COMMANDER’S COLUMN Steve Lavelle Department Commander
This job is a demanding and rewarding position. As Department Commander, you have the opportunity to connect with Legionnaires across our great state.
Our Department Headquarters staff is second to none. They work hard every day for you, our members. When you call any of the employees or stop into our headquarters, thank them for their service to our organization.
The Department Vice Commanders have also been busy working diligently for you. If there is anything you need, I encourage you to reach out to our Eastern Vice Commander Harry Hause, Central Vice Commander William Whitmoyer, and Western Vice Commander Doug Church.
Many Posts are very involved with the American Legion programs; such as the Oratorical and Essay contest. At this point in the year, you should be getting ready to send representatives to Keystone Boys State, State Police Youth Week, and Girls State. Our programs come from our four pillars, and this is what the American Legion is all about.
We encourage you to work within your community in the name of the American Legion. Community service is at the very heart of The American Legion’s core beliefs and an integral part of the Preamble to the Constitution of the Legion, the Sons and the Auxiliary. The American Legion recognizes that the community is an important part of our American way of life, and in many communities the Legion post takes a leadership role in the betterment of the community.
Many Americanism programs start at the community level, engaging youth in such programs as American Legion Baseball, Scouting, Shooting Sports and flag education. Other examples of local programs may include activities such as hiking, concerts, festivals, fishing tournaments, craft projects, and bicycle safety programs.
Other Legion programs that encourage community involvement include Get Out the Vote, maintaining memorials, and putting on holiday programs for Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day.
There is no greater way for any post, unit, squadron or chapter to ensure its success and sustain its longevity than being in service to the community. If our post is not an active force in your community, it only takes one person to spark the movement and I encourage all members of the Legion family to gather information, ask questions and get involved.
Our membership is doing well for the year. Kudos to our membership team. But we can’t let up. It is getting close to crunch time, and we must continue to get our membership numbers into Department/National.
Please keep our Troops in your prayers. God bless.
Commander Steve
PS. Be Personal, Be The One, Be Nice, Pennsylvania Proud!!
