American Legion

The monthly meeting of District 18 The American Legion will be held Friday, April 17th, 7:30 p.m., at La Puente Post 75, 14929 E Clark, City of Industry, with 3rd Vice Commander Magda Torrellas of El Monte presiding.  Dinner precedes the meeting at 6:00 p.m.  Reservations for dinner should be made by calling the Post at 626-961-5998.

Valley Forge Chairman Alex Rivney of La Puente will have information available on the Valley Forge Teachers Workshop at Freedoms Foundation, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, a national institution dedicated to improving the understanding of the fundamentals of the American way of life as expressed in the Declaration of  Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.  Posts in the San Gabriel Valley sponsor many local teachers each year to the workshops touching the lives of hundreds of students.

Boys State Chairman Jim Cooper of Covina reports Posts in the District are currently interviewing Junior boys at San Gabriel Valley high schools seeking delegates to the 72nd session of California Boys State at Sacramento State University June 20th to 27th.  A week-long study in civics and government, this program teaches our youth the duties, rights and responsibilities of American citizenship.  In order to prepare the youth of today to become good citizens tomorrow, and to qualify as intelligent citizens, voters and office-holders, they today must be trained to understand the structure and the workings of their government.

Agriculture and National Resources Chairman Julie Potter of Baldwin Park has provided information to the Posts and urges contact with local schools to seek out candidates to the Environmental & Leadership Inflatable Water Slide Conference to be held at Sly Park Conservation and Environmental Education Center located in the El Dorado National Forest, east of Sacramento, May 15th to 18th.  A program sponsored by The American Legion in conjunction with the United States Forest Service, the purpose is to sharpen the student’s awareness of the interdependence of man and his surroundings and involves the students in the land-use decision-making process.  Activities include access to the on-site activity center, field trips to Lake Tahoe and the American River Fish Hatchery, short hikes and inter-active learning experiences to various settings, both indoors and out.

Yearning for an evening of fun and good food with friends? Why not join the annual
fund raiser of San Gabriel American Legion Auxiliary Unit 442 at Shakey’ s. Charlotte and Las Tunas in San Gabriel, on Wednesday, March 25th, 5:30-8:30 p.m. This year proceeds from this event will benefit ‘Operation Mend”, a wonderful new program at UCLA that gives returning military with severe facial injuries access to the country’s best plastic and reconstruction surgeons in the private sector. The Foundation helps families with uncovered costs. Doctors, nurses and support staff volunteer their time but donations are needed for costs of the surgeries. Community support of this fund raiser will help and everyone is welcome to join in this team effort. Private donations can also be sent to Unit 442, ALA, P0 Box 1, San Gabriel. or direct to the UCLA Foundation to the attention of Adrienne Walt, Director of Development, Department of Surgery, 10945 Le Conte Ave., Suite 3132, Box 951784, Los Angeles 90095-1784, ear-marked “Operation Mend, Fund #617640, Division of Plastic Surgery”..

Auxiliary Dinner Honoring Women Veterans
Past Presidents’ Parley Chairman Liz Broughton of Temple City and The Past Presidents’ Parley of the American Legion Auxiliary, District 18, invite former servicewomen to the dinner in their honor to be held Tuesday, April 23rd, at West Covina Post 790, 330 N Azusa Avenue, West Covina. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m., followed by an evening of camaraderie and special entertainment. With the Auxiliary theme this year “Charting a Course to New Horizons”, an interesting program will be provided and guests will provide interesting stories from their military service to our country. Former servicewomen and active-duty personnel are invited to attend and meet other comrades living in the area. A call to any local Auxiliary Unit or the Chairman at 626-401-0100 will be appreciated so that proper plans may be  made to welcome each guest.

American Legion Auxiliary District 18 President Juliana Porter of Baldwin Park will conduct the regular monthly meeting Monday, April 20th, 7:30 p.m., at Charter Cove Post 755, 20516 E Arrow Hwy.,Covina.

April is Children & Youth Month in the Auxiliary, as well as the “Month of the Military Child.” Children of America’s finest are never forgotten, but oftentimes put in the backseat of the driving war effort because the effect of a parent’s military service upon the child is unheard. These children are listened to and seen as heroes by the American Legion Auxiliary – the world’s largest women’s patriotic service organization. Children & Youth Chairman Mary Ann Lara of La Puente states the month’s theme has been created to recognize and pay tribute to military children for their commitment, sacrifice and unconditional support shown to their parents, our men and women servicing in the military.

Units will be bringing their donations to this year’s Community Service Project, Beyond
Shelters, an organization with satellite officers in various San Gabriel Valley areas that provides the first month’s rent and security deposit to a rental when a family indicates need and is determined qualified for assistance.

Past President Parley Chairman Liz Broughton of Temple City will finalize plans for the
annual dinner honoring former service women and those currently in serving in the military. The combined Units in the District will host the dinner at West Covina Post 790, 330 N Azusa Ave., West Covina, on April 28th, 6:30 p.m.. Guests are promised an evening of great food, camaraderie and fine entertainment.

VA&R Chairman Margaret Quinones of La Puente urges members to continue cooking,
sewing and other “home projects” to benefit our veterans. She will report on the new “Fisher House” having 21 deluxe, private bath suites located at the Greater Los Angeles Healthcare in West Los Angeles, which is added to the other Fisher Houses located in Palo Alto, Travis Air Force Base and San Diego. A Fisher House is a “home away from home” for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers.

For further information, please contact Peggy McIntosh, 626-287-0138.