10th District Sons of the American Legion Reports

Notice: April 13 is the 100% Target Date.
            Please transmit your membership so that it will arrive at
Department HQ no later than April 12.

We Have 29 Sons of the American Legion Post in Nassau Suffolk and Queens.

Please encourage your friends and family members to join our organization.

If your Post wants to form a Squadron in our area contact us.

You can order tickets for your Post from our Commander Roy Mezzapelle 516-351-7807 

By Albert Deichler, Jr., Detachment Vice Commander
2nd & 10th District

Just a quick note from the lower part of the State. I was pleased to welcome Commander Larry Montello, Commander Paul A. Cortright and Department President Patricia Dyer to the 10th District in early November, I hope all enjoyed the amenities of the lower part of the State. There was a very good showing and response from our 10th District members. It has been a little slow getting Squadrons together with the holidays but Far Rockaway has started a Squadron and is busy working on their recruitment.

10th District Commander Roy Mezzapelle and I having been working together on other Squadron startups, with help coming from County Legion Commander Reginald Butt. Commander Reggie has been promoting the Sons while he visits various Posts in Nassau County and even at county functions. With the holidays over and the New Year being here, it is time to get down and push the membership again and recruit not only for the Sons but for the entire family. We all need to get together and work as a family and familiarize the general public with what The American Legion stands for and what the organization as a whole does for the country.

My wife (Unit President and County Secretary) and myself have made arrangements with an elementary school in town to educate the children in the lower grades on FLAG ETIQUETTE, we are doing this class by class and not in multiple class groups. We have decided to do it class by class so we can spend the time and properly teach flag etiquette and demonstrate flag folding, flag caring as well as flag retirement.

District 2 is still on the way but slow progress is all that can be reported at this time, their membership is steady and increasing.

I would like to take this time to thank and congratulate all the members of the 2nd and 10th Districts who have gone out and recruited new members or have collected dues from members and have retained membership in their Squadrons. I know that the 2nd and 10th District members are doing this, by the position we are in the District and County Reports.

To all the members of the 2nd and 10th Districts, keep up the good work and let's stay there and not fall down.

 

November 2004, I, along with several other Sons of the 10th District, had the pleasure of accompanying our Detachment Commander, Department Commander and Department President, during their visitation to Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

Many sites of interest were visited throughout both counties, and all three individuals were recognized for their dedication to our veterans and our organization.

Floral Park, Manhasset, Rockaway Beach, and Hempstead all have interest in forming Squadrons. Some are farther along with the process than others, and although not online yet, I hope to have them all up and running before Spring.

The formation of a Queens County organization was again brought up for discussion at our last District meeting, and it was agreed that the District should focus on Squadron formation prior to forming the Queens County Sons Organization.

This will be left as an agenda item for future meetings. Following up on the section of my previous report regarding Legislative Grant Acquisitions, Elmont Squadron has purchased the materials needed for its grant-funded Americanism Program for its younger members, and training is underway.

I would also like to note that Elmont has received another $1,000.00 grant, but has not yet determined how to use the funds. Bob Ganga (East Hampton) reports that he has submitted a request to Congressman Tim Bishop for an Educational Grant for a flag education program. I sent a letter of request to Senators Schumer and Clinton in the hopes of obtaining grant monies for a District-wide project.

So far, no response has been received. In an effort to raise funds for 10th District projects, the 10th District Sons will be holding a raffle for a Dell Computer System. The Drawing will be at our District Convention on Sunday, June 12, at the Elmont Post. 2nd Vice Commander Cisco Rivera (Brentwood) will Chair the Committee for this event.

At our November District meeting, I had the honor and privilege of naming Past Department President and current Nassau County President Marie Cook our “10th District Mom”. Marie is one of our best advocates. Her praise and words of encouragement regarding the Sons of The American Legion, during the Nassau County visitation dinner, were truly inspiring. We are proud to call her mom.

Although not a common practice within the 10th District Sons, I have encouraged all Squadrons and County Organizations to incorporate the Blue Star Banner Ceremony into their meeting format. The details are posted on the Sons’ National website.

Since my last report, members of Squadrons in the 10th District have participated in many events. Some of these events include Veterans Day Parades and ceremonies, visiting VA Hospitals and NYS Veterans Homes, hosting fund-raisers, participating in the Commander’s Visitation, and visiting students in local schools. All Squadrons are always encouraged to become a visible part of their community.

The 10th District recently recognized immediate Past 10^th District Commander Robert Ganga for his leadership in the 2003-2004 year, and it was an honor for me to present him with his Past Commander’s pin for a job well done.