2008 is all but history.  We endured a lot of election campaigning, but to everyone's surprise we have survived the ordeal.  The economy went down the tubes the last half of the year; but hang in there Legionnaires, we will survive this also.  Our Post has also had some hard times, but with our help we will get through it along with the rest of the country.

    Looking to 2009, we have a lot to look forward to here at #221.  The new big screen TV is a terrific improvement and will be paid for in no time thanks to the generosity of our members.  (If you haven't seen it yet, make sure you stop in and check it out.  The season of Bowl Games will look great on this big screen.)

    Mid-Winter conference is coming up in January.  We need to attend and see what's going on in the Department of Ohio.  In February we'll celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Four Chaplains' sacrifice - an example of the sacrifices made by many during WWII.

    The Legion Oratorical contest on the District level is held during the month of February also.  This event will be on February 15th in the East Canton Foltz Community Center and these young people are worth coming to hear.

    March brings in the Washington, DC Conference.  That's when the Legion marches on Capitol Hill to hold our elected officials accountable to our Veterans' needs.  The Legion Birthday dinner is also in March.  When you take advantage of this meal (offered free as one of the benefits of Post 221 membership) you will have the opportunity to meet and listen to the wisdom of Ohio Department Commander, Bob Kimball.

    April will be our final Post 221 Races for the season.  Each year we host (4) Races, one each month for January, February, March, and April on the 1st Saturday of the month.  Be sure to come each month to enjoy (free) supper at 7pm with Races beginning at 8pm.

    Poppy Shop at the Sandusky Ohio Veterans' Home is always an interesting place to visit in April.  You can tour the residence and the museum and try your hand at making poppies.  All poppies purchased through the Department of Ohio are made by veterans who live at Ohio Veterans Homes in Sandusky.  Every year we host a special program to thank them for their service and remember the veterans who fought and died in Flanders' Fields.

    So as you can see, we Legionnaires do have a lot on our plate to participate in and enjoy.

    Be upbeat about the New Year coming and see if we just might find it even better than 2008.

God bless our Nation and protect our Troops,
-C. Richard Thatcher, Commander

    Santa Claus came to Post 221, Saturday, December 13th and lots of happy kids were there to meet him and have their photo taken with him, they also received a very nice gift to take home.

    Don't forget to have your dues paid for the year 2009 and come and join us twice monthly at our regular meetings and enjoy lunch in the Tavern afterwards.

Serving Our Country:

Need addresses for veterans serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.

REMEMBER 9-11-2001
-Bill Matthews, 1st Vice Commander

Hello All,

    December has come and gone so that means that 2008 has come and gone too.  It doesn't seem like that long ago we were doing steaks on the grill outside on the pad for the steak fry; that was a good time and we sold out of everything.

    This year again for Christmas we helped 3 families that were in need.  We hope the little bit we did gives them some happiness.

    The weather wasn't as bad as past years for the bell ringing, but it was still cold.  I want to thank the brave hearts that came out this year.  They were Ron Feichter, Justin Bretz, Wayne Newbury, Tom Welker, Terry Gulley Jr., Bob Emmert, Andy Lucansky, and my mom Ginny McBurney who's come out with me for the last 5 years.  A lot of people dropped change and bills in the kettle.  It could be a good year.

    As of this writing, squad 221 is at 150 for 69.44%.  We only need 66 more members to make quota for the year.  If you haven't paid your dues yet, please try to get them in to us as soon as you can.  100% would look just fine.

As Always,
-Bob Lunsford, SAL Commander 221

    I would like to give each of you a warm, heartfelt THANK YOU for your help and donations in making this year's Christmas Projects a success.  The Children's Angel Tree, the "Wall of Warmth", and Santa's Auction were all very successful due to your caring and generosity.  The money raised from Santa's Auction greatly helped us in benefitting our local community Veterans and their families.  Working with the schools, we were given information on local Veteran families in need.  I'm proud to say with your help and donations thru the year, we were able to help a total of 75 adults and children in need.  Thank You!  You should take pride in yourselves for enabling a family to enjoy a Merry Christmas that they otherwise wouldn't have been able to have.  The greatest gifts of all are the ones from the heart.

-Gail Miller, Auxiliary President

    The winner of the Fall centerpiece and $50.00 in lottery tickets was Donna Fisher.  Thanks to all of you who supported us in this fundraiser.

    A warm and sincere "Thank You" to all the Auxiliary members who "baked" for our Bakeless Bake Sale.  Through your generosity we raised a total of $700.00 to help fund our many programs.

    Post 221 is starting a 100 club.  This is offered to all members (men & women).  The cost is $50.00 for a one-year membership.  It must be paid be Feb. 17, 2009.  Starting Tuesday March 3rd, we will have our 1st drawing.  If you are present you get $50 and $25 if you are not.  This drawing will be held every Tuesday at 7:30pm for 40 weeks.  On December 8, 2009, we will have our last drawing with a dinner and a reverse raffle draw down.  For more information, we have papers and sign-up sheets in the tavern, or talk to Bob Zorger or Mike Bretz.  Come in and join our new 100 club and have a fun and enjoyable time.

-Bob Zorger, President

    From Dale and Rosanne Miller:  One 1989 Cat's Meow, National Treasure Series Washington Monument.  One Cat's Meow, Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia

    From John Tsocheff:  Book; The Massillon Tigers Story, The First Hundred Years, signed 7-15-94 by author John E. Jack White Jr.  Copy paper, 84 bright, 500 sheets.

    Post 221 has over 700 members, a couple hundred social members, and I don't know how many S.A.L. members, most of them have not been to our museum so they don't know what they can do to help and what items that they may have that they could bring into the museum.  Think about it?

DID YOU KNOW?

Magna Carta;  What the H___ is that?

    Well! All the liberties we enjoy today had their beginnings with the Magna Carta. Before it was signed, Kings had the power of life or death over heir subjects. In 1215, a group of English Knights banded together and drew up this Magna Carta or Great Charter. At Runnymede, a meadow on the Thames River, they forced their despotic King John to sign it.  Among other rights, the charter provided that the King could levy no tax against the knights without their own consent.  It also granted that no man could be imprisoned except by "The lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the land".  These rights were to extend to all people of the kingdom.  This great document of freedom inspired the men who later drew up our own Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States.

-John Tsocheff, Historian

    Christmas has come and gone and the American Legion Riders hope you had a blessed and Merry Christmas and we wish you all a happy, safe and prosperous New Year.

    With the New Year comes an opportunity for the AL Riders to help different groups at our Post and also work towards our goal of helping the Legacy Fund.

-Sam "Big Sam" Postlethwait, Director

ATTENTION MEMBERS!  YOU MUST HAVE YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD WITH YOU TO BE SERVED ALCOHOL.  NO EXCEPTIONS!
NO CARD -- NO SERVICE!
THE LEGION IS A NON-SMOKING FACILITY