AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1189June2020

Charles A. Conklin Post #28 Newsletter published monthly by Charles A. Conklin Post #28 of the American Legion

P. O. Box 439 ~ 700 S. Harbor Avenue ~ Grand Haven, MI 49417-1743 ~ www.grandhavenlegion.org

LegionJanetE.Fonger,Post28Commander

jeflegion28@gmail.comGaryDoublestein,1stViceCommanderRickWhite,2ndViceCommanderLarryLambert,AdjutantCyndyWierenga,FinanceOfficerDuaneSmith,ChaplainJackVanWeelden,JudgeAdvocateFreddySmith,Sergeant-at-ArmsDennisSiron,HistorianGarrettVeihl,ServiceOfficerLarryLambert,ServiceOfficerHoytFonger,ServiceOfficerRayRibbink,Executive-at-LargeFreddySmith,Executive-at-LargeJimVette,Executive-at-LargeJohnBilski,PastCommander

AUXILIARY

DarleneDeHaan,Presidentmarcdarlene@gmail.com

MelanieRiekels,1stVicePres.DianeJanusch-Johnson2ndVicePres.GinnyHebert,SecretaryMicheleStetts,TreasurerLindaGieske,HistorianPamMedendorp-Peck,ChaplainBarbKelly,Sergeant-at-ArmsKathleenEdwards,Membership

Sal

RossBerens,Commandersalcmdrpost28@yahoo.com

HansVanHorssen,1stViceCommanderCharlieChittenden,2ndViceCommanderT.L.Lowe,FinanceOfficerAlVanDam,ChaplainCharlieChittenden,HistorianSteveVanderWall,Sergeant-at-ArmsScottKelly,MembershipPaulKubicek,AdjutantJeffWarner,PastCommander

Legion riders GeraldKeen,Director

gerald.keen88@gmail.comSteveBarnes,AssistantDirectorChaseKamhout,Sergeant-at-ArmsMichelleLucas,SecretaryLarryFoose,TreasurerTBD,ChaplainSallyKemme,MembershipChair

post Manager

LoriPulciani(616)842-5310

Hours: Mon.–Fri.1pm–10pm Saturday12pm–10pm Sunday1pm–7pm

COMMANDER’SCOMMENTSSince1922,Post28hasfacilitatedlocalMemorialDayceremonies.Thisyear,however,wasunique,givenCOVID-19conditions.Anabbreviatedceremony,withoutaparadeorguestsofhonorspeakers,wasdeemedbestgiventhelimitationsplacedonpublicgatheringsbysocialdistancingguidelines.Fewparticipantsdidnotaffectthissombermomenttoreflectandmemorializeourfallenanddepartedveterans.Godblessourmenandwomenwhodiedservingourcountry.

Didyouhearthenews?ThePost28kitchenrenovationisfinishedandpassedallrequiredfinalinspections!Ourlastkitchenrenovationwasin1945.Our“classic”dinnerswillcontinueforthosewantingChop'sgood-olefashionedmeatloaforsucculentSwissSteak,whilenewandboldermenuitemsfortoday’schangingfoodtasteswillbeintroduced.Ourimmediatefocusisonservingtasty“carry-out/to-go”fooditems,givenwearestillclosedinsidethePostduetoCovid-19stategovernmentrestrictions.KyleSoentgenisournewcertifiedkitchenmanager.Kylehasasolidbackgroundinrestaurantprotocolsandculinarytrendsandisdiligentlydevelopingnewmenuideas.Estimatingatimeframeforconductinga“softopening”ischallengingbuthopeful,givencurrentstatemandatedrestrictionsonpublicgatheringsandsocialdistancing.Yourinputonmealideasisimportanttousinplanningbudgets,advertising,andpromotingourbrandofmeals.Inaddition,Dr.ChrisPetraswillbedevelopingActionPlansforourPosttoassistintransitioningoncesocialgatheringrestrictionsonrestaurantsandbarsareloosenedandwecanonceagainserveourgreatmembers,insidethePost.PostOfficersareelectedtoleadourorganizationforwardusingsoundjudgementandkeepingourPostcompliantwithlawsandregulations.Withtheguidanceofour5thDistrictCommander,PostandDistrictJudgeAdvocatesandtheAmericanLegionDepartmentofMichigan,thePost28mail-inelectionofOfficersisyouropportunitytoelectPostOfficerswhopracticethehighestlevelsofintegrity.AsIwinddownthislastyearasCommander,Ireflectonayearthathasbeenchallengingyetrewardinginseveralaspects.Forexample,completingthenewPostkitchen,aligningourveteranswithnewprogramsincludingtheworld-renownedSingingChristmasTreeprogram,thecreationandbroadcastingofthedocumentarycelebratingourPost’sfirst100-years,implementingnewefficientandeffectivetechnologyresultinginsignificantrevenueincreasesforourPost’soperationsandprograms,andmeetingdozensofamazingPost28Legionnaires,SonsoftheAmericanLegion,Auxiliary,andRiders.AlthoughourPostmaylookandfeeldifferentwithCOVID-19protocolsinplace,thevisionofPost’sfoundersandmissionofveteransservingveterans,continuesstrongerthanever.IrespectthisPostandwillbeforevergratefulforeveryopportunitytoserveyou. CommanderJanet

AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1189June2020

Ihopealliswellwithyouandyourfamilymembersasweforgeaheadthroughthisuncharteredtime.Eventnews:

• TheSALiscurrentlytryingtofigureoutthelogisticsforschedulingtheGolfOuting.Staytunedastowhetherthiseventwillhappen.

PleasecontinuetomonitortheGrandHavenAmericanLegionwebsitetoseewhenthePostwillreopen.Myhopeiswewillhearsomethingsoon.

StaySafe/StayHealthy!ServingVeteransandtheCommunity RossBerens,SALCommander

SAL AUXILIARY

LookingforwardtomeetingatthePostandservingbrats&hotdogsandPorkDinners.Untilthen,stayhealthy&safe.Post28LegionRidersDirectorGeraldKeen.

LEGION RIDERS

AsIstatedrecentlyinthemonthlyAuxiliaryemailIamfeelinglikeabrokenrecordregardingcancelledmeetings,eventsandgroupactivities!AtthispointitappearsthatwecanassumethatJunewillbearepeatofthelastfewmonths.Thatsaid,perhaps(formeasmuchasanyone)itisagoodtimetostepbackandthinkaboutourincredibleblessings...• Health!• ThePoppyFund"donatebutton"onourPostwebsite;• Our1600+AuxiliaryMembers(hanginthere...wecan'twaittoseeyouatthePost!);

• Ourfamiliesanddearfriends(wholoveusregardlessofhowwelookthesedays!);

• Teacherswhokeepteachingourkids/grandkidsremotely;

• Technologythatenablesremoteteaching,workmeetingsandfamilyconnections;

• Somanylocalfoodpantriesandongoingfooddistributionatourschools;

• Wonderfulandgenerouspeoplewhocontinuetohelppeopleinneed!

• Our"new"Postkitchen(can'twaittouseit!);• Thebeautyofspringflowersandtreesblossoming;• Pleaseaddyourown"givingthanks"listhere!!!

JuneDates:June14–FlagDay–Let’sflyourflagswithprideandrecommittoteachingourkidsandgrandkidsaboutthefreedomsthatweholddearinAmerica,andwhatittooktogetthem!LESTWEFORGET!!!“Weidentifytheflagwithalmosteverythingweholddearonearth—peace,security,liberty,ourfamily,ourfriends,ourhome…butwhenwelookatourflagandbeholditemblazonedwithallourrights,wemustrememberthatitisequallyasymbolofourduties.Everyglorythatweassociatewithitistheresultofdutydone.”—CalvinCoolidge

page2

It’sPoppyTime!HelpSupportOurVeterans

Now,morethanever,ourveteransneedyoursupport.PleaseconsidermakingadonationtotheAuxiliary’sPoppyFund.Onehundredpercentofyourdonationssupportveterans,activedutypersonnel,andtheirfamilies.MAILinadonationto:ALAUnit28ATTN:PoppyFund700S.HarborDr.GrandHaven,MI49417(CheckspayabletoALAUnit28)OR….PAYONLINE,anytime,withacredit/debitcard:Gotowww.americanlegiongh.org,clickontheINFOmenu,selectDONATE,thenchoosePOPPYPROGRAM. Thankyouforyoursupport.

NEW!

Ifyouknowofanyonewhoshouldbeaddedtothislist,orwouldbenefitfromacallfrommeastheirChaplain,pleaseletmeknow@dstirlingsmith70@gmail.com,or616.502.1555.InHisandYourService,Duane"Smitty"Smith,ChaplainGeorgeBryant,WalterPedersen,Jim“Jimbo”Land,GeorgeBennett,CharlesDavis,KenKelly,CarlKuzyk,MikeEy,DarrelMyers,JimVetteandallofourLegionfamilywhoaremourningthepassingoflovedones.

SICK CALL

AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1189June2020

Around The Bar

OPERATIONKPHonor guard

Commander’sCommentscont’d.

1

ScottDrolemaMaryBrillhartBurtonWoltersJay&ChristineMeengsSusanSridharanHarryLindbackKevinMcLaughlinPeteLamanLarryDeetjenRobertJansenPaulMurphyDarell&PhyllisMorelandRichard&KathrynKuckPaul&BrendaRaphaelianKellyReynoldsMichelleKapalaBradleyBovenKellySeaverBrianKellyKathiGabrielseMartinRuiterAl&KathyRichJoanLaarmanDale&SusanVanzantwickLarry&PamelaBaconRobert&BettyKranArthurJacobsBruce&AmyBatyR.DaleNeerkenThomas&PatriciaCurran

TheOperationKPFundraisingCommitteethanksthefollowingdonors,aswellasseveralanonymousdonors,fortheirsupportofthePost’sKitchenRenovationProject.

DuringthemonthofMay,toprepareforopening,wehadtheLegioncompletelycleanedandsanitized.AsyousawfromtheCommander’spostonFacebook,thekitchenrenovationwascompleted,inspectedandpassedwithflyingcolors.YoumayhaveheardKyleSoentgenisthekitchenmanager.Hehasbeenbusytakingallthenecessarycoursesandreceivedhiscertificationstogetusupandrunning.Butdon'tworry,hewillstillbebehindthebaraswell.Whenwedogettoopen,thingswilllookdifferent,possiblylesschairsandtables.But,thesamegreatbarstaffwillbetheretogreetandpouryouyourfavoritebeverage.Richie,Kyle,CJ,Kaleena,ChelseaMaryandmyself.Pleasebepatientasweworkthroughthistimetogether.Welookforwardtoseeingyouallsoon.Inthemeantime,staysafeandhealthy. Lori,PostManager

2

MargaretQualmannNancyPurcellRonaldFridayDeloriesDykehouseJenniferVargoSueThompsonJosephVanderStelKurt&DeborahHoffmanMaryBorchersLawrence&MaryKallioRobertHamiltonCharissaSchaeferThomasBirosKarenPalingJohnHouslerLeAnnGlasserJamesCookeWilliamMellianDavidNuvillJamesCoughlinDonaldVeenemanDavidVanderwallDennisSwartoutJamesHofstraPaulElyeaPaulWithunStaceyCassisJacquelynThoroughmanDeloresDykehouseBarbaraBreen

page3

ApostingofcolorswaveswithhonoratthefamilymarkerofPost28(GrandHaven,MI)namesakeCharlesA.Conklin.

AmericanLegionPost28(GrandHaven)conductsmemorialceremonyfornamesake

CharlesA.ConklinMay8,2020

ByDr.ChrisPetras,SALSquadron28WhenAmericanLegionPost28inGrandHaven,Mich.,wascharteredonJune12,1919,the35charteringmembers’firstorderofbusinesswasnamingthepost.Thecharteringmembersdiscussedseveralpossiblenamesakes.Duringthefinalballot,Army,NavyandMarineCorpsveteransallagreed–byaunanimousvote–thatCharlesA.ConklinwouldbethePost28namesake.CharlesA.ConklinwasborninCookCounty,Ill.,in1895,laterlocatingwithhisfamilytoGrandHaven.Twoyearsaftergraduating(1914)fromGrandHavenHighSchool,ConklinmovedtoCincinnatitolivewithhisoldersisterHelenandbrother-in-lawArthurNyland.PriortoenactmentoftheSelectiveServiceActof1917,CharlesA.ConklinjoinedtheOhioNationalGuardandwaslaterdrafted.Hiskeeneye/handcoordinationandathleticabilitieslandedConklininthelegendary42ndRainbowDivisionofthe166thRegiment,asamachinegunner.ConklinandhisfellowsoldierssetsailtoFranceinOctober1917.OnceinFrance,the42ndRainbowDivisionmadeitswaytothefrontline,whereConklinwasseriouslywoundedincombatonMay4,1918.HepassedfromhiswoundsonMay7,1918.HisbodywaslaidtorestforthefirsttimeinanAmericanplot(Grave#56)intheFrenchmilitarycityofBaccarat.InFebruary1921,Conklin’sbodywasdisinterred,transportedtoGrandHavenandburiedinhisfinalrestingplaceofLakeForestCemeteryinGrandHaven.CharlesA.ConklinwasthefirstfallensoldierofGrandHavenduringWWI.OnMay7,2020,CharlesA.ConklinAmericanLegionPost28heldtheirannualmemorialceremonyforthepost'snamesakeatLakeForestCemetery.Post28Chaplain,andHonorGuardCommanderDuane“Smitty”SmithofficiatedwithatributereadbyPost28CommanderJanetE.Fonger.Thepost’shonorguard(headedbySmith),Post28officers,andserviceofficerHoytFongerrespectfullystoodinhonorwithafinalsaluteandtapsperformedbyPost28LegionnaireWaltPedersen.

AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1189June2020

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1

1971

EdSullivan’sfinalshow.

2

3 4

5

6

71775

TheUnitedColoniesbecome

theUnitedStates.

8

9

10

11

121880

JohnLeeRichmondpitches

baseball’sfirst“perfectgame”

13

141775

TheU.S.Armyisformed.

15

16

1989ThepremierofGhostbustersII.

17

18

1873Women’srightsadvocate,SusanB.Anthony,isarrestedforvotingin

Rochester,NY.

19

20

21

221847

Doughnutsarecreated.

23

24

25

261959

TheSt.LawrenceSeawayisopened.

27BirthdaysDerekJeter

1974

HelenKeller1880

CaptainKangaroo1927

281919

TheTreatyofVersaillesissigned,ending

WWI

29

30

ATTENTION!POSTCLOSEDUNTILFURTHERNOTICE

PleasecheckthePost’swebsitewww.americanlegiongh.org&FacebookpageforupdatesonPostmeetings&activities.

page4

• OnJune14,1777,theSecondContinentalCongresspassedaresolutionstatingthat“theflagoftheUnitedStatesbe13stripes,alternateredandwhite,”andthat“theunionbe13stars,whiteinabluefield.

• Thered,whiteandbluecolorswerechosentorepresentvalor(red),libertyandpurity(white),andjusticeandloyalty(blue).

• FlagCodestatesthattheStarsandStripesshouldnotappearonapparel,beddingordecorativeitems.

• AVexillologistisanexpertonflagsandtheirhistory.

FlagTrivia