainStreet Laconia, NH Doors open at 4:30pm Games begin at 6:30pm

Friday’sMeat Raffle every other Friday from September 10, 2010 toApril 29, 2011 Hosted by Post 13 3 River Street Greenville,NH. Games begin at 7:00pm till last prize is drawn

2nd SundayPost 51 Epping Monthly Breakfast every second Sunday 9:00am to 11:00am $6.00 for adults. Buffett Breakfastincludes, eggs to order, toast, juice, bacon, sausage (links / patties), French toast sticks, home fries, Juice, Milk, and Coffee. If you go away hungry....it's your own fault!!!! Hopeto see you there.

Last SundayMade to order Breakfast from September 26, 2010 to April 24, 2011 Hosted by Post 13 SAL 3 River Street Greenville, NH 7:30am to 10:00am $5.00pp

July 10Sunday, Inter-post Activities: Horseshoes @ Post 22 Lebanon

July 13Wednesday, District 4,Manchester,VA Bingo Sponsored by Post 100 Pelham 7:00pm

August 10Wednesday, District 4 ManchesterVA Bingo Sponsored by Post 79 Manchester 7:00pm

October 16Sunday, Inter-post Activities: Soft Tip Darts, Post 33 Meredith

American Legion National News

13 U.S. sailors remain buried in Libya

A House of Representatives amendment that supports bringing home the remains of U.S. Navy heroes from Libya has no counterpart in the Senate's version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal 2012.

While the Senate Armed Services Committee chose not to address the issue, the House passed an amendment (H.R. 1497) on May 26, directing the Secretary of Defense to take whatever steps necessary to "exhume and transfer the remains of certain deceased members of the Armed Forces buried in Tripoli, Libya...."

Those "deceased members" died on Sept. 4, 1804, in the harbor of Tripoli when an explosive-packed ship they crewed, the Intrepid, blew up prematurely and killed all 13 men on board, led by Master Commandant Richard Somers and his second-in-command, Lt. Henry Wadsworth (uncle of the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow).

The sailors' remains were discovered onshore the next day, abused by the enemy and partially devoured by a pack of stray dogs before Capt. William Bainbridge and other Navy prisoners in Tripoli were allowed to bury Somers and his men.

More than two centuries later, those American heroes lie buried in a hostile land.

The American Legion's National Executive Committee passed a resolution in May that urges "the President and the Congress to support legislation and policies that will use all reasonable resources to achieve the fullest possible accounting of all missing American service members, regardless of location or era of loss."

Tim Tetz, the Legion's Legislative director, wrote a May 24 letter to House Speaker John Boehner, asking for his support of H.R. 1497, authored by Reps. Mike Rogers of Michigan and Frank LoBiondo of New Jersey.

"There, within a forgotten cemetery, lie the remains of an American naval hero, Master Commandant Richard Somers, whose legacy inspires those still serving in the Navy," Tetz wrote. "There lie remains that family members have pled to have returned to the United States.

"It is therefore the opportunity and - more importantly - duty of Congress to direct that we recover the remains of those Americans within Tripoli.... The time has come to bring our heroes home."

Michael Caputo has been lobbying on behalf of the Somers Point community to get the Intrepid crew's remains back to America. "They aren't lying in a Normandy-style hallowed ground. Some are in a ratty, unkempt cemetery and others lie jumbled together underneath Green Square," where Col. Muammar Qaddafi and his government hold public rallies.

"These men didn't get an honorable burial; they were dragged through the streets, fed to wild dogs and dumped in mass graves," Caputo said. "But the most important reason to bring them back is because their families have wanted them home for more than 200 years." Caputo is a member of American Legion Post 362 in East Aurora, N.Y.

Jack Glasser, mayor of Somers Point, N.J. (founded by the naval hero's ancestors) is part of an ongoing local effort to retrieve the remains of the Intrepid crew.

"As a veteran, I can't understand why they're still there," Glasser said. "For the life of me, I cannot understand why we've left them there for 206 years in Libya. It's time to bring them home." Glasser retired from the New Jersey Air National Guard with 20 years of service.

Although Somers has had six U.S. Navy ships named after him, and a monument honoring him and his crew stands at the U.S. Naval Academy, the United States has never reclaimed the Intrepid crew's remains from Libya.

Sally Hastings, president of the Somers Point Historical Society and Museum, said historical documents indicate family members tried to get Somers' remains back to America in the early 1800s.

"Two centuries later, the story of Richard Somers and the crew of the Intrepidare not complete," Hasting said. "There is more to come. Ultimately, the Somers Point Historical Society will be the organization that plans any local burial of Richard Somers, with the assistance of the city and - I would hope - veterans groups."

Hastings and her organization have taken a leading role in building support for their cause, raising funds for a monument to Somers, and planning the ceremony for its eventual dedication at Somers Point.

"Any service member killed in the line of duty deserves to come home," said Barry Searle, director of the Legion's National Security/Foreign Relations Division. "First, it is important for family members to have their loved ones properly buried in an environment that isn't hostile.

"But bringing Somers and his men back home is also a matter of national honor and trust. By making this effort, we are telling future generations that the United States stands by its commitment to those who serve in uniform."

As for an amendment of support being excluded from the Senate's version of the NDAA, Tetz said The American Legion will still have the opportunity to press for its inclusion on the Senate floor. "And we fully intend to do that if need be."

Note: “For those of you receiving the Post 51 Newsletter on line, feel free to click the links below for more information.

To help with efforts to repatriate the remains of Somers and the Intrepid crew,click here and sign the petition. To learn more about Somers and the Intrepid's mission,click here.

Legion wants VA to manage Arlington

The American Legion - June 23, 2011

Photo by Craig Roberts

The American Legion is strongly urging Congress to turn over management of troubled ArlingtonNationalCemetery to the National Cemeteries Administration (NCA), a branch of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Arlington, along with the cemetery at the Soldiers' and Airmen's Home in Washington, currently is administered by the U.S. Army.

The Legion made its appeal in written testimony submitted to a House Veterans Affairs subcommittee hearing on June 23, in which members of Congress were updated on efforts to correct problems caused by mismanagement at the cemetery.

Legion testimony recalled the Arlington scandal, first reported on by Washington-based investigative reporter Mark Benjamin in 2009. "America learned of mislabeled remains, and bodies buried in the wrong locations," the Legion said, "...perhaps in 6,000 locations or more. Cemetery staff, when questioned by incoming management regarding standard procedure manuals for burials and plot alignment, admitted that no such written records existed, and work had been handed down by word of mouth. Electronic records did not exist (and) information was stored on index cards as if the nation's most prominent military cemetery was a 1950's muffler shop."

A year ago, the Obama administration appointed new management at the Army's two cemeteries, as Kathryn Condon became executive director of the Army National Cemeteries Program. According to its testimony, the Legion has been pleased with her tenure. "Director Condon and her team have been tireless and honest, sometimes brutally so, in the pursuit of righting this sinking ship. The American Legion applauds Director Condon for her forthright efforts to correct these errors."Despite this, the Legion is urging Congress to remove Arlington and the Soldiers' and Airmen's Home cemetery from the Army's purview and place them in the hands of the NCA.

"The DOD has one critical mission: to prepare for and execute the war fighting necessary for this nation's defense," the Legion said. "Sidelining resources of money and staff to non-war fighting tasks degrades efficiency within DOD. NCA is already managing 131 cemeteries and doing it well."

The Legion believes the Army still has a vital role to play at Arlington. "Nobody questions the performance of the Army in the ceremonial tasks and duties they have always performed, and performed with distinction," the testimony read. "The American Legion believes the responsibilities of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment,

traditionally known as ‘The Old Guard', which include conducting military ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, manning the 24-hour vigil at the Tomb of the Unknowns, and being the provider of military funeral escorts at Arlington, should never change as a result of any reorganization associated with Arlington National Cemetery."

R.A. Mitchell Swap Shop: All entries are posted on a month to month basis. If you have an AD that needs to run longer please specify the end date of the ad. Policies/Rules: No Weapons or Firearms. All entries must have a contact name and phone number. Pictures supplied with Ads will be reduced to a reasonable size as necessary to fit the format of the newsletter. American Legion Post 51 and the editors of the R.A. Mitchell Post 51 Flyer are not responsible for misrepresented Ads or buyer/seller disputes.

Free for the taking

FREE if you come and get it: GE Heavy Duty Super Capacity Clothes Washer. 5 years old. Needs new water level switch. Call Paul to arrange pick up time. 603-895-2310

Fish tank stuff. Not shown is about 10 pounds of gravel under gravel filter, and piggy back filter. Shown above are an automatic feeder, whisper pump, plants, rocks, and tubing enough for a 35 gallon tank. Looking to make this stuff go away! Call Eric @ 603-498-7833

Free, take it away, chest of drawers. Made of poplar or hard wood, this chest is in good condition. Will drop off to local addresses. Call Eric @ 603-498-7833

Free for the taking Vintage U.S. Army canteen with canvas case and duty belt clip. Needs cleaning in and out but overall is in good condition. Call Eric @ 603-498-7833

For Sale General

For Sale: Coleman Drip Coffee maker. This coffee maker is designed for Coleman type stoves. Never used and is brand new in box. Coffee maker has been in storage in my cellar. $20.00 Call Eric @ 603-498-7833.

For Sale: Adult, Black, Martial Arts pads. A spare set I had for Mixed Martial Arts. This set includes foot, hand, head pads, punch/kick target, mesh bag, and new mouth guard. $25.00 Call Eric @ 603-498-7833

1 Pair of Bauer boys skates. Used about ½ dozen times. The skates come with blade guards. Skates are in super condition and look nearly brand new. There is no size on them, but I believe they may be somewhere in the neighborhood of size 6 1/2. $10.00

Vintage Boy Scouts of America canvas “The Overnighter” Pup tent. I have the stakes for this tent but the ridge pole is long gone. A new one is easily fashioned. This is a late 60’s early 70’s model, I believe. Will donate to a local Scout Troop or will sell for $10.00. Eric 603-498-7833.

Vintage Boy Scouts of America canvas back pack. Everything is original and in good condition. Leather straps could use some cleaning and saddle soap. Great collector’s item. This is a late 60’s early 70’s model, I believe. Will donate to a local Scout Troop or will sell for $10.00. Eric 603-498-7833.

Blue porcelain coated percolating coffee maker with two matching cups. Brand new. $5.00Eric 603-498-7833

Make an offer

Two solid brass candle sconces. About 12” high, accepts standard tapers. These sconces are ornate and in excellent condition. Make an Offer, Eric 603-498-7833

Fluted plaster column / pedestal. This column is a short replica of a Greek column and makes a great plant stand or a display pedestal. Make an offer, Eric 603-498-7833

Antique Queen bed frame, Maple in good solid condition. Some hardware may need to be tightened. Shows normal wear for a 100 year old piece of furniture but is in good overall condition. Will deliver to local addresses. Eric 603-498-7833