DECEMBER
We decided to have our Christmas party in conjunction with the first Friday dinner. The Auxiliary donated the ham and everybody brought a dish. The Auxiliary did a very nice job of decorating the main hall and took full advantage of all the shelves that the sound absorbers provided. We had much better participation for this event and lots and lots of great food. We were even surprised when we got there and realized that Walt had decided to play and sing some Christmas songs for us while we ate. Thanks Walt that was a real treat.
Diana outdid herself baking deserts again
We did a pretty nice job of filling up the main hall and had some people eating in the Lounge as well.
There’s Walt playing the guitar and harmonica at the same time.
NOVEMBER
Ron Namest thought we needed a bigger TV in the Lounge, so he donated a very nice Samsung. We were able to install it just before the Chili Cook-Off, so we had big TVs going in the Lounge and the Main Hall during the Chili eating festivities.
But before the Chili cook-off was Veteran’s Day and the Graham Veteran’s Parade the Saturday before. We had 4 trucks in the parade and a pretty good representation of members to ride in the trucks.
And since we were really near the front of the parade this year, the Alamance County Sheriff was right behind us and we all got to meet him and got a picture with him that was later included on the Sheriff’s Facebook page.
You will see with the first picture that Ron availed himself of the county run special bus for the parade participants from the middle school to the beginning of the parade.
Here’s Ron being helped off the bus by Bill.
Donnie’s Truck
That’s Ed and Donnie leaning against the truck. Dave is looking at his truck.
Dave’s Truck
There’s Donnie, Dave and Ron.
Rodney’s Truck
The two Rons and Bobby are in the front and Rodney is getting something out of the back seat.
Bill’s Truck
You can see the Sheriff’s lead car directly behind Bill’s truck.
Bill imbibes in a cup of coffee while we wait for the parade to get started.
I guess he didn’t get the memo that everyone is supposed to look away while I’m taking pictures.
We are still waiting for the parade to start.
It was a really long wait for the parade to start.
This is the only picture anyone got with our whole group. No the Sheriff is not a member of Post 63, but he’s already campaigning for next year’s election.
The Chili cook-off was the next day. A little subdued compared to last year, but still a very nice time with lots of good food and good member participation. We had 2 TVs going with games on, and 6 chili entries. We also had several different corn breads and several different deserts. I think everybody got plenty to eat.
The winners from the cook-off.
L – R: Toni first place, Kyle second place, Kathleen third place.
Kyle’s place of employment, “Merritts Grill” in Chapel Hill donated a $30 and a $15 gift card for the first and second place winners, so that was a nice addition to the prize money chips that were given to the winners (3 chips for first place, 2 chips for second place, and 1 chip for third place). Since Kyle won second place, he gave his gift card to Kathleen
OCTOBER
The furniture committee purchased a new sofa, chair, desk, and 2 end tables for the foyer.
Here are some pictures.
We held a Trunk or Treat on the last weekend of October for the local families. The Trunk or Treat was a real success. Our members donated candy all through the month so there was plenty to give out to the kids that came out, and this year we had 6 cars that were decorated for the event.
Here are some pictures.
Of course we had a Best Trunk Decorations judging.
#1 – Lorie
#2 – Christina
#3 – Tom Leamey
SEPTEMBER
During the September board meeting Dave announced that we should change the furniture in the Foyer and set up a committee to purchase the new furniture.
The old furniture will be donated to someone who needs it.
The whole renovation included new light fixtures, new HVAC diffusers, new receptacles and switches, and removal of the smoke eaters.
Here are a couple pictures of the completed Main Hall project.
AUGUST
Our next work project is painting the main hall. We have tentatively scheduled that to begin on 20 August. We have some preparations to do before we can paint, so that will have to be started soon.
First though, Rodney and I finished installing the parking lot bumpers in the handicapped spaces.
We had a very good crew that worked on painting the main hall and were able to get all the painting done in two days. That was a real surprise that it went so fast.
Here are some pictures of the painting crew.
As you can see, we had a lot of help from Home Depot employees who volunteered their own time to come over and help paint. They really did a great job and a lot of work. Without their help it would have taken us several days more to complete the painting.
Here’s a list of the folks from Home Depot that came over to help us.
Mary K. Jenney M.
Kristi B. Tyrone B.
Morgan B. Janebah P.
Bob K. Joseph A.
Bernadette K. Tommy A.
Chuck S. Tienette C.
I also want to thank Home Depot for their contributions to our Post. The Home Depot Foundation of helping veteran’s organizations has again enabled our Post to do renovations that we could not have afforded to do on our own. Home Depot donated all the materials including the paint, rollers and handles, drop clothes, paint brushes, scaffolding, light fixtures, HVAC diffusers, receptacles and plates, and electrical switches and plates.
JULY
We dispensed with a July meeting in favor of a picnic on the 4th. Lots of Post, Auxiliary and SAL members and families came out to celebrate Independence Day and enjoy a nice meal with friends and family. We were in the main hall to beat the heat of the outside.
The Auxiliary did an exemplary job of decorating the main hall and getting all the food on the table. Andy did most of the cooking of the hamburgers and hot dogs, of course with several “helpers” out there with him. Diana made a boat load of desserts, including a home made marsh mellow and chocolate pop on a stick that was wonderful, and we had several other desserts (I couldn’t tell who made what), as you’ll see in the picture.
During his greetings, Dave announced that Home Depot has approved their donation to our main hall painting project, and we already have the gift cards in hand. So we will be planning the beginning of that project very soon.
We drew the 6 raffle ticket winners. We sold most of the 700 tickets, and brought in a total of nearly $11,000.00. But I don’t remember how much all the prizes cost. So we’ll get a final result during the July Board meeting.
Here are the winners:
Robert C. – Henry 4.10
Carlos C. – Colt 1911
Bob G.- Colt AR-15
Darryl Van F. – Lowe’s gift card
Issac R. – Home Depot gift card
Andy W. – Home Depot gift card
Huddle F. – Beach gift package
Danny H. – Dinner/movie passes
The Post provided hamburgers, hotdogs and soft drinks. Everyone brought a side dish or desert.
Dave is greeting everyone
Since the parking lot has been resealed, Dave thought it might be nice to have some parking stops at the end of the parking spaces, so people don’t park on the grass in the future. So he ordered them and we had a couple work details to install them.
Here’s the parking lot after Pot Holes USA resealed, striped and painted in the Handicap signs. They really did a nice job.
Who knew that Dave could swing a hammer?
Bobby is leaning on the electric hammer
We had all but the three stops for the Handicap parking spots. We’ll get them on our next work project.
At the end of our fiscal year, I thought it fitting to recognize the Legionnaires that have passed this year. I’m sorry to say there are several that passed earlier and we didn’t know about them, so I have included their information at this time.
1. Steven Keith Hunter, Passed on 22 January 2023, 68 Years old, Air Force, Vietnam War era, 21 Years of Legion membership.
2. Colin Jeffries, Passed on 7 July 2023, 78 Years old, Air Force, Vietnam War, 8 Years of Legion membership.
3. Wilbert Baxter (Bob) Harkey, Passed on 6 March 2024, 91, Navy, Korean War era, 58 Years of Legion membership.
4. Dale Edwin Wolfe, Passed on 7 August 2024, 83 Years old, Air Force, Vietnam War era, 1 year of Legion membership.
5. James Glenn Blake, Passed on 12 July 2024, 70, Navy, Lebanon/Grenada, PUFL, 25 years of Legion membership.
6. Roger Dale Stutts, Passed on 27 July 2024, 77, Army, Vietnam, 12 years of Legion membership.
7. Roger Felt Whaley Sr., Passed on 30 July 2024, 82, Army, Vietnam, 20 years of Legion membership.
8. Winford Eugene Rainey, passed on 31 August 2024. 89 years old, Army, Korean War, 28 years of Legion membership.
9. Vincent “Kurt” Larkin, Passed on 27 September 2024, 81 years old, Air Force, Vietnam Era, 6 years of Legion membership.
10. Robert Bruce Hubbard, Passed on 30 October 2024, 95 years old, Army, Korean War, 27 years of Legion membership.
11. Elmo Oscar Hatley, Passed on 10 December 2024, 103 years old, Army Air Corp., WW2, 46 years of Legion membership.
12. George Amash, Passed on 16 December 2024, 74 years old, Army, Vietnam War, 42 years of Legion membership.
13. Glen W. Anderson, Passed on 4 February 2025, 89 Years old, Vietnam War era, 19 years of Legion membership.
14. Robert Ockenhouse, Passed on 24 February 2025, 97, Marines, WW2, 7 Years of Legion membership.
15. James Bean, Passed on 17 March, 2025, 87, USAF, Vietnam, 18 Years of Legion membership.
16. Thomas Edward Ragan, Passed on 7 April 2025, 90, Air Force, Korea, 12 years of Legion membership.
17. Richard Arnold Dickerson, Passed on 3 April 2025, 91, Army, Korean War, 41 years of Legion membership.
18. Darrell Braxton Holmes, Passed on 15 April 2025, 90, Army, Korean War, 23 years of Legion membership.
19. Charles Maye, Passed on 2 May, Amy, Vietnam Era, 10 years of Legion membership.
JUNE
We had a very quick June meeting so we could have the installation of our 2026 officers.
District Commander Charles Johnson presided for our officer swearing in ceremony.
Our 2026 officers are listed from L to R.
Commander = Dave Beckley
1st Vice Commander = Rodney Smith
Adjutant = Chuck Gantos
Finance Officer = Gene Yax
Chaplain = Jim King
Historian = Lou Popowsky
Sgt at Arms = Donnie Williams
Parliamentarian = Kathleen Yax
Director 1 = Claude Campbell
Director 2 = Ron Sapp
Director 3 = Bill Ford
On Flag Day (14 June) we had a Flag Retirement Ceremony.
Our Post in conjunction with Girl Scout Troop 13012 held the ceremony at our Flag burn pit that had been provided by Girl Scout Troop 13012 last year. The weather was sunny, hot and dry and perfect for a Flag Retirement Ceremony.
The following were the participants:
Acting Commander for the ceremony was Ron Allred
1st Vice Commander – Rodney Smith
Second Vice Commander – Bobby Gerstenmaier
Chaplain – Jim King
Sgt at Arms – Donnie Williams
Bugler – Dave VanWormer
Fire Detail – Ron Namest, Lloyd Dosser
The ceremony went very smoothly and professionally. After the ceremony most of us went back to the Lounge to cool off and relax before heading home.
Here are some pictures from the ceremony.
Standard procedure is to fold the flags that are to be retired before the ceremony.
The Girl Scouts and their leaders came in early to fold the flags and were helped by Rodney, Jim and Carl.
Ron and Lloyd started the fire and kept it going during the ceremony
Linda read a poem before the ceremony started.
“Your Flag and My Flag” by Wilber Dick Nesbit
Your Flag and my Flag, and how it flies today
in your land and my land – and half a world away!
Rose red and blood red – The stripes forever gleam,
snow white and soul white – The Forefathers dream,
sky blue and true blue, with stars to gleam alright
the gloried guidon of the day, a shelter thru the night.
Your Flag and my Flag – to every star and stripe
the drums beat as hearts beat – and fifers shrilly pipe,
your Flag and my Flag – a blessing in the sky,
your hope and my hope – it never hid a lie
home land and far land and half the world around,
Old Glory hears our glad salute and ripples to the sound.
Your Flag and my Flag! and, oh, how much it holds –
your land and my land – secure within its folds!
Your heart and my heart – beat quicker at the sight,
sun-kissed and wind tossed – red and blue and white
the one Flag – the great Flag – the Flag for me and you
glorified all else besides – the red, white, and blue.
The Girl Scouts are lined up and ready to present the first set of flags to the Second Vice Commander for inspection.
After inspection the Second Vice Commander presents the flag to the Fire Detail for disposal.
MAY
May is election month. Our Nominating committee consisted of Chuck Gantos (chief), Donnie Williams, and Bill Ford
Here is the list from the nominating committee.
Commander = Dave Beckley
1st Vice Commander = Rodney Smith
Adjutant = Chuck Gantos
Sgt at Arms = Donnie Williams
Finance Officer = Gene Yax
Chaplain = Jim King
Parliamentarian = Kathleen Yax
Historian = Lou Popowsky
Director 1 = Claude Campbell
Director 2 = Ron Sapp
Director 3 = Bill Ford
Tom Byrne and Ron Allred were nominated from the floor for Sgt at Arms. Those 3 men left the room and using a show of hands the members chose Donnie Williams.
The slate was then voted in by acclamation.
Memorial weekend is a busy time for our Post. On Friday we place flags on veteran’s graves in the North Lawn Cemetery and on Saturday we place flags on veteran’s graves in the Pine Hill Cemetery. On Memorial Day we place a wreath on the Veteran’s Memorial Wall, in front of the Alamance County Court House, in Graham during the Memorial Day ceremony to remember our veterans.
The following pictures are from the weekend’s activities.
Upper Veteran’s section of North Lawn
We lost Robert this year.
Lower Section of North Lawn
The group in North Lawn
L-R: Rodney, Tony, Bill Donnie, Linda Dennis, Laurie, Dave
Veteran’s section at Pine Hill Cemetery
My camera didn’t work on Saturday, so Rodney gave me two photos that he had taken during our flag placements at Pine Hill Cemetery. Because my camera didn’t work I don’t have pictures of the group that placed flags at Pine Hill Cemetery. This and the next picture are complements of Rodney Smith.
The obelisk was placed in the cemetery by Post 63 many years ago. Rodney had it cleaned last year and it is a very nice monument to our veterans.
This is a picture of Walter B. Ellis’ grave site. Also in Pine Hill Cemetery, but in one of the very old sections on the other side of the cemetery from the veteran’s section.
On Memorial Day we had rain, so the ceremony was moved inside the County Courthouse into one of the courtrooms.
This is a picture of Post Commander Dave Beckley and Auxiliary President Linda Woody presenting wreaths for the Post and Auxiliary during the ceremony. I was not seated in a good place to take pictures, so I didn’t get any during the ceremony. This picture was copied from the Alamance County War Memorial Committee’s Facebook page
APRIL
T-Bird retired in Early April so we had a party for her. Turned out to be the same day as Bill’s birthday so the party got bigger. I’m sorry that I had to leave before Bill got there, so I didn’t get any pictures of his family, but here are a couple pictures of T-Bird.
February
The Girl Scouts are selling cookies during our Bingo games every Tuesday.
The Auxiliary has begun having dinner on the first Friday of the month. This Friday’s dinner is spaghetti and meatballs, a small salad, bread, desert and Iced tea are also included.
The Super Bowl was another excuse to have a party. There wasn’t anything planned, just a few of the members getting together to enjoy the game.
JANUARY
We started January with a presentation of Certificates of Appreciation and an Americanism pin from Rodney on behalf of the 40&8 Honor Society to all 13 participants in the Flags for First Graders Program. Last year participants provided presentations to all 29 elementary schools in Alamance County. During the half hour program the presenters gave a short history of the United States flag, discussed what the Pledge of Allegiance means and some of the more important aspects of proper flag etiquette, recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and gave a small flag to each of the first graders and their teachers.
L-R: Rodney, Ron, Lou, Tony, Carl, Tim, Ron, Doc, Linda, Dave, Cathie.
(Tom is not pictured)
For their efforts, 40 & 8 Voiture 1237 was awarded the Paul Landry Award, and a Certificate of Appreciation from the National Societe of the 40 & 8 for 2024
DECEMBER
The year 2024 has been a hard year for Post 63. For this year we believe we have lost 20 Post members with a combined membership 402 years in the Legion. Two members served in World War Two, Four served in the Korean War, one served during the Lebanon/Grenada Conflict and thirteen served during the Vietnam War.
Here is a list of the members we lost this year.
1. Sylvester L., Passed on 27 September 2023, 80, Army, Vietnam era, 10 Years of Legion membership.
2. Paul M., Passed on 10 October, 2023, 96, Navy, WWII, 14 Years of Legion membership.
3. Charles B., Passed on 20 October 2023, 76, Navy, Vietnam Era. 2 years of Legion membership.
4. Jesse R., Passed on 30 October, 2023, 81, Marine, Vietnam Era, 12 years of Legion membership.
5. Phillip G., Passed on 7 January, 2024, 77, Army, Vietnam Era, 4 years of Legion membership.
6 Larry S., Passed on 27 February, Air Force, Vietnam Era, 6 years of Legion membership.
7. Jerry S., Passed on 5 March, 2024, 80, Army, Korean Era, 27 Years of Legion membership.
8. Wilbert H., Passed on 6 March 2024, 91, Navy, Korean War era, 58 Years of Legion membership.
9. James S., Passed on 23 March 2024, 85, Navy, Vietnam Era, 3 years of Legion membership.
10. Jerry F., Passed on 2 June 2024, 86, Air Force, Vietnam Era, 48 years of Legion membership.
11. Fay K. Passed on 16 June 2024, 85 Army, Vietnam Era, 11 years of Legion membership.
12. John C., Passed on 25 June, 81, Air Force, Vietnam Era, 1 year of Legion membership.
13. James B., Passed on 12 July 2024, 70, Navy, Lebanon/Grenada, PUFL, 25 years of Legion membership.
14. Roger S., Passed on 27 July 2024, 77, Army, Vietnam, 12 years of Legion membership.
15. Roger W., Passed on 30 July 2024, 82, Army, Vietnam, 20 years of Legion membership.
16. Winford R., passed on 31 August 2024. 89 years old, Army, Korean War, 28 years of Legion membership.
17. Vincent L., Passed on 27 September 2024, 81 years old, Air Force, Vietnam Era, 6 years of Legion membership.
18. Robert H., Passed on 30 October 2024, 95 years old, Army, Korean War, 27 years of Legion membership.
19. Elmo H,, Passed on 10 December 2024, 103 years old, Army Air Corp., WW2, 46 years of Legion membership.
20. George A., Passed on 16 December 2024, 74 years old, Army, Vietnam War, 42 years of Legion membership.
Walter B. Ellis - American Legion Post 63, Burlington, NC 