The Ame - American legion Post no. 1

Germantown Post #1
P. O. Box 321
N120 W15932 Freistadt Road
Germantown, WI 53022
Phone: 262-251-5470
Return Service Requested
Merry Christmas!
When saying “Merry Christmas”
you are agreeing that Jesus Christ
was born on the 25th of December
and that He is the only begotten
son of God. Jesus is Lord!
2014 – 2015 Post No. 1 Officers, Germantown
Commander:
Michael Nardelli
414.248.1199
Historian:
Kenneth Puls
262.251.0256
Executive
Committeemen:
Ist Vice commander:
Neal Daegner
262.844.0941
Chaplain:
Douglas Janzen
262.251.5745
Members: Commander, 1st
Vice Comdr., Finance Officer,
Adjutant,
2nd Vice Commander:
Joe Ozimek
262.253.0858
Sgt. At Arms:
1) Alan Sande
262.548.9088
3rd Vice commander:
Daniel O’Toole
262.255.3514
2) Marvin Wunder
262.547.3775
Adjutant:
Christopher Zimmermann
414.687.6589
Service Officer:
Lee Murry
262.253.1163
Finance Officer:
Jim Heimann
414.507.0007
Judge Advocate:
Rolland Pieper
262.677.1001
Chairman: James Heimann
Chris Zimmermann
Mike Nardelli
Karl Kannenberg
262.251.4714
Henry Eder
414.403.4388
2014 – 2015 Post No. 1
Auxiliary Unit No. 321
Officers
President
Kathryn Peck
630.707.1984
Vice President
Bette Peck
262.251.5120
Sgt-at-Arms
Amy Keller
262.573.3100
Secretary & Girls State
Greta Hutchison
262.251.5339
David Souders
262.255.1076
Treasurer & Membership
Mary Heimann
262.377.2613
Hall Manager/Editor:
Lisa Leider
262.573.7902
[email protected]
Chaplain
Jeanette Ewert
262.251.5919
Please help the Post with the mailing Issues. Notify the Post whenever you have a change
of address, otherwise your Post News & Views comes back to the Post with additional postal charges. State and
National Headquarters have to be notified by your Post. Otherwise your State Paper and your National Magazine
will not arrive to your home. The Post should also be notified by your family of any deceased Post No. 1 member.
To all members who have summer and winter residents; please advise the Post as to when you make your
moves around the country, so we can adjust our records for mailing. Thank you!
Post Membership: 145
Our quota for the year is 210.
Germantown, Post No. 1 • Vol. 14, No. 4
November, 2015
Phone: 262.251.5470
www.LegionPost1.org
God & Country
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Commander’s Message
Comrades,
As we celebrate this holiday season I’d like to take a
moment to acknowledge all of you and say THANK YOU,
for all you have done and continue to do to help make the Post
what it is and to keep growing forward. We know everyone is
busy and can’t make it to all the meetings and functions. That
said, it sure is nice to see you when you do join us. This Post Commander
Michael Nardelli
is what we make it and Veterans need Veterans!
Here’s what’s been going on:
Christmas parade – Post 1 represented in the Germantown and Grafton Christmas
parades with The Moving Wall banner. Both parades had many spectators.
Bingo seasonal changes – for the second year in a row, we will go down to
two bingo dates for each month in January and February ONLY, due to low
attendance. However we are happy to announce that at both bingo nights there
will be an extra payout. We have also started to do a 50/50 raffle which has been
very successful. All the proceeds are going to the Moving Wall Project.
Bylaw changes – we are looking to change the bylaws in order to start the Post
meetings at 7:00pm and offer a complimentary dinner at 8:00pm.
Dues going up Jan 1 – get your dues in before the New Year. They will be
going up $5 come January 1, 2016.
Cabin Drawing – will take place at the February meeting for Post members
then Washington County Members. Your dues must be paid in order to be eligible.
Website – we apologize for the delay is getting this up and going, there have
been some snags but we are working through them. It shouldn’t be much longer.
Keep checking back at www.legionpost1.org. For questions contact Lisa Leider.
Newsletter updates – starting in 2016 we will be going back to printing black
and white newsletters, however you will be able to find the color version online.
Also, if you are willing to help save on costs and go paperless, please email Lisa
Leider with your email address: [email protected], even if you think
she already has it and she will email you the newsletter when it becomes available.
Save the date: Post 1 Annual Banquet April 9, 2016 – See inside for
more information.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you and your families, may
2016 be filled with good health, great happiness, and much prosperity. See you
all next year!
– Michael Nardelli, Post No. 1, Commander
LEST WE FORGET:
With love in our hearts,
we remember you. May
your soul rest in peace!
William Boes
Mel Ewert
Shirley Petre
Michael North
Dates to Remember
December
3, 10,17 – Bingo Post home 7:00pm
7 – Pearl Harbor Day
8 – U.S. declared war on Japan (1941)
9 – Post meeting 7:00pm
11 – Germany & Italy declare war on U.S. (1941)
18 – Iraq war ended (2011)
21 – Wash. Co. Exec Board meeting WB. 7:00pm
25 – Christmas Day
31 – New Years Eve Bingo, Post home 7:00pm
January
1, 2016 New Years Day
3 - Home Post take decorations down 11:30am
13 – Post meeting 7:00pm
14, 28 – Bingo, Post home 7:00pm
9 – Wash. Co. dinner meeting, 5:00pm WB
14-17 – Legion Mid-Winter Conf. Ho-Chunk, Baraboo
February
11, 25 – Bingo Post home 7:00pm
6 – Four Chaplains, Horicon
8 – Boy Scouts of America founded (1910)
9 – Post meeting 7:00pm
11 – Post Meeting 7:00pm, cabin drawing
12 – Lincoln’s Birthday
16 - Wash. Co. Exec Board meeting Kewaskum. 7:00pm
Patriotic Trivia Quiz (Ans. on p7)
1. According to American history experts, who’s
considered to be the three most influential US
Presidents of all time?
2. What is the purpose of United States Declaration
of Independence?
3.Of the 56 people to sign off on the Declaration of
Ind., who was the youngest and who was oldest?
4. Which three U.S. Pacific Fleet aircraft carriers
were not in the Pearl Harbor port at the time of
the attack and so escaped any damage?
5. Who were George L. Fox, Alexander D. Goode,
Clark V. Poling, and John P. Washington?
Become a Fan of
Germantown American
Legion Post 1
Pictured from left to right: Commander, Mike Nardelli and Co-Chair Jim Heimann, with TMW Banner for the Germantown, Christmas Parade
The Moving Wall Update
With only nine months to go until The Moving Wall™
Arrives to Germantown, we are quite pleased with how the
planning and preparation is coming together. We’ve gotten
help from a good number of people and organizations within
Germantown and in the surrounding areas. A huge kudos goes
out to VFW 9202, whom has stepped up to offer quite a bit of
support, including a very generous donation. Thank you!
We have secured Huey Helicopter 369, the Healing
Field Display, and for those who are unaware, we will
be transforming our Banquet Hall into a Vietnam Era
Educational Hall for one week prior to the Wall coming
to town. It will continue to stay open while the Wall is
in visiting. Also, we are currently working on putting a
“Welcome Home” parade for Saturday, September 3, 2016.
Similar to the style of an Honor Flight parade.
A UWM journalism class is compiling stories and photos
together of the 14 soldiers on the Wall from Washington County,
to be added in a keepsake book. This book will be for sale just
prior to TMW, with all proceeds going to TMW Project.
The five days of ceremonies are not yet solidified, however
that too is coming together nicely, we will have something to
see and take part in each day TMW is in Germantown.
We now have our sponsorship packages together and are
working on getting donations. This is where many of you can
help. If you or someone you know would be willing to help
sponsor TMW Project, we would greatly appreciate it, any
donation big or small helps greatly. Please contact Jim Heimann
or Lisa Leider for more info.
There are currently 58,286 soldiers names on the Vietnam
Memorial Wall, our lofty goals is to get just as many people to
visit Germantown during the two week duration as there are
names on the wall. Please help spread the word so together, we
can reach this personal goal.
Vietnam Era Educational Hall
Pictured from left to right: VFW 9202 Commander, Darrel Brown,
Co-Chairs: Lisa Leider and Jim Heimann
Page 2
If you have ever seen the Titanic Display when it was in
Milwaukee a few years ago, or have visited the Holocaust
Memorial Museum, then you will easily be able to relate to
and understand what we are aiming to accomplish with the
Post 1 Banquet Hall transformation, as it is very similar. In
A Nutshell, we are creating a hands-on experience in which
we will be taking everyone through. This is especially geared
at educating youth. It will include a boot camp and military
stations. Creatively speaking, it will look like the Vietnam Era
times. When attendees enter they will be given dog tags and
military papers with a living WI Vietnam Veteran’s name on
it or a name of a WI soldier from the Wall. They will then
tour the hall, be able to see and touch memorabilia, and even
and motivation behind the Moving Wall™. Best kept secrets
and stories will be told from the viewpoint of a few Vietnam
Veterans including; an infantryman and tunnel rat. The
colorful chronology of the Vietnam war, including the sound
of hope from the Huey Helicopter, will have it’s place. This
keepsake book, will also touch on what was going on back
home in Wisconsin with the student protests, burning of draft
cards, confrontation with army recruiters, and more. It will
also serve as a reminder as to what “We The People” and Free
Enterprise means for the United States of Ameirica, and all
who live in this great nation.
Peyton Leider visiting the Vietnam Military tent while at the
Racine Moving Wall. This is a small taste of what the Post 1
Banquet Hall transformation aspires to look like.
encounter drill sergeants. Before exiting the hall, attendees
will be able to look on a large board to see if their name given
at the door, is a living Veteran, or a solider from The Wall.
Huey Helicopter 369
Sacrifice is meaningless without remembrance. American
Huey 369 is committed to remembering our Veterans and the
Huey aircraft they depended on while in Vietnam. The Huey
Helicopter became a symbol of America’s involvement in
its’ longest war. The Huey was the workhorse of the war. The
distinctive whoop-whoop of it’s single continuous blade meant
to an American soldier on the ground, that hope had arrived in
the way of supplies, reinforcements, medics, or a ticket out of
the jungle. This Huey will be present during The Moving Wall
visit and may have membership rides available, cost TBD.
Healing Field Display
Hundreds of U.S. flags will stand posted in solemn formation
in September as Germantown’s American Legion Post 1 hosts
a stirring display that will unite the community in a tribute to
veterans. This inspirational panorama of the Stars and Stripes
will include th presentation of the Vietnam Veterans Moving
Wall. Each flag represents an individual and tells a story. Flags
may be purchased and sponsored to honor any loved veteran.
The event is the perfect opportunity for all of us to remember
and honor those who served to protect our nation. It is an
experience hard to describe, but never to be forgotten . We invite
all to visit the Germantown Healing Field® display and walk
with us among the posted flags. The display is open to all
without charge. Don’t miss it!
“Welcom Home” Parade - Honor Flight Style
This long over due parade will take place September 3,
2016, the time is TBD. It will honor Vietnam Veterans and
will have support from all Veterans, veterans organizations,
military, fire departments, police departments, scouts,
schools, surrounding communities, and more. If you would
like to participate in some capacity, please contact Lisa
Leider. We will gladly find a place for you.
Keepsake Full-Color Book
In the full-color keepsake book, you will be captivated by the
stories told and information unfolded. Your heart-strings will
be pulled by photos taken from a photojournalist who traveled
to the Vietnam War and lived to tell about the images. You
will get an exclusive and unique look at the 14 names on the
wall from Washington County, researched by a Milwaukee
journalism class. All names on The Wall from Wisconsin will
be honored. History from Washington, DC Vietnam Veterans
Memorial will be shared, along with what sparked the idea
ORDER YOUR Healing Field FLAG NOW
(all proceeds support The Moving Wall Project):
Flag Cost: $35.00 (includes a personal message)
Order Contact: Matt Larson (262) 339-6299
or email [email protected]
Direct Order: www.healingfield.org/Germantown16
Page 3
Interview with A Post 1 Veteran Member
Charles Queen - U.S. Army
Name: Charles Queen
Age: 86
Family: Shirley (married 65 years). Children, David and Moppy.
Military branch: U.S. Army
Military service years: 1947- 1970, started at tail end of WWII
Age entered military: 17
Where were you stationed?: Chicago, Germany, Kansas,
Mariana Islands, Michigan, South Dakota, Texas
Which War(s) were you in?: Vietnam (two tours)
What was your M.O.S.?: 93F Ballistic Meteorologists
A Field Artillery Meteorological Crewmember is a part of
the Army’s field artillery team. Artillery are weapons that fire
large ammunition or missiles to support infantry and tank units
in combat. The Field Meteorological Crewmember monitors
weather conditions and patterns so artillery units can fire
and launch missiles accurately. Field artillery meteorological
crewmembers lead, supervise or participate in the operation of a
field artillery meteorological observation station.
What do you remember most?: The guns. The guys who
worked on the guns. The help we offered and patrols I went on.
Why did you go into the military?: Growing up I was in the
cub scouts and boy scouts, I was use to volunteering and giving
back. So when I turned 17, I simply wanted to go. At that time
everyone did.
National and world events?: Civil rights movement, war
protests, assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
What does freedom mean to you?: Opportunity to do what I
want in a free country I love.
Injuries from war: I lost eye sight in my left eve from Agent
Orange, likely from the second Vietnam Tour. The Army didn’t
tell us they were using Agent Orange at the time and I also
suffered from diabetes, therefore I was in denial for
approximately 20 years, before I accepted this fact.
Most important lesson you learned from your military
experience? How to take care of myself.
Advice for men and women going into the military today?
It’s a good career field and makes a man out of you. You do
things you never thought you could.
When did you go on your Honor Flight? September, 2015. I
applied three years ago, but I forgot about it until they called
me. I didn’t go with a guardian, they provided one for me. It
was a wonderful experience!
Page
Page 44
Events from The Post
Family Fun Day
On September 12, we held our last Family Fun Day and Vendor Fair.
Although it was a great time for those that took part in it, at this point
we will no longer continue them due to low attendance. On the upside,
many fun moments were had. Crowd pleaser, U.S. Marine, and Scotsman,
Danny O’ Tool was caught singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” to a
few loyal fans. And some of our Bingo regulars made an appearance as
well. Wait, is that Mr. Six from the Six Flags advertising campaign sitting
next to our favorite artist and sweetheart Charlotte? We will never tell. Just
be careful playing the Vengaboys song “We Like to Party” around him.
Halloween at Bingo
Each year during Halloween many of our bingo crowd goers and Post
members like to take the opportunity to get into the spirit and dress up,
and this year was no disappoint. There were many creative and Spooktacular costumes at Bingo!
VETERAN’S DAY 2015 Observed at Post
Another successful Veteran’s Day celebration is behind us. For those
of you who missed it, we had a small turnout, however it was filled with
much camaraderie and friendship. Six new names were added to the Memorial plus a fantastic complimentary lunch was provided at the Post
thanks to Henry Eder and our Auxiliary.
Post 1 Banquet Hall Rentals
As a reminder, we have two great halls available to rent for any
occasion. Keep in mind, as a member you get both halls at an excellent
discount just for being a member. We accommodate up to 225 people.
Contact Lisa Leider (262) 573-7902 to book your next event.
Cabins – Van Brocklin & Eldridge Cabin, Lake Tomahawk, WI
The 2016 Cabin Drawing will take place after the February meeting.
Note: Weekly rental fees are $325.00 per week, including a $125.00
non-refundable deposit, due when your week is chosen.
The drawing to determine the order that you pick your week for the cabins will be held first for Post 1 members, and then Washington County
members. Dues must be current in order to rent the cabins.
Cabin dates will be held open exclusively for Post 1 and Washington
County members until March 31st. Beginning April 1st we will be soliciting rentals from other posts who have shown interests.
Contact: Paul Kastner, Cabin Chairman
Home (414) 358-0733 Cell: (414) 640-2105 or
Email: [email protected]
Christmas parade
Thank you to the men, women, and children who showed up for the
Honor Guard and Banner holders for The Moving Wall. It was a great day
and nice to have a representation from our Post. (See photo on P.2)
Page 6
Eldridge Pier
Christmas decorating
Both halls are all decked out for Christmas, please stop in and check
us out at bingo or for a meeting. Next year we would like to make the
decorating a Post event and have some fun with it, while enjoying
some great conversation and Christmas goodies. We will be taking the
decorations down Sunday, January 3rd starting at 11:30am, please
join us. It won’t take long, we promise. Plus, there will be hot chocolate, coffee and some other yummies. Any and all help is appreciated!
Page 5
Melvin K.“Mel” Ewert
Melvin K. “Mel” Ewert, Passed away October 4, 2015 at the
age of 83 years old. Melvin was born on the family farm, March
5, 1932 in the town of Colby in Central Wisconsin. Melvin
enlisted in the United States Air Force and served during the
Korean War. On June 25, 1955 he married Jeanette, they had
3 children and lived in Colby WI until 1959 when they moved
to Milwaukee. Soon after, they built their forever home in Germantown and had their fourth child. Melvin worked at American Motors and then as a self-employed painter and maintenance man. In 1975 he started working as a Rural Mail Carrier
in Hubertus WI where he retired from in 1998. Melvin was
elected as Germantown Trustee in 1994, a position he held for
20 years. In 2006 he was elected Washington County Supervisor and served on that board until his health no longer allowed
this past spring. Mel was an active member of the Germantown
American Legion Post 1 and V.F.W. Post 9202. He was also the
founding member of the committee to create the Germantown
Area Veterans Memorial. Melvin was truly dedicated to his
family, community and country.
Mel was the kind of man who put Veterans first. A Korean
War veteran he was proud of his service. I had the honor and
privilege of working with Mel on the Germantown Veteran’s
Memorial. This was something Mel had envisioned for many
years. Together with Ken Puls and myself we made it happen, in a large part do to Mel and his efforts. A loot of them
behind the scenes but of great importance. I remember the
day we paid off the Memorial, presenting the last payment
to Hilgendorf Memorials. The sense of accomplishment was
evident on all our faces.
Mel, you will be missed Rest In Peace!
– Jim Heimann
Post No. 1 Annual Banquet
Post No.1’s Annual Banquet will be held April 9, 2016, at our Post home. We are asking all to pay $8 per person for the
meal or $12 per couple. It will begin at 5:30p.m. with cocktails and dinner at 6:30 p.m. With a program and speaker to
follow. Reservations should be in by April 1, 2016. Please send them to the Post home at P. O. Box 321, Germantown
53022 or you can contact our Commander Michael Nardelli at (414) 248-1199. The dinner is for all members and wives,
all Auxiliary members and SAL members. Guests are also welcome. Join us in making this another successful event.
SEND RESERVATION TO:
American Legion Post No. 1
P. O. Box 321 Germantown, WI 53022
No. Members Attending ________ @ $8.00/ea. No. Couples Attending ___________ @ $12.00/Couple
Amount Enclosed $ __________
Name(s) ___________________________________________________________________________
Page 6
Meeting Highlights
Executive & Regular Meeting
American Legion Post No.1, Germantown
October 14, 2015
• Dave Sauder will be absent for the winter with a
pending surgery, which will take place the first week
of January of 2016. We all wish Dave the best and a
speedy recovery.
• Each Post in the county received profits from the
Washington County Fair.
• Chairman Nardelli requested any board members having information about snowplowing contractors for
the upcoming winter provide him contact information.
• To all members we advise you to pay your dues before
January 1, 2016, before the $5.00 increase goes into effect.
• Ron Kohl will take over as the House Committee
chairman.
• Degner reported the membership is at 137 members.
•The slot machines are well received and starting to
help bring in extra income for the Post.
AUXILIARY Meeting
Highlights
American Legion Post No.1,
Auxiliary Unit No. 321, Germantown
Coupon Project
Several of our auxiliary members are meeting once a
month to cut coupons, and organize them according to
food or non-food items.
We appreciate all the coupon donations people donate
and send those as well. We have mailed coupons to 3 military bases overseas: Ramstein Air Base in Germany, a
Naval Base in Japan and the Fleet and Family Center in
Rota, Spain. Our next donation will be sent in November.
Donations
We received a thank you note from King Veterans Home
for a donation we gave them toward chicken dinners for
King Day Celebration.
We also received a thank you card from Delaney
McAdams for sending her to Badger Girls State.
Badger Girls
er Park several times at the end of June. They came back
with some nice donations and distributed over 3,000 poppies. When they went to Miller Park they were joined by
one of our Junior Members, Maddie Schultz, who helped
them and was a big hit at the park!!
Auxiliary Meetings
Please try to make it to a meeting so we can discuss some
of the items going on at the post and brainstorm about
things we can be involved in to support our veterans.
We are looking forward to the Moving Wall exhibition
coming next year. It is an honor for our Post to have been
chosen as the sponsor of this event. I would like to think it
might help us increase our membership to the Auxiliary too!
Three of our members (Mary Myers, Bette Peck & Kathy
Peck) attended the Washington County, District 2, Auxiliary
Meeting on October 17th in Kewaskum. The Kewaskum Unit
#384 hosted the meeting and served a nice lunch and good
desserts; the meeting was conducted directly after lunch.
A Thought for the Day:
Greatness - What lies behind us and what lies before us
are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
~ Oliver Wendell Holmes
God Bless America and all who serve!
– President Kathy, Auxiliary Unit No. 321
Auxiliary meetings will be held the 2nd Wednesday
of every month from 7:00 – 8:00 PM.
Patriotic Trivia Quiz Answers (from cover page)
1. 1) Abraham Lincoln, 2) Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 3) George
Washington
2.To announce and explain separation from Great Britain.
3.The youngest signer was Edward Rutledge (age 26). The
oldest was Benjamin Franklin (age 70).
4. 1) Lexington, 2) Enterprise, and 3) Saratoga
5.The Four Chaplains.Also sometimes referred to as the“Immortal Chaplains” or the “Dorchester Chaplains” were four United
States Army chaplains who gave their lives to save other civilian and military personnel as the troop ship SS Dorchester
sank on February 3, 1943, during World War II. They helped
other soldiers board lifeboats and gave up their own life jackets when the supply ran out. The chaplains joined arms, said
prayers, and sang hymns as they went down with the ship.
Reverend George Fox (Methodist), Jewish Rabbi Alexander
Goode, Reverend Clark Poling (Dutch Reformed) and Father
John Washington (Roman Catholic).
Our representatives, Delany McAdams and Kayleigh
Cowan, who attended Badger Girls State will be attending
our November meeting to give us a report back on their
experience. We are looking forward to learning more about
the time they spent in Oshkosh and how they think the experience they had will help them in other areas of their life.
Poppies
Our Legionnaires spent time in June distributing poppies at the Germantown Fleet Farm and also went to MillPage 7