The Fargo
Fargo Legionnaire
Fargo, North Dakota
November - December  2007

Commander Message
Ron Matthews

Veterans Day falls on a Sunday this year, and yes, we will have the programs on that day.

If you can’t make it to the programs this year please be sure to set aside part of the day to remember the VETERANS who fought and continue to fight for your freedom and the rights that we sometimes take for granted. 

I would like to take just a moment to touch on a couple different items.  The first one is membership. The membership goal for the year 2008 is 1,475. At present we are sitting at a little over 1,000. Thank you to those who have renewed, and welcome to our new members. We only need 475 members to renew or join our fantastic organization. So whether you are on a membership team or not, and you know of anyone out there who is a veteran, please ask them to join. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we each signed up one new member?

The second is meeting attendance. Out of 1,475 members, it would be nice to see more than 20 people at the meetings every month. I would really love to see at least 50 there. I am told my meetings are somewhat short and almost painless at times. I would like to invite you to try and make the meetings on the first Tuesday of every month.

And last, but not least, I would personally like to thank our club manager Mona Arnold for all she has done. I attended the Military Appreciation Ball for the first time this year and was very impressed with every thing that went on, not only what people saw, but also what went on behind the scenes. I hope everyone will consider going and supporting it next year.

Thank you for your service to our country and to our Post.

Ron Matthews, Commander, Fargo American Legion

Auxiliary President's Message
Mavis Goodroad

Greetings:

I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful fall colors. They have been breathtaking. This is my favorite time of year.

November is a time to honor our veterans but we should do it every day because they have risked their lives for our freedom. Visit the hospital, call the ones you know, or send a card to make them feel important. I am sending a card to my personal veteran, my son.

December is party time of the year. The Auxiliary is having the Christmas party on December 11th. Vetta Loveland, First Vice, will be sending an invitation out sometime in November.

Bless all of you with good health.

As ever,

Mavis Goodroad, Auxiliary President, Unit #2

Chef de Gare Notes
Dave Rice

Fellow Voyageurs:

The 40 et. 8 and Auxiliary rummage sale was held on October20th. We thank all of you who donated items for the sale. A BIG THANK YOU - to all of you who helped with this event. It took several hours to sort and organize the items for sale and of course several of you worked the day of the sale.

Monday night spaghetti is now prepared in-house. Finance Officer Virg Estenson and his wife Betty have been preparing the noodles, sauce and meatballs upstairs and by all accounts the quality is outstanding, we have heard many good comments. Attendance is down slightly from this time last year, which may be due to many factors. Please dine with us Monday nights and bring some of your friends, we need this revenue for our 40 et 8 and Legion programs.

November 11th is Veterans Day! We will have a parade downtown Fargo at 10:30am and program at the Civic Center at 11:00am. Mulligan Stew will be served at the Fargo American Legion at noon. We hope to see you there!

We have much to be thankful for, may you remember that as we approach the Thanksgiving Day Holiday. The Christmas season will be here before you know it. This is a great time of year, may your holidays be filled with family gatherings and celebrations of your faith. Veterans whom have served before us have ‘given’ us the freedom to worship as we please, remember them and the men and women who are serving today to ensure we maintain the many freedoms we enjoy.

Chef de Gare Dave Rice
40 et 8 Voiture 240 Fargo

Adjutants Additions
Bob Jacobson

Busy, busy, busy. The holiday season is rapidly approaching and we have many activities scheduled. It is also the end of the membership year. If you have paid your Legion dues since we started collecting dues in July, you are probably good for 2008. We start collecting early hoping to avoid overlooking renewals and placing years of continuous membership in jeopardy.

We look forward to seeing you at our scheduled activities. We have many long time running annual activities. Last month was Oktoberfest and the 40 et 8/Auxiliary Rummage Sale. This month we have Veterans Day activities with the parade, ceremony at the Civic and stew upstairs, with entertainment provided by the RRVVCB. The lounge will also be open with the Neptune Men providing the music. December will bring us a pre-New Years party, a New Years party and in January, the annual New Years Day Oyster Stew to which we added chili for those not desiring the stew.  Don’t forget Bingo on Saturdays and Monday evenings, 40 et 8 Spaghetti (prepared in house) and Tuesdays are meeting nights. 

Our building is showing its age, beyond cosmetics. I would like to put together a list of individuals that I may consult with or get assistance from. We need to replace badly corroded galvanized drain lines and some leaky galvanized water supply lines. It would be nice to at least have a list of members and their expertise that I could consult at least to look at a bid and say whether it is a good deal or not.

 Watch for separate articles in the Newsletter for more details on events.  Contact the office if you would like to see something in particular included in the newsletters.

Robert (Bob) Jacobson, Adjutant
Gilbert C. Grafton Post 2

Eastern Region

The Recognition Banquet for ND Department Commander Harvey Peterson was held October 27th in Beach, North Dakota.  Harvey is off to a busy start as Department Commander and promoting the American Legion Shooting Sports Program.  You will see several changes at the Department level, including the moving of the office to West Fargo.  Put February 8-10 on your calendar and plan to attend the Department Conference in Dickinson.  Let´s have good representation from the Eastern Region!

Dave Rice, Eastern Region Department Vice Commander

1st District

Post 2 hosted a successful Fall District Meeting September 25 with 6 posts present. 

 Department Commander Peterson brought a message of encouragement  and inspiration.   Dean Overby addressed the firing of Veterans Commissioner Bob Hanson.  Based on all the reports given District 1 is alive and well.  Thanks go out to the KC's for serving the dinner.

Keith Kerbaugh, 1st District Commander

9/11 Golf Tournament

Once again the golfers had a great time. Weather was cool and a bit windy, but we managed to finish. The meal Maple River prepared was great and the donated door prizes were a hit. Larry Lein won the grand prize….a beautiful golf bag. 1st place net went to Hank Deyle’s team…Orlyen, Matt, Dale. LAST place went to Larry, Jerry, Bob & Mike...AGAIN! Thanks to all the golfers for participating.

Pictured from Left to Right: Matt Kemp, Orlyen Stensgard, Hank Deyle, and Dale Johnson

Pictured from Left to Right: Larry Lein, Jerry Samuelson, Bob Lechner and Mike Borgen

Veteran’s Day Ceremonies

There will be a wreath laying ceremony at the Veteran's Memorial Bridge (Main Ave.) at 10:00am, Sunday, November 11th.  Color Guards will be present, a Chaplain will deliver an invocation then a wreath will be dropped in the river to honor those who have died at sea. 

The Color Guards will then form up at the Great Northern Depot area on 4th Avenue and 5th Street North.  The Veteran's Day Parade will pass the Fargo American Legion on 3rd Ave North and turn South down Broadway.  They will then proceed down 2nd Ave N towards the Civic Center where they will raise the Flag at 11:00am. 

A program will be conducted in the Civic Center immediately thereafter.  Bob Jacobson, Commander, USS Submarine Veterans, Robalo Base will be the guest speaker.  Mulligan Stew will be served at the Fargo American Legion at noon.

2007 Military Appreciation Ball

This was another successful event, put on by a very hardworking committee. The silent auction brought in a lot more money than last year and the attendance was about the same. We saw a lot of uniforms, from all branches of the service. The Jr. ROTC did a great job presenting the colors and the band kept the dance floor full. It was a great event. Don’t miss out next year! Thank you to all the sponsors who contributed and all the volunteers who helped make this a success.

Mona Arnold, Club Manager

WWII VETERANS NEEDED FOR ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

The Fargo Jaycees are looking for area World War II veterans to share their stories as part of a national effort to preserve history. The Jaycees are holding a “Veteran’s Oral History Day” on November 17th, from 9am to 5pm at the Heritage Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead. Interested veterans should call (218) 299-5520 to make an appointment to be interviewed. Each interview should last approximately a half-hour to 45 minutes and will be recorded. Each veteran who participates will be given a copy of his interview as a keepsake to be passed down to their families. The recordings will be shared with the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. and will be made available worldwide to individuals wanting to learn more about the war and the people who fought it.

It’s estimated that about 1,900 World War II veterans die every day in the United States.  Fargo Jaycee organizer Lance Akers says, “Time is running out. We need to record these amazing stories so they’re not lost forever.”

WHO: Fargo Jaycees
WHAT: Looking for WWII veterans to tell their stories for Library of Congress
WHERE: Heritage Hjemkomst Interpretive Center, 202 1st Avenue North, Moorhead
WHEN: 9am-5pm, November 17th

See the Veteran's History Project Website at:  http://www.loc.gov/vets/

Band Schedule

See the RRVVCB Web page at:

http://www.rrvvcb.org/

Have Your Wedding, Anniversary, Christmas or Any Party Here

The American Legion has rental space available for a wide variety of events at a very reasonable price. 
To Schedule an Event please Contact our Office at 701-293-3930.  Click here for additional information. 

Rental Space is Booking Up Fast

The Legion has rental space available for any size party or occasion up to 250 people. Please see Mona at 505 3rd Ave N, Fargo, ND or call her at 237-4013 for booking details. Catering is also available through the KC’s. Please give Jon a call at 232-6386 regarding catering. The space is booking fast so give Mona a call to book your space and don’t forget, Legion, Auxiliary, Social and SAL members get a discount off the hall rental.

Reunions, Office Parties, Private Parties, Any other special occasion you may be celebrating, Birthday Parties, Anniversary Parties, Weddings, Retirement Parties, Christmas Parties

Attention: In accordance with North Dakota Charitable Gaming Regulations, American Legion Club notifies its membership that the organization's cash profit; cash long or short; net proceeds expenses, if any; reimbursement of excess expenses, if applicable; and a list of eligible use contributions is available for review. The information is available at the American Legion Club, 505 3rd Ave N,. Fargo, 8am - 4:30pm, Mon.-Fri. (701)237-4013