August 2015

Gator Express
A U G U S T 2 01 5
Editors: office staff
Commanders Comments
Hello Everyone,
Finally the renovation has started. The contractor has his permits and has posted them on
our door. Inside frame work has started. I
just found out that the window we were going
to install is a vertical window not a horizontal
one that we wanted. Window World is still
offering to get us the window we want but
now it has to be ordered and will take an additional 2 weeks. The renovation committee met
today (15 July) and decided the best interest
for the post is to get the hole in the wall repaired. The contractor has been notified to put
the wall back like it was. Hopefully by the
time you read this, the post will be finished
with all renovations. If anyone has any question or concerns please let me know. Please
read your newsletter for all upcoming events.
You might miss out on a good time.
Please keep our troops that are serving to protect our country in your thoughts and prayers.
NEW MEMBERS WELCOME
Welcome to our new members;
Samuel Pridemore, Bobby Troupe, Marvin
Brigman, Bruce Blodgett, Robert Wells,
Daniel Rosenbaum, Michael Steinbacher, Ray
Wagaman, Robert Antonsen, Michael Harrey
J.D. Herlihy, Tom & Casey Beach, Brett
Parker, Josephine Young, Peter Finne, Frank
Simmons.
Thanks for making OUR Post, Your Post and
being part of the 2nd Largest Post in the
State of South Carolina
Jim Kvam, 1st Vice Cmdr.
*TAPS*
It is my duty to report with great sadness that
Legionnaire Gary W. Ferdon have reported
to the Supreme Commander.
William “Bill” Simpson
The Legion Family greatly grieves the loss of this
Comrade. May Almighty God give his family
comfort and strength during this period of need.
The Legion family sends their love and support
during this time of grief.
Post Commander
Bill, Simpson, Post Commander
BBQ PORK FUND RAISER
The Tin Can Sailors of Goose Creek are sponsoring a BBQ Pork Dinner Fundraiser on Saturday, August 15th
from 11:00 AM until 4:00 PM at the Post. Menu consists of BBQ Pork, Coleslaw, Hash and Rice for only
$7.00, Eat in or take out. BBQ Pork, Hash and Coleslaw only will also be available at $6.00 a pound for BBQ,
$2.50 for a ½ pint of hash, $1.25 for 8ozs of coleslaw.
FREE LOCAL DELIVERY 11 –2 WITH A MINUMUM OF “7”DINNER ORDERS.
All deliveries must have a point of contact and phone number when ordering, cash or check only, please, no
credit cards. Advance orders are welcomed.
The Tin Can Sailors Association of Goose Creek is a Unit of the National Tin Can Sailors Associations and
operates from American Legion Post 166. For further information, or to order lunches, please Rick Bernard at
553-5454, or visit the Post.
P OS T P HO NE # 553 - 5 4 5 4
*CONGRATULATIONS*
HONOR GUARD NOTES
The following Legionnaires have achieved
membership mile stones for membership year
2015-2016.
20Years
John Sabo, Keith Stika
Walter Mattingly
30 Years
Earl Joiner, Bryan Wright
William H. Baranek, Jr., Ken Bailey
Gary Jones, Rondel Lancaster
50 Years
Al Wells
Your support of the Post is most appreciated
by all of us.
Jim Kvam, 1st Vice Cmdr.
1st Vice Cmdr. Comments
Renewals are coming in. We have
processed over 25% of renewals to
date. Thank you for your timely response. We need to have the majority
of our renewals by the 31 December
deadline so we do not have to absorb
too much of the National Dues increase. So PLEASE renew as soon as
you can.
Thank you
Jim Kvam, 1st Vice Cmdr.
843-607-1015
Thanks to all our members who responded to calls for Military
Honors this past month.
This month, we would like to give a little background on how
Military Honors are handled....
In FY 2000, Congress passed a law which states..
"Upon the family's request, Public Law 106-65 requires that every
eligible Veteran receive a military funeral honors ceremony, to
include folding and presenting the United States burial flag and
the playing of Taps. The law defines a military funeral honors detail as consisting of two or more uniformed military persons, with
at least one being a member of the Veteran's parent service of the
armed forces."
These Honors are to be arranged by the Funeral Directors. They
will arrange to receive the Flag for the Veteran and make contact
with the proper authorities to arrange the Honors Detail.
Prior planning... You will need proof of service. Form DD-214
should be available for this purpose. If you do not have one,
please contact the Post for information on how to get one.
Again, the Firing Detail that we furnish is not required by the
Law, only the Flag Folding and Taps. We are Veterans, representing the American Legion who is an authorized Veterans Service
Organization or VSO.
All volunteers, giving our time and efforts to ensure proper Honors are received.
Retired persons work perfect for our group! If you would like
more information, please dont hesitate to call the Post or David
Coates at (843) 514-4196 for more information or to attend one of
our Drills out of curiosity. We normally drill every other Saturday
at 2pm unless we have a Funeral request.
For the Guard,
L David Coates
HG 166
*HONOR GUARD NEEDS YOU*
SHIRT NOW IN*
LEGION, SHIRTS, HATS & LICENSE PLATE
*SHOW YOUR PRIDE* WEAR YOUR COLORS !!!!
POLO SHIRTS: SZ: SM, MED, L, XL $20.00
POLO SHIRTS: SZ XXL & ABOVE $25.00
DON’T HAVE YOUR SIZE???
*WE’LL GET IT FOR YOU* SEE BARTENDER FOR PURCHASE
G AT OR E XPRE SS
P AGE 3
AUXILIARY NOTES
The August meeting for the Auxiliary will be held
Monday, August 3rd at 7:30 PM
Look forward to seeing everyone.
Jackie Johnson
President
ALUMINUM CANS
Please donate your aluminum cans to the Post. We
use them to off set the cost of Flags for school children , and the ROTC/JROTC medals and certificates, along with other Americanism programs.
They can be dropped off at the Post anytime.
Thank You
Jim Kvam, Americanism Chairman
AMERICANISM
A reminder of upcoming events: Boy/Girls State
Banquet will be held Thursday 3 September. Come
out and meet these great young Ladies and Men.
They will surprise you with their wisdom and insights. Flag Disposal on Friday 11 September at 600
PM.
Thanks
Jim Kvam, Americanism Chairman
843-607-1015
2nd Vice Cmdr. Comments
Thank you to all that came out for our Comedy &
Cuisine show on June 27th. Dan Mengini and Eric
Shun kept everyone in stitches all night and held up
pretty well with our very eclectic audience! I'd like to
thank everyone who helped make last night such a
wonderful success: Dani Long & Dawn Payne for
helping coordinate such a fun night, Vickie Kiley,
Cora Bernard and Taylor L. for serving up that fantastic meal, Katherine Beilstein and Kari Johnson for
being our cocktail waitresses, Jessica Thompkins for
bartending, Mike Porcelli was your chef for the
night, Jackie Johnson for working the door, Terri
Masterson for running our 50/50 raffle,
John McCambridge for helping set up and keeping
the bartenders fully stocked and Jay Jordan for clean
up! It took tremendous effort for this team of people
to provide outstanding service to almost 100 people
and they all did an amazing job! It truly was a lot of
teamwork and each of them are so very appreciated!
I would also like to thank everyone that celebrated
the 4th with us. A very special thank you to Bob
Schuessler for manning the grill both days and to
Jessica Thompkins, William Trotman, Omarius Harris, Taylor L. and Mckenna Murphy for all their help
with the dunk tank.
Brian (Bat) Masterson
2nd Vice Commander
GET WEEKLY UP DATES FROM
NATIONAL
*HONOR FLIGHTS*
There is an Honor Flight in the planning stage for Legionnaires, get weekly e-mail up dates from
September 12th out of Charleston. Any WWII or Ko- National. Go to Legion.org and sign up and keep inrean War Veteran interested can contact Rick Ber- form what your American Legion is doing for you.
nard, Post Adjutant for applications at 553-5454. If
he is not available, please leave a message and he will
get back to you.
ATTN: LEGIONNAIRES
*THIS WILL BE THE LAST FLIGHT*
* FROM CHARLESTON *
THIS IS THE LAST NOTICE
Bill Simpson, Post Cmdr.
You can renew your dues online, just go to
Legion.org/membership and follow directions.
Please e-mail us your receipt at:
[email protected] and we’ll send
you your membership card.
G A T O R E X P RESS
VA Hospital Visit Chairman
P AGE 4
LEGION RIDERS NOTES
VA Hospital Visits
Another Christmas in July Ride is in the history books. We
had to good turn out for the ride, 65 bikes and 80 bikers. I
July 2015
want to thank the Legion Riders for a Great job !! Without
July 1:
52 patients
4 volunteers everybody helping out this could not have happen. I want to
also Thank the kitchen crew for making the breakfast. We
July 8:
49 patients
15 volunteers had Legion Riders come from N. Augusta, Murrells Inlet,
Thanks to all the volunteers who take the time Little River, Conway and West Ashley. We also had
to purchase, prepare, and go to the Ralph H.
the ALRSC Assistance Director come down for the ride. We
are planning a ride after our meeting in August to The VariJohnson Hospital every month. The veterans
ety Store on Lockwood Drive in Charleston. On the 15th of
really appreciate the time and care we show
Aug. we will be riding in the Safe Harbor Run. It is a police
them each and every visit.
escorted ride. Leaving out of LCHD, registration starts at 10,
KSU at 12, benefiting the Fisher House. The Legion Riders
Next Visits
has started something new this year. This will the first year
that we will be Sponsoring Wreaths Across America at CaroFirst Visit: August 5 Meet at the Post 6PM
lina Memorial. For the people that don't know what this
and return by 9PM.
is, the Legion Riders have a sponsorship form, so anyone
Second Visit: August 12 meet at the Post 6PM can buy a wreath. On the 12th of Dec. the wreaths will delivered. You will get your wreath and put it on your Veterans
and return 9PM
grave. Please Support This !!
Our meeting for August is the 8th. at 10:00 on the
For more information about our Ralph H.
bar side.
Johnson VA Hospital visits call the Post at
(843) 553-5454 or Bill Streuber at (843) 469Bruce Richburg
8154 (email: [email protected]).
ALR, Post 166, Director
Bill Streuber
VA Hospital Chairman
*BBQ PORK BUTTS*
CRAFTS & VENDORS FAIR
Saturday August 1st.
12:30 to 4PM
TIME TO SHOP
The Tin Can Sailors are offering whole BBQ pork butts for
$25.00 each. Weight of these delicacies will be 10 to 12 lbs
each, cooked by our own Don Pace and crew. Butts will
available by advance orders only. Cut off order date will be
Sunday August 9th in order to make sure we have enough.
FREE LOCAL DELIVERY FOR ORDERS OF 3 OR
MORE PORK BUTTS. You will be able to pay and pick
up your order on Saturday, August 15th during the Tin Can
Sailor’s BBQ dinner fundraiser. If you would like to place an
order for one of these pallet pleasing perfections please contact Rick Bernard, here at the Post at 553-5454 and leave you
name, phone # and quantities that you would like.
P AG E 5
G A T O R E X P RESS
CABANE NOTES
Hello Dames,
I would like to thank all of you for your hard
work while we hosted the Grande Promenade and
Rendezvous last month. Your dedication and efforts helped make this event a success, and as always, the food was EXCELLENT! I would also
like to thank y’all for your support in electing me
as your Grande La Presidente for the 2015-2016
Membership Year. I will do everything I can to
represent South Carolina in a manner to make y’all
proud!
Cabane 1067 was well represented at Grande
Rendezvous, and as a result, we have quite a few
Grande Officers in our Cabane this year.
Other than myself, we have: Grande La Sous Presidente – Carol Austin
La Correspondant – Kathy Ahner
La Commissiare Intendant – Kathy Ahner
La Aumonier – Doris Rash
La Garde de La Porte – Betty Anderson
La Drapeau – Julie Yeager
La Grande Advisor – Barbara Mann
La Historian – Kathy Ahner
There are still some Program Directeur
positions available if any of you are interested. If
so, please let me know.
As of July 1st, we have started a new
Membership Year, and I am so proud to say that
Grande de South Carolina made our 100% Membership goal (we are even ahead of our guys!).
With your help, I am confident we will exceed this
Year’s efforts and continue to grow. Your new
Membership Cards are now available and our dues
are just $20. Pick yours up as soon as you can,
Julie Yeager will be anxiously waiting for you!
Just a reminder that we meet on the 4th
Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. We would
LOVE to see more of you there. We also have a
few upcoming events scheduled; the first being the
“Wreck at the Rock” in Rock Hill, August 7th &
8th. After that we will have our 40&8 Picnic at
Short Stay on September 12th, and then some of us
will be heading for Promenade and Rendezvous
Nationale in Green Bay Wisconsin from the 15th of
September returning the 20th.
Let’s make this a FANTASTIC
YEAR!!!!!!!
For the good of the Cabane,
Michele DeJonghe
La Presidente Cabane 1067
2015-2016
POST SERVICE OFFICER NOTES
In the present state of things in Washington, a lot of
changes are occurring. This week the VA says it may have
to shut down some hospitals due to a budget shortfall.
Also this week the VA announced an increase in claims of
27% over last year. Claims processing is still not up to par
and it is extremely important for all claims to be properly
submitted so that reviews are kept to a minimum.
The American Legion Post is crucial to the success of all
Veterans. We are an organization that provides leadership
and coordination to activate community resources. It is our
goal to be a safe haven for all veterans and their families.
This is a place of comrades who care.
Tim Burnside, Post Service Officer
[email protected]
40 & 8 REPORT
Fellow Voyageurs,
I want to thank everyone who attended the
Grande Promenade, and the Post for their assistance in hosting it. Congratulations to our new
Grande Chef de Gare, Dave Hill, and our new
Grande Madame La Presidente, Michelle Dejonghe. We wish them both the best of luck.
August looks like it’s going to be a really hot
month, so try and stay cool and get rested up for
next month. There are lots of things going on in
September, including the annual picnic at Short
Stay on Saturday the 12th.
Remember our Voyagers in sickness, visit
them when you can and assist in any way possible.
Best Regards,
Terry R. Gomez
Chef de Gare
G A T O R E X P RE SS
TIN CAN SAILORS
P AGE 6
BE AN EARLY BIRD
Shipmates,
Renew your 2016 membership by September 30th
This month we will be holding next BBQ and get a FREE BREAKFAST in October.
fundraiser on August 15th and we’ll need all
hands on deck as usual. Please push the sale
of pork butts and get the names and numbers
into Rick Bernard at 553-5454..
Also we will be conducting 1st round nomination of officers for 2015-2016. As I said in
the past I will be stepping down as Skipper
and someone needs to step up so time to think
about it.
Finally we are all recruiters, when you are
socializing with your friends, find out if they
are eligible to join us and invite them to our
next meeting.
Repairing and refinishing Charleston Benches
Our meeting this month will be on
and Patio Furniture painting.
Wednesday, August 26th at 19:30.
For more information on all our activities Buying Charleston benches in need of repair.
contact Rick Bernard, Yeoman at 553-5454
Plus…..
Dean Nimocks, Skipper
Call a Veteran at :
(843) 297-5246 and ask
for J.R.