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How do you help over 2,000 kids have a very merry Christmas?
Somerset American Legion Auxiliary knows the answer, they teamed with the USMC, Toys for Tots program out of Johnstown PA Motor Transport Company.
Chairman for the project, Becky Martin, and Kayla Breman said that Unit 181 has been working with the Toys for Tots program for at least 9 years and through community outreach the program has grown to be the number one contributor to the Johnstown Toys for Tots Program that reaches out to neighboring communities. The Auxiliary goal was to raise $20,000; they surpassed that goal and raised over $22,000 with 100% of the funding going directly to the program.
After the funds were counted and collected, the American Legion Family of the Samuel S. Crouse Post 181 along with the Marines of the Johnstown Motor Transport Company, had a fun filled night of shopping at the Local Walmart. Over 100 carts were filled to the brim with toys, electronics, and games, to be taken to the Johnstown Marine Corps Reserve Center where they will be sorted and sent to various locations for distribution.
Walmart Staff said not to worry about the shelves being empty as they prepare for the Auxiliary’s Christmas shoppers and have a new stock of toys coming soon. Michele Weyand, a checker for Walmart, was all smiles as she was busy ringing up the sales, she said this is the day that work is filled with fun and just knowing she was a small part of the process warms her heart.
Contributions came from families, community businesses, fund raisers and help from the Somerset VFW, The Auxiliary has already started campaigning for the 2024 year, where they have set the goal even higher!
Sgt. Curtis Nelson said the Toys for Tots program in the area helps over 800 families and 2,500 children. The toys for Tots program, founded in 1947 and was established as a 501(c)(3) charity in 1991. Children from birth to 17 years of age are eligible for the program.
The American Legion National Convention hosted Mr. Vann Morris as a guest speaker. Vann is a motivational public speaker that moved out Legionnaires about the American Flag. Please watch the video below as he speaks on Old Glory. His website is https://evangelomorris.com/
Welcome to the new American Legion Auxiliary Department of Pennsylvania website! Thank you for your patience while we worked together to create a website that you can be proud of. This is a work in progress. We welcome any and all suggestions to improve the website.
Leadership is to develop and prepare knowledgeable and capable leaders to carry on the growth and success of the ALA by promoting resources that educate, motivate, and mentor members of all ages and at all levels of the organization.
If you’re willing to devote your time and energy to listen, learn, and communicate, you can be trained to be a leader. Leaders are not born; they are trained because they are committed.
I encourage each member to take the Leadership Correspondence Course to help educate themselves and others about the ALA. You can go to the website www.alaforveterans.org for more information.
Leadership is the responsibility of every member, not just our current and past leaders. You can do this by encouraging others. Hopefully they will embrace our vision and contribute their own unique skills. This will help to strengthen the future of our organization.
I think about sacrifice, honor, and hope.
When I was about 8 years old, I was chosen to recite the poem “In Flanders Fields” by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae on Memorial Day at a local cemetery. I had to memorize the poem. I was not good at memorization. So, I studied the poem to help myself remember it.
I remember asking my parents many questions. Where is Flanders fields? Why are there so many crosses? Why are there guns? Did all those people die in the war? Who were they? Why? Why? Why?
I learned about the war and the many soldiers that lost their lives. It upset me to realize that people died so that others could live. I continued to try to understand the poem. So far, I had learned about death, war, and sacrifice. What did that have to do with birds singing and poppies blowing?
That year my mother and I grew poppies in a little garden by the fence in our yard. She told me we did this to honor the soldiers that died. I was a little closer to understanding.
I’ve always loved music. It lifts you up when you are feeling down. Bird song is music! Then I really began to understand. This was a poem about honoring the soldiers that sacrificed their lives to protect others, but it was also about hope.
This year, share your own poppy story! Poppy Day is May 27, 2022. Make sure to order your poppies through department.
All donations are welcome.
Please remember that food should be non-perishables.
Things in need are jackets, blankets, gloves and socks.
Please help us fill this truck on December 14th!
Please feel free to contact Dan Campeau with any questions.
LEGION COLLEGE UPDATE -
Per Cumberland Valley (East - 10/30) and Greater Latrobe (West - 11/06) school district requirements, there are a few rules that must be followed for our use of the facility.
These rules apply to both Legion College East and West. The rules are not optional. If not followed, you will be asked to leave immediately without a refund.
As a reminder, you are expected to attend your class in which you signed up. If you traveled as a group and will be waiting on others to finish their class, you must report to the General Class while you wait. There will be no roaming of the halls or disrupting other classes.
We appreciate your cooperation and look forward to having a successful event.
2020 DECEMBER SWEEPSTAKES WINNERS
$10,000 GRAND PRIZE - after taxes $7,501.25 -Joseph Chernikovich, Newark, DE
$2,500 SECOND PLACE WINNER- Robert Baynard Sr., Coatesville, PA
$1,000 THIRD PLACE WINNER-Gregory Noll, Lancaster, PA
$500 FOURTH PLACE WINNER-Thomas Bowditch, Mountain Top, PA
$250 FIFTH PLACE WINNER- Irwin Mattis, Bristol, PA
$250 SIXTH PLACE WINNER-Michael Dobish, Ramey, PA
$250 SEVENTH PLACE WINNER- Lawrence Schorr, Newton, PA
$250 EIGHTH PLACE WINNER- Jackson Baumbach, New Cumberland, PA
$100 NINTH PLACE WINNER- Jonathan Bacon, Warren Center, PA
$100 TENTH PLACE WINNER-Gene Fetterman Jr., Orangeville, Pa
AGENDA
57th Annual National Membership Workshop
VIRTUAL THROUGH MICROSOFT TEAMS
August 3-6, 2020
MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2020
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM TOPIC: THIS IS THE AMERICAN LEGION
Basic Introduction To The American Legion
Presenter: Matt Herndon (IN), IA&Membership Division
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM TOPIC: MISSION & VISION
Focuses On The Importance Of Developing A Mission Statement And Having A Vision Towards The Future
Presenter: Ron Neff (IN), IA&Membership Division
TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2020
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM TOPIC: BUILDING AN EFFECTIVE MEMBERSHIP TEAM
How To Organize A Membership Team That Focuses On A Clear Goal Through A Developed Plan Of Action
Presenter: Kevin Mook (MD), IA&Membership Division
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM TOPIC: RECRUITMENT OF VOLUNTEERS
How To Locate And Keep Legionnaires Engaged
Presenter: Doug Chace (IN), IA&Membership Division
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2020
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM TOPIC: MEMBERSHIP RETENTION
Focuses On Growing Membership Through Retention
Presenter: Michele Steinmetz (CA), IA&Membership Division
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM TOPIC: EVERY LEGIONNAIRE IS A RECRUITER
Focuses On Growing Membership Through Recruiting
Presenter: Ron Neff (IN), IA&Membership Division
THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2020
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM TOPIC: DEFINE A GREAT POST
Discusses Ways For Posts To Be An Asset In The Community
Presenter: Doug Chace (IN), IA&Membership Division
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM TOPIC: MYLEGION FOR THE POSTS
Online Membership Tools For Post Adjutants
Presenter: Libby Vickers, IT Division
