Yes, it was a tough battle, but the best man won.......Actually there was no competition, I ran unopposed and some how was the winner.  So now what?  Well I guess it is to try to fill the shoes of Past Commander Mark Weldon.  He gave two years, when he did not have to, and we are indebted to him.  Thanks to Mr. Weldon for a job well done and for agreeing to be a resource for me in the upcoming year.
    Your officers for the next year include First Vice Commander, Bill Miller, a seasoned Veteran of the Post that is very involved in our operation, a Navy veteran, and dedicated Legionnaire.  Your new Second Vice Commander is now Bill Matthews.  He was your Chaplain last year, is very involved in the community, steers the Care Package program for our current local uniformed military personnel, and is a real pleasure to work with.  Our remaining officers have been at it a while and are exemplary in the performance of their duties.  I am so proud of the way they master their jobs.  They are:  C.R. (Rich) Thatcher, our Post Adjutant, Finance Officer Jack Bigler (aka Beagle), Sergeant at Arms Gerry Stanko, Historian John Tsocheff, Service Officer Ben Wolfe, a staple and steady ship, and Chaplain, well we don't have one yet.  Are you interested?  Please call me.
    It is going to be an interesting year.  I look forward to serving to the best of my ability and hope it fulfills your expectations.  But I need your help.  Let's do it together what we can't do alone.  Are you up for it?  I challenge you.
    Please take a moment to reflect on and remember Cory Endlich, son of member Randy Endlich.  Our thoughts remain with you Randy.  May God help you and your family through this difficult time.

-Richard T. (Rich) Patti, Commander

    On Saturday evening June 9th, I had the pleasure of introducing a special young man to the group assembled for Massillon Post 221's annual Awards Dinner.  Cody DeGordon shyly came forward and listened while I told his story.
    Early in the morning of Tuesday October 17th, Pamela DeGordon woke up, unable to speak or breathe.  She woke her 9-year-old son, and he called his aunt who called 911.  Staying calm in a stressful situation, Cody pulled the cap off an epi-pen and injected it into his mom's thigh.
    An epi-pen is an auto-injector that administers a medication that temporarily reverses an allergic reaction.  Although Pamela had one, she had never needed to use it.  Still, Cody knew what to do and he did it.  The paramedics who responded to the 911 call said Cody's quick thinking probably saved his mother's life.  Pamela said her son is a hero, and we think so too.
    This story appeared in the local newspaper and our unit felt Cody deserved recognition from the American Legion Auxiliary.  So I was pleased to start the Awards evening off by giving Cody a medal that declared him a Youth Hero and presenting him with a certificate signed by Joann Cronin, the National President of the American Legion Auxiliary.l
    Later in the program, I was asked to introduce the 2007-2008 Unit 221 officers.  Prior to doing so, I called two members of the 2006-2007 officers forward for special recognition.  Realizing that every unit member has a unique personality and that it takes a mix of talents and experiences to make the unit work, I called Margaret (Peggy) Bigler and Gail Miller forward and presented each a plaque.  Peggy's award was presented in recognition of dedicated and unselfish service to Massillon Unit 221 while Gail's award was given in recognition of spontaneous and creative service.  Our unit is fortunate to have two such dedicated and talented members.  Thank you both for your service.
    In closing, allow me to present the 2007-2008 officers of Massillon Unit 221:

    President - Gail Miller
    1st Vice President - Dixie Witter
    2nd Vice President - Alice Stanko
    Secretary - Janice Stevenson
    Treasurer - Peggy Bigler
    Chaplain - Mary Lou Lee
    Historian - Rosanne Miller

-Martha Lee Thatcher
Unit President (2006-2007)

    Each year, Massillon Post #221 offers scholarships to the sons and daughters of post members.  Listed below are this year's recipients:

• Valerie Weldon - the daughter of Mark and Patricia Weldon.

• Alyssa Weldon - the daughter of Mark and Patricia Weldon.

• Chris Stranger - son of Deborah and Ronald Stranger.

• Richard J. Patti - son of Gail and Richard Patti.

• Jason J. Mitchell - son of Janice and James Mitchell.

    The annual Post 221 Awards Dinner was held on June 9th, 2007.  The following individuals were recognized for their service to the American Legion and its various programs.
 

    Commander - Rich Patti
1st Vice Commander - Bill Miller
2nd Vice Commander - Bill Matthews
Adjutant - C. Richard Thatcher
Finance Officer - Jack Bigler
Historian - John Tsocheff
Sgt-at-Arms - Gerry Stanko
3 year Executive Board members:
J.R. Dottavio
Dick Lovett
Harvey Witter

    Summer is here, time for fun in the sun, picnics, swimming, and so on.  It's also time for 2008 Auxiliary renewal memberships.
    Let's have a great response when the renewal notices start rolling in.  Remember the early birds dinner on November 11 for you early birds.
    Thank you and have a safe summer.

1st Vice, Dixie Witter

    Having been the Post's Chaplain for the last two years has been a great experience for me.  I enjoyed every minute of it.
    Thanks to Past Commander Mark Weldon for appointing me.
    Serving as 2nd Vice will be a learning process and I ask for your patience and help in accomplishing the duties of this office.
    I will continue the Care Package program while serving as 2nd Vice Commander.  Along with other required duties of this office.  The Care Package pantry is now empty.  We sent 4 boxes 6/14/07 using most of the items we have for the packages.
    Last week June 5th I sent 60 phone cards to the 376th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Sqd. serving in Afghanistan.  This Air Force Reserve group, from our area, was activated May 2nd and sent to Afghanistan.  The phone cards were made possible by our Post 221, VFW 3124 and Judge Elum's court buy out program.

    First of all, I would like to thank those members who attended the Detachment Convention that was held on May 19th - 21st.  Squadron 221 earned the Commander's Award as well as the Detachment Scrapbook Award for 2007.  The Detachment Historian also gave our Historian some tips to update the scrapbook and we will be submitting it to National Convention in Reno.
    In our latest meeting on June 15th, we discussed plan for steak fries and breakfasts, but we also installed the following new officers for 2007-2008:

For God and Country,
-Ben Gutscher, Commander

    23 junior class high school boys were chosen to be delegates from our local high schools to attend the 2007 Buckeye Boys' State program.  These 23 boys, co-sponsored by Post 221 and our area community service organizations, completed the program at Bowling Green University June 9th through June 17th.  Graduation took place on Sunday, June 17th in the jam-packed BGSU field-house.  Buckeye Boys' State staff, guests, counselors, boys and parents attended this event.
    Now that the 2007 class is completed, we thank our co-sponsors.  Who are these co-sponsors?  The men and women, members of our community service clubs that believe in our slogan:  "A Week to Shape a Lifetime."
    Late in the 4th quarter of this year, we shall start planning and working for the boys of Class 2008.  But first, an evening in September (date to be announced in a future Post Parade issue) we will have the annual Buckeye Girls State / Boys State Dinner.
    Plan to attend and help us make this a great evening again this year.

-Frank Hart
Chairman, Buckeye Boys State

    THANKS all of you that helped place 1,452 flags on the graves of Veterans buried in Rose Hill Memorial Gardens for this past Memorial Day and then came back to remove them on Wednesday.  Many of these workers do not belong to the American Legion and are not Veterans.  It took less than three hours to do the job.

A special thanks to all of the following:

Joe Ambrosic, Andy Bednar, Ray Baker, Ed Evans, Paul, Ashley and Heather Engelhardt, Andy Lucansky, Bill Matthews, Dale Maurer, Dick McLean, Rich Patti, Eldon Shaffer, John Tsocheff, Mary Lou Urban, Bill Whitmore, John Vondriska, Ed Slimka, Charlie Craig, Dean McCoy, Mark Palma, Christina Drain, Wayne Hannum, David Frost, John Vondrisko, Ron Biehl, Ed Dieringer, Martha MacLachlan, Pat, Tim and Jamie Tuberty, Dick and Shirley Widing, Barbara Burheson, and Janet Urban.

-Don Engelhardt

From R. Swisher:  Guide Book - West Point by Ted Spegel.  Loaded with pictures in and around West Point.

Sons of the American Legion Squadron 221:  Historian Book 2005-2006 Scrapbook - Last year's state winner - They won again in 2007 but they haven't given me that book yet.  Nice job Historian Dan Jovingo.

By Willard A. Gravius:  Picture 33" x 24" Framed.  15 ships are pictured, all of them are named and identified; a very unusual composure, you must see it.

DID YOU KNOW?
Terrorist Acts against the United States:

1998:  U.S. Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar-Es-Salem, Tanzania, are heavily damaged in bomb attacks.  Intelligence officials link Osama Bin Laden to the attacks.

1998:  Yemeni militants kidnap a group of western tourists including 12 Britts, two american sand two Australians.  Four victims are killed during the rescue attempt.

To Be Continued...

-John Tsocheff

ATTENTION MEMBERS!  YOU MUST HAVE YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD WITH YOU TO BE SERVED ALCOHOL.  NO EXCEPTIONS!
NO CARD - NO SERVICE! - TAVERN NOW NON-SMOKING
 

WEDNESDAY SPECIALS FOR JUNE