Commander’s Corner

Post 66 has a lot going on in the next few months.

The Wall That Heals is coming to San Luis Obispo County in California from March 16 – March 19, 2023 at the Madonna Inn Meadows. This exhibit, hosted by the County of San Luis Obispo Veteran Services Office and the Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum, in partnership with the Madonna Inn and Legacy Village, brings the official three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial located in Washington, D.C. and mobile education center to San Luis Obispo County.

Here is a brief itinerary:

3/14 – procession to begin at Mission San Miguel.  Meet at 9a.  Procession leaves from Mission at 10a led by motorcycles with Vietnam Nam Vets in the lead on their motorcycles.  Procession will end with vehicles at the end.  Since procession can go no faster than 55MPH the approximate arrival time at Madonna Meadows at 1230p where they will issue specials pins to all involved in procession.

3/15 – Set wall up.  There will be volunteers from Grizzly Academy, Cal Poly ROTC, and employees from Diablo Cyn. Employees PG&E volunteering as they will need people with with the capability to lift heavy items.  Lunch served to volunteers.

3/16 – Opening ceremony.  Any organization wishing to have an honor guard are welcome to sign up.

3/16 – Wall open for viewing 24 hrs./day until 3/19.

3/19 – Wall open until 2pm for viewing.  Crew will be there at 2pm. to take wall down.

Private tours are available, you must sign up online.

Volunteers needed for all days and functions.

Scan code will be provided.

5/19-20 – Craft fair.

5/21 – Pancake Breakfast, Car Show, Silent Auction and a Raffle for those attending.

Nora O’Donnell, 1st Vice Commander will provide more information in her newsletter article on our Craft Fair and Pancake Breakfast.

Facilities Manager, Mario Perez, advises that smoke alarms and 2 combination carbon monoxide/fire alarms were recently installed.  He is currently working on a fire evacuation plan and illuminating Fire Exit signs.

Here’s to a fulfilling year.

For God and Country

Yvonne Hampton
Commander
commander@post66slo.org

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED!
Must be 18 years-old or older. No experience is needed, training will be provided. Volunteers assist visitors around the event site, finding names on the wall, and with name rubbings on the wall exhibit.  Volunteers will receive an event t-shirt, water bottle and access to the onsite Volunteer Tent with snacks and refreshments during shift.  To volunteer at the wall, sign-up for your desired day/ time slot: https://signup.com/group/1264706495046830027

More information can be found at: www.vetmuseum.org/the-wall-that-heals or contact one of the following for specific areas of this event:

• March 14th, Motorcycle Escort Signups: Jim Stitt at (805) 270-2988 or jimstitt58@yahoo.com
• March 16-19, Group Tour Reservations: Tabitha Castillo  at tcastillo@co.slo.ca.us
• March 15 – 19,  Volunteer Opportunities:  Bobby Ramos at  rlramos@co.slo.ca.us
• Event Sponsorship and In-kind Donations: Sarah Twisselman at ccvmm.programs@gmail.com
  • • • If you are interested in donating meals to feed volunteer shifts, or to provide in-kind  contributions to support this event, please reach out!
• Media Coordinator: Kendra Scott at kescott@co.slo.ca.us

Happy March American Legion members!

We are gearing up for important events happening in May that support our American Legion mission.

You will all soon be receiving a 10-pack of tickets for our Annual Pancake Breakfast and Car Show to be held on Sunday, May 21st. Please read the accompanying letter about either purchasing those tickets for your family and friends to attend the event, or selling them for the Post. If you don’t want to do either of those options, please return them for other members to purchase or sell.
This is our major fundraiser for the year and it’s “All hands on deck” to ensure it’s succesful. We are also bringing back the car show that Yvonne introduced last year, with a silent auction and prize drawing component. If you would like to donate items for the this, please contact Yvonne. It’s an excellent way to promote your business and support your Post at the same time!

Another fundraiser being coordinated is a two-day Craft Faire to be held on Friday, May 19th and Saturday, May 20th. We are looking for all types of artisans, crafters, photographers, etc.; to participate so please spread the word and have any interested individuals or groups contact
Nora O’Donnell by email: navygal1957@gmail.com , or by phone (805)441-1405.

The next event being planned in May is the Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 29th. This ceremony has been an important part of our Post history for over 100 years, so please plan to attend and participate. More information to come, so stay tuned!

For these events to happen, it will take many volunteers, so besides selling or purchasing tickets, please consider signing up for any job, big or small; and remember, “Many hands make light work!”

We look forward to working together to make these events successful and fruitful for our Post. Thank you in advance for your support!

Nora O’Donnel
First Vice Commander
Post 66

Pancake & Sausage Breakfast Only $5.00

5,000 x $5=$25,000
For many years our annual $5.00 Pancake Breakfast has been the major fundraiser for Post 66. This year, in addition to changing the date we are also conducting a Silent Auction and car show. Although the proceeds from the Pancake Breakfast are an important source of income for our post, they are no longer adequate to meet our needs. We are hoping the Silent Auction and Car Show will help improve our cash flow, as we are currently operating in the red. (We spend more per month than we bring in.)

Packets of 10 tickets will soon be mailed to all members of our Legion Family. The sale of our Pancake Breakfast tickets is an important way for you to help our post succeed.

POST 66 2023 CAR & MOTORCYCLE SHOW

The show runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 21

Registration is from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Registration Fee is  $35 per Vehicle ($45 after May 15)

Car Show Registration Form  |  Car Show Flier

The show will highlight pre-1976 vehicles. With an exception for sports cars and motorcycles, which will not have a pre-1976 age requirement. Registration is limited to the first 100 vehicles and 25 motorcycles. All vehicles will be judged and judging starts at 10 a.m.

A Pancake and sausages breakfast is included.

Contact Yvonne, Post Commander at 805-459-4015 for more information.

Post 66, The American Legion, 1661 Mill Street in San Luis Obispo, 93401

Profits from this event will support Post 66, The American Legion

Note: The Central Coast Veterans Museum will be open.

Phone Numbers for Help at Department of Veterans Affairs | theSITREP

In this series of theSITREP, Paul chats with Ti-Onna Watson, Veteran Experience Officer at VA Maine, about ways Veterans can address issues and problems they may be experiencing while visiting a VA Medical Center or Community Clinic. Be sure to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss future episodes! Links for additional videos about VA disability, VA home loans, VA health care, and more are below. For assistance with any VA-related issue, call 1-800-MyVA411 For assistance at VA New England hospitals, call 1-844-VA-CARES For facility phone numbers, visit https://www.va.gov/find-locations For MyHealtheVet, call 1-877-327-0022 For White House Hotline, call 1-855-948-2311 For U.S. House of Representatives phone directory, visit https://directory.house.gov/#

Lessons from a Risk-Based Oversight Model Designed to Protect Students and Taxpayers

Sons of The American Legion (SAL), Squadron 66

HELLO my little Leprechauns,  March is here and spring just around the corner, and we  are looking to set up several work days. There are many things that need attention, however,  thought we would focus on one or two at a time.  At the top of the list is painting the flag pole, along with updating  and replacing the veterans grave markers with the  “Gold Foil Seals “.  Work dates have not been set, but will post when available.  We have a new member Travis Pinedo who joined our  squadron in January , welcome Travis.

We will be ordering new Veteran Foil seals, many of our grave marker have faded  and some grave stone are not marked  at all.  Once our order is received we will set a date to walk the grave yards and  update the headstones. I will need volunteers to help with this.  I would like to have this task done before we place Flags on the graves in May.

Below, I have information for  TEAM Red White Blue (RWB) 9th annual “Old Glory Relay” a national movement showcasing strength, grit and commitment for our Veterans. I’m signing up for the Old Glory Relay & looking for teammates to join me. I promise not to make you run the US Old Glory Relay. 1 Flag 50 days 4,000 Miles from Seattle Washington to Atlanta Georgia.

Let’s create & build a team representing Post 66, for Day 16 Leg of this event.

If interested in participating, volunteering or donating please contact me Commander Bob Evenson, Squadron 66.

Respectfully,

Bob W Evenson
Commander, Squadron 66
Sons of The American Legion

American Legion Auxiliary
(ALA) Unit 66

Greetings from the American Legion Auxiliary.

We are almost done with the interviewees for the Girls State program. The ALA has worked hard to be able to sponsor 5 young ladies to attend the program that teaches the foundation of our government. Our luncheon for the girls will be April 29th in Santa Maria Veterans Hall. The session for the girls will be held at Sacramento State from June 26th to July 1st.

Poppy month is in May. Our unit is getting ready to speak at a women’s club, booths at the post during the pancake breakfast and on Memorial Day. The post will have poppy donations at the post the month of May.

Unit 66 will be working on ways to give back to the community. All ideas are welcome.

Laurie Richards
Unit 66 President
The American Legion Auxiliary