A New Legion Logo!
The American Legion has introduced a new modern logo. The new logo will not replace traditional emblem of The American Legion, it will complement the emblem to increase exposure of The American Legion.
You can see the new logo on our Join | Renew webpage on the Department of California website.
This new benefits guide is only 16 pages long but full of good information.
New Veterans Benefits Guide now available
VA partnered with Stars and Stripes to create a special edition insert for the publication called “The Veterans Benefits Guide.” The print and digital publication, which highlights VA benefits and services available for transitioning service members and their families, is available now.
American Legion Auxiliary(ALA),
Unit 66
The Auxiliary has been busy getting ready for the annual raffle being held on December 8th. This is the same night Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there. Members of our Legion Family, please bring a gift or gift card, with a minimum of $10.00, for Santa to hand out. Gifts and or cards left will be given to Toys for Tots.
The ALA hosted lunch for the Project Hero cyclists last week, October 20. They love their stop at Post 66, San Luis Obispo. Next year we suggest a Santa Maria Style BBQ instead of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Project Hero was originally called Ride to Recovery and this was the 11th year the Legion Family of Post 66 has provided a waypoint for the riders who are making the trip from northern California to San Diego. Riders came from all over the country; Kentucky, Oregon, California, Nevada, and Arizona. Most all have disabilities and many use modified bicycles. One rider even used a wheelchair when not riding on his recumbent bike. These are very special people and it is our great honor to serve them at Post 66. We look forward to serving the Project Hero cyclists again next year.
The Auxiliary had their first movie night at the post. The next movie night will be on Friday night January 28th.
Happy Thanksgiving to all our Legion Family, from the Legion Auxilary!
Laurie Richards
Unit 66 President
The American Legion Auxiliary
Project Heros Photos
Janice Somers past commander receives a signed jersey from the riders of Project Hero as a “Thank You” for Post 66’s support of their programs for the past 11 years.
San Luis Police escorting the Project Hero riders out of the post parking lot after their stop for lunch on their way to Shell Beach and their next stop.
VA to Extend Presumptive Period for Qualifying Chronic Disabukity for Persian Gulf War Veterans
by Christian Southards | Oct 29, 2021
Veteran’s Day, November 11
is a special time for The American Legion.
A time to celebrate!
This year our celebration will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will include the Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum’s open house with a focus on women veterans. There will be a display of military vehicles, a bounce house, Post 66 and other Veteran organizations will have information booths. Our Sons of The American Legion, Squadron 66 will be barbecuing hamburgers
We can use volunteers to help that day, so if you are interested, contact Commander O’Donnell at (805) 441-1405, or at singingal57@gmail.com.
We were unable to hold a blood drive at Post 66 on Veterans Day this year. Due to the critical blood shortage nationally, we are asking all our Legion Family members, who can, to please donate blood.
Every day in the U.S., patients in hospitals, surgical centers, and emergency treatment facilities need approximately:
- 29,000 units of red blood cells
- 5,000 units of platelets
- 6,500 units of plasma
The Vitalant Donation center at 4119 Broad Street in SLO is our local blood donation center. Call 877.258.4825 to schedule by phone, a time to donate blood.
San Luis Obispo – Vitalant Donation Center
4119 Broad St.
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA, 93401
Open 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Commander’ S Corner
Hello Legion Family!
As we head into the year-end holidays, I am looking forward to celebrating the season of thankfulness. I am so grateful for all the blessings in my life, which include all the wonderful members of the Post 66 family groups. So many times over the past year and even thru last year; our focus at Post 66 has been on keeping the programs going as best we could; holding our meetings, making tough decisions to keep us financially solvent, and doing our best to keep our membership connected at a time when separation was necessary.
We are now in a good position financially and our focus turns to growing and reaching out to Veterans who don’t know what we are about. With that in mind, we will be open on Veteran’s Day; Thursday, November 11 and we encourage all members to share the news that the Veteran’s Museum will be open, enjoy a hamburger from the Sons, and visit the other Veteran groups joining us. There will also be a bounce house and treats for kids. Unfortunately, due to low staffing issues; Vitalant is unable to hold the Blood Drive as originally planned. We can still use volunteers to help that day, so if you are interested, contact me at (805) 441-1405. The event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
As always, Post leadership is continuing to hold meetings in the dining room on the first Wednesday of each month and we are also making the meetings available via Zoom for those who can’t be there in person. Everyone is welcome to attend in person or virtually. If you have any questions about what we are planning or working on, we encourage you to join us. This is YOUR post and we’d love to welcome new and familiar faces to the meetings. Just send me an email (singingal57@gmail.com) and I’m happy to share the meeting link with you. Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, November 3, at 6:30 p.m.
As always, I send my best wishes that everyone is staying connected and healthy.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Nora O’Donnell
Commander, Post 66
commander@slolegion.org
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Adjutant
TRANSFERS TO: “Post Everlasting”
- Robert Kimble, Army, Vietnam, 35yr member
- Robert Newby, Army, Korea, 5yr member
- F. J. Bailey, Air Force, Korea, 24yr member
SICK CALL
- Chuck Emery
- Jerry De Cou, and
- Dave Romero
MEMBERSHIP
Assigned 389, Paid members 253, Unpaid members 136
Monday nights are going well, 50 to 60 members there. Would like to see “other” Legion Family members supporting the Post
Rich Powell Adjutant
Keep the Faith
A “Hot Topic” is our membership! The success of Post 66 is directly linked to growing our number of members, especially active members.
How do we best grow and engage our membership? Active members provide the manpower to serve our veterans, their families, and our community.
What say you? A good topic to discuss, yes?
Updates on the Chef’s Cooking Competition will be published in the December Newsletter.
Save The Date
- 11/01 – Baked Potato and Green Salad
- 11/08 – Enchilada’s, (Chicken or Beef) Beans & Rice
- 11/10 – Wednesday Dinner, BBQ Pork Chops
- 11/11 – Veterans Day
- 11/15 – Certification of Post Financial Audit due
- 11/15 – Ham and Baked Beans, green salad & Bingo!
- 11/21 – District 16 Meeting
10 a.m. Post 371 Guadalupe - 12/08 – Auxiliary Raffle & Santa Claus
- POST CLOSED –
12/09 to 01/05/22 - 03/12-13, DEC* Post 56 Santa Maria
- 06/23, Pre Convention Visalia, CA
- 06/26, Post Convention Visalia, CA
*DEC is the Department Executive
Committee.
Sons of The American
Legion, Squadron 66
Greetings from the Sons of The American Legion group. We had a good October meeting and some of the highlights are we received an application for new membership via Greg Somers for Robert Eveson, welcome aboard! We received another $500.00 donation from the San Luis Obispo Pipefitters Union Local #403. We also received a generous donation from Denise Topham earlier in the year and we presented her with a thank you plaque and an American Flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol Building. The Sons also presented a similar flag to the Pipefitters Local #403 this month for their donations that had been made earlier in the year.
We discussed a possible way to eliminate moving the huge and heavy boxes that we store our cemetery flags in by possibly using cardboard tubes or some other way to get them delivered on Veterans Day and Memorial Day to the local cemeteries. A “Game Bag” similar to those used by Baseball Players might also be considered for a more convenient way to deliver the flags by individuals, we are open to any and all ideas on this issue. Golf Bags? Something with a shoulder sling or carry handle would be best.
We received thank you comments and a summary of their experiences to the Post from the Post 66 Boys State Delegates, Jonah Konjoyan, MBHS, Spencer Riegler, Mission Prep, and Weston Jenkins, SLOHS. Weston represented California and Post 66 at the Nation’s Capital for Boys Nation. Unfortunately, due to the post-Covid 19 outbreaks and cautiously examining appropriate protocols and safety measures involving indoor events, the post respectfully had to cancel the recognition dinner that was to be held at the American Legion Post. The Post did provide an American Legion Recognition certificate to each delegate and acknowledgment expressing we were honored to have them represent our post as a participant in the 2021 Boys State Program and wished them all the very best. This information was provided by Co-Chairs Ken San Filippo and Bill Fieldhouse, a big thank you to all those involved in this annual event. The American Legion Riders Sponsor this event by donating $1000.00 each for a Boy and Girl Delegate.
We will be needing all the able-bodied hands that can get to help out on Veterans Day, Wednesday. November.11 Posting Flags at the local San Luis Obispo Cemeteries, it’s a big job and we post hundreds of the flags, we have been helped out in the past by the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts but everyone is welcome to help out with this event honoring our Veterans.
Larry “Red” Land
Squadron 66 Commander
Sons of The American Legion
Little by little,
a little becomes a lot
“Little by Little”, your purchases
through the Amazon Smile Program
become a LOT of support for California Veterans.
When you make purchases through the Amazon Smile website, a small portion of your purchase is donated to the charity of your choice.
https://smile.amazon.com/
When you select, as your charity,
The American Legion CA Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Foundation
a small amount of your purchase is donated by the Amazon Smile program in support of our veterans. Individually the amount donated is not much, but little by little a little becomes a lot of support for our veterans.
Many members of our Legion Family will be buying Christmas presents online from Amazon. Please switch to smile.amazon.com and select “The American Legion CA Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Foundation” as our charity.
Little by little your purchase will mean a lot of support for our veterans. Thank you.
THANKS – KEITH
I wanted to thank Legionnaire Kieth Hamilton for his kind donation of a Jazzy mobility scooter after the call went out in our last newsletter. With the help of Bill Fieldhouse, I went to Keith’s and pick up the scooter. It required new batteries which is common, but I want to let everyone know that it only sat in storage for a week until we got new batteries ordered and installed. The scooter was issued to a Lady Veteran at Las Brisas on the 28th. Another veteran rides again due to your kind efforts.
Cautionary Note: This scooter was in storage for several years and the battery deteriorated. As you can see from its bulging top and sides it was ready to explode and cause serious damage. Be aware batteries left in storage for years can become dangerous, be careful.