Oro Valley Post 132 Newsletter, March 31, 2024.
Oro Valley Post 132 and Family activities/notices and information.
Post and Auxiliary membership meetings:
Thursday, April 18, 6:30 pm at Vistoso Memorial Chapel, 2285 E. Rancho Vistoso Blvd., Oro Valley. No pre-meeting meal this month. Meetings are on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 6:30 pm. The Auxiliary Unit members meet in a separate room, same time, same location. Post POC: Gary Smith, call 214-431-2187 or email [email protected].
Riders Chapter 132 membership meeting:
Wednesday, April 3, 6:00 pm at Elks Lodge #385, 1800 N. Oracle Rd. Meetings are on the 1st Wednesday of the month at 6:00 pm. Riders Chapter 132 Director – Jeff Fawks, phone 661-802-2596 or email [email protected].
Mark your calendar. Upcoming Dates, activities and events to remember:
April 6, 9 am, Oro Valley, AZ 50th Anniversary Parade:
Post 132 will be a participant in this special parade. Important. Please contact Bob Franke at 520-909-2070 or email [email protected] or Gene Wickey at 714-313-7000 or email [email protected] if interested in either marching in the parade or riding on the flatbed trailer the Post is providing. The event kicks off near the Ironwood Ridge High School and will follow Naranja Drive east ending at the Oro Valley Public Library parking lot, just east of the La Cañada intersection.
April 9, National Former POW Recognition Day:
Honoring the military personnel who have endured brutal treatment at the hands of their captors. April 9 was selected because on April 9, 1942 78,000 troops on the Bataan Peninsula, Philippines surrendered to the Japanese Army. The captives included 66,000 Filipinos and 12,000 Americans, the largest contingent of U.S. soldiers ever to surrender. It is also the start of the 65-mile Bataan Death March, the forced march from Bataan to an inland railhead and then on to a POW camp.
April 13, Missing in America Project (MIAP):
The mission of MIAP is to locate, identify, and inter the unclaimed remains of American veterans. A brief 8 am memorial service followed by the transfer of the urns to a hearse at the Marana Mortuary Cemetery 12146 W Barnett Rd, Marana. The formal service, consisting of full military honors for twenty-six veterans, will take place at 10 am at the AZ State Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 15950 N. Luckett Rd in Marana. Please attend the service to honor and remember these once forgotten heroes—public welcome. Post POC: Rick Gonzales 520-400-2613 or email [email protected].
April 21 (Sunday). The annual Post 132 sponsored picnic:
All Post 132 Legion family members are invited. Location, Catalina State Park, Oro Valley, at the Gila Monster Pavilion in the Group Picnic Area. Food will be served from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm, but the picnic area is reserved for the day. Post 132 will provide complimentary BBQ fare, side dishes, beer, wine, soda, and dessert. If you have a dish that you would like to share, or a portable BBQ grill, please contact Garry Lawrence below. Please RSVP if you plan to attend and if you are bringing someone with you. Garry Lawrence at email [email protected]. Don’t delay.
There is a Park entrance fee per vehicle. A 50% per vehicle discount is available with proof of veteran status.
April 27, Post 132 Riders BBQ meal fundraiser:
Members of the Oro Valley Riders Chapter 132 and members of the Elks Lodge #385 are co-sponsoring a fundraiser for Veterans programs. The Meal will include (4) BBQ ribs, potato salad, coleslaw, cornbread, corn-on-the-cob, and dessert. All of this for just $20 per person. Location: Elks Lodge #385, 1800 N. Oracle Rd. Tucson. Hours are 5 pm -9 pm with dinner served 5:30 pm-7:30 pm. Includes raffle, 50/50 and no host bar. All tickets sold in advance. Call Rick 510-493-1559 or John 909-921-318.
Past Activities and Information:
The American Legion Oratorical Scholarship program:
A United States Constitution knowledge-based oratorical contest for high school students. The challenging contest is designed to instill a greater knowledge and appreciation of the United States Constitution with an emphasis on the attendant duties and obligations of citizenship. There are four levels of competition within the American Legion Department of Arizona; Post, District, Area, and lastly, state. Four high school students from Basis of Oro Valley competed at the Post 132 competition and then all four advanced to District and then on to Area. Tanish Doshi and Amelia Gordon, who finished 1st and 2nd respectively at the Area competition advanced to state where they finished 3rd and 5th respectively. Congratulations to all four talented and patriotic students. A special thank you to Post members Larry McNamee and George Eveland for their unwavering dedication to this meaningful program.
March 13, Tucson Stand Down for homeless and other needy Veterans and their families:
Twenty-three members of the Post and Auxiliary Unit were on hand to help ensure that the Stand Down event was a resounding success. The Post color guard posted and retrieved the colors during the opening ceremony. The mission of Stand Down is to provide homeless and other needy Veterans and their families with services such as employment opportunities, housing, legal services, meals, haircuts, clothing and care for their pets. The Tucson Stand Down is sponsored by Tucson Veterans Serving Veterans (TVSV).
Contact Info:
Please like, follow and share with others to help spread the word about our Post. Facebook: www.facebook.com/ovamericanlegionPost132. Post Website: www.ovamericanlegion132.com.
Post Mailing address:
Oro Valley Post 132, P.O. Box 69665, Oro Valley, AZ 85737.
Auxiliary Mailing Address:
Auxiliary Oro Valley Unit 132, P.O. Box 69246, Oro Valley, AZ 85737.
Post 132 general information:
Bob Franke, call 520-909-2070.
Post 132 commander:
Steve Didio, call 520-332-9481 or email [email protected].
Squadron 132 commander:
Ed Davis, call 520-229-1064 or email [email protected].
Riders Chapter 132 Director:
Jeff Fawks, call 661-802-2596 or email [email protected].
Service Officer:
Jeri Harwood, call 208-351-9945 or email [email protected].
Auxiliary Unit 132 president:
Lori Oehlert, call 920-319-6700 or email [email protected].
Past Commander/Newsletter Editor:
Ed Davis, call 520-229-1064 or email [email protected]t.