American Legion Post 221 Officers 2026-2027
- Commander- Richard Mortland
- 1st Vice Commander- John Campbell
- 2nd Vice Commander- Chip Stark
- Chaplain- Kenneth Girt
- Adjutant- Mark Weldon
- Finance Officer- Mark Weldon
Sgt. At Arms- Michael Stanley
MEMBERSHIP DUES
2027 MEMBERSHIP DUES FOR THE AMERICAN LEGION, SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION, AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY, AND LEGION RIDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED STARTING IN JULY. PLEASE DROP THEM OFF IN THE TAVERN OR MAIL THEM IN TO THE POST. BE AN EARLY BIRD AND GET YOUR DUES IN AS EARLY AS YOU CAN.
THANK YOU FOR BEING A MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN LEGION FAMILY!!!
COMMANDER’S CORNER
Hello fellow Legionnaires, I hope that you are doing well. September is approaching and school is started, vacations are over and football season is finally starting.
We are having a 9/11 service at noon on 9/11/26. The event will be held in the tavern.
Upcoming in November, we have Veterans Day. If you can come out for that, your help would be greatly appreciated. A Lunch is provided.
If you have some spare time, we would appreciate your coming to the post for our meetings on the first three Tuesdays of the month at 1900 hours. You will be able to see what is going on and what it takes to run the post.
So, with shorter days coming up, school and football starting, Please stay safe and if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to call me anytime at 330-280-6141.
P.S. Big changes coming to the E-Bingo soon!
~~Richard Mortland- Commanderhings will be getting a lot busier.
LABOR DAY-DID YOU KNOW?
Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday of September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements in the United States.
Beginning in the late 19th century, as the trade union and movements grew; trade unionists proposed that a day be set aside to celebrate labor. “Labor Day” was promoted by the Central Labor Union and Knights of Labor, which organized the first parade in New York City. By the time it became an official federal holiday in 1894, thirty states of the US officially celebrated Labor Day.
Canada’s Labour Day is also celebrated on the first Monday of September. More than 150 other countries celebrate International Workers’ Day on May 1, the European holiday of May Day. May Day was chosen by the Second International of socialist and communist parties to commemorate the general labor strike in the United States and events leading to the Haymarket affair, which occurred in Chicago, Illinois from May 1 – May 4, 1886.
P. J. McGuire, Vice President of the American Federation of Labor, is frequently credited as the father of Labor Day in the United States.
Beginning in the late 19th century, as the trade union and labor movements grew; diverse groups of trade unionists chose a variety of days on which to celebrate labor. In the United States, a September holiday called Labor Day was first proposed in the early 1880s.
Alternative accounts of the event’s origin exist. Descendants of two men with similar last names claim their great-grandfather was the true father of the holiday.
According to one early history of Labor Day, the event originated in connection with a General Assembly of the Knights of Labor convened in New York City in September 1882. In connection with this clandestine Knights assembly, a public parade of various labor organizations was held on September 5 under the auspices of the Central Labor Union (CLU) of New York. Secretary of the CLU Matthew McGuire is credited for first proposing that a national Labor Day holiday subsequently be held on the first Monday of each September.
An alternative theory maintains that the idea of Labor Day was the brainchild of Peter J McGuire, a vice president of the Federation of Trades and Labor Unions, which was a predecessor of the American Federation of Labor. After a visit to Toronto where he saw parades celebrating labor that May, he put forward the initial proposal in spring 1882. According to McGuire, on May 8, 1882, he made a proposition to the fledgling Central Labor Union in New York City that a day be set aside for a “general holiday for the laboring classes”. According to McGuire he further recommended that the event should begin with a street parade as a public demonstration of organized labor’s solidarity and strength, with the march followed by a picnic, to which participating local unions could sell tickets as a fundraiser. According to McGuire he suggested the first Monday in September as an ideal date for such a public celebration, owing to optimum weather and the date’s place on the calendar, sitting midway between The Fourth of July and Thanksgiving public holidays. Labor Day picnics and other public gatherings frequently featured speeches by prominent labor leaders. In 1909, the American Federation of Labor convention designated the Sunday preceding Labor Day as “Labor Sunday”, to be dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement. This secondary date failed to gain significant traction in popular culture, although some churches continue to acknowledge it.
Source: Wikipedia
COLOR AND HONOR GUARD
The first 8 months for the American Legion Honor and Color Guard have been super busy. The Honor Guard honored a total of 26 local veterans with 1984 miles traveled and 484 volunteer man hours. Also, we honored 31 veterans at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, with 278 man hours, and 1415 miles traveled. All of the time and man hours are volunteered. Many of our volunteers take off work and other planned activities to honor these veterans.
If you, as a veteran, do not have a place of rest, Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery can be that rest for you and your spouse free of charge to all veterans. For more information, contact Jerry Yochum at the American Legion Post 221, Massillon, Ohio.
The Color Guard maintained by Mark Weldon for special events such as; Wreaths Across American at Calvary Cemetery, presenting Colors at all Massillon home football games, and presenting Colors at numerous events in the past year. Contact Mark Weldon at the American Legion Post 221, Massillon, Ohio.
~~ Jerry Yochum and Mark Weldon
CHAPLAIN’S REPORT
From the Post Chaplain……
With fall creeping up on us, it is time to remind all Legion, S.A.L, Legion Riders, and Auxiliary members that it is time to update your memberships. Paying your dues has been made simple and easy; simply see your membership person and write a check.
Several of our members need prayers for healing; Chip Stark, Jeff Runser, Dixie Witter, and Michael Baker to name just a few. We are also praying for Penny Webber. Prayer is the direct line to the Lord so keep your friends and neighbors in the loop. Remember with God, nothing is impossible.
Wishing everyone a wonderful fall season and GO TIGERS!
~~ Howard Marotto, Chaplain
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
SEPTEMBER
SEPT 1 LEGION REGULAR MEETING 7:00pm
SEPT 1 AUXILIARY REGULAR MEETING 7:00pm
SEPT 6 AMERICAN LEGION RIDERS 10:00am
SEPT 7 LABOR DAY- TAVERN OPEN
SEPT 8 LEGION EXEC BOARD 7:00pm
SEPT 9 S.A.L. MEETING 7:00pm
SEPT 9 CARDINGO-SWISS STEAK 7:00pm
SEPT 11 PATRIOT DAY – CEREMONY NOON
SEPT 15 LEGION REGULAR MEETING 7:00pm
SEPT 16 RWDSU MEETING (FIREPLACE ROOM) 3:00pm
SEPT 23 CARDINGO-PORK CHOPS 7:00pm
SEPT 28 TAVERN MONTHLY DRAWING 7:30pm
OCTOBER
OCT 4 AMERICAN LEGION RIDERS 10:00am
OCT 6 LEGION REGULAR MEETING 7:00pm
OCT 6 AUXILIARY REGULAR MEETING 7:00pm
OCT 13 LEGION EXEC BOARD 7:00pm
OCT 14 RWDSU MEETING (FIREPLACE ROOM) 3:00pm
OCT 14 S.A.L. MEETING 7:00pm
OCT 14 CARDINGO-VEAL PARMESAN 7:00pm
OCT 18 POST PARADE ARTICLES DUE
OCT 20 LEGION REGULAR MEETING 7:00pm
OCT 26 TAVERN MONTHLY DRAWING 7:30pm
OCT 27 LABEL POST PARADE 5:30pm
OCT 28 CARDINGO-LIVER AND ONIONS 7:00pm
OCT 31 HALLOWEEN