Oro Valley Post 132 Newsletter, January 28, 2023.
Oro Valley Post 132 and Family activities/notices and information.
Post and Auxiliary membership meetings:
Thursday, February 16, 6:30 pm at Vistoso Memorial Chapel, 2285 E. Rancho Vistoso Blvd, Oro Valley. Special guest students from the Ironwood Ridge High School will talk about the National Veterans Heritage Project and how interviewing veterans about their military service is a life-changing experience for them See more about the program below under upcoming dates and events. A social with complimentary refreshments follows each meeting of the Post and Auxiliary.
Sons of the American Legion Squadron 132 meeting:
Saturday, February 18, 10:30 am, Vistoso Memorial Chapel, 2285 E. Rancho Vistoso Blvd., Oro Valley. POC is Ed Davis, phone 520-229-1064 or email egdavis@att.net.
Riders Chapter 132 membership meeting:
Wednesday, February 1, 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 – Garry Lawrence, phone 520-245-8521, email faretired@gmail.com.
Upcoming Dates, activities and events to remember:
February 5, National Four Chaplains Day Observance:
February 3, 1943, an enemy torpedo struck the Army transport Dorchester as it crossed the North Atlantic ocean. Four Army chaplains – Lieutenant. George L. Fox (Methodist), Lieutenant. Alexander D. Goode (Jewish), Lieutenant. John P. Washington (Roman Catholic), and Lieutenant. Clark V. Poling (Dutch Reformed) guided the disoriented toward safety and helped to distribute life jackets. When there were no more available, the chaplains gave theirs to four young men. As the ship went down, men in rafts saw the four chaplains, arms linked and braced against the slanting deck, singing hymns and praying. The annual memorial service honors the four chaplains and the other 668 men who died when the Dorchester sank. The local memorial service is on February 5, 4:30 pm at Kino Veterans Memorial Park, 2805 E. Ajo Way, Tucson. All are welcome to attend. The service also will be live-streamed at www.facebook.com/FunerariaDelAngelSouthLawn/
February 8, The American Legion Oratorical Scholarship program:
An annual United States Constitution knowledge-based oratorical contest in which high school students compete. The Post level of competition for the 2023 program takes place February 8, 3:00 – 5:30 pm at the Vistoso Memorial Chapel at 2285 E. Rancho Vistoso Blvd., Oro Valley. Please attend and support these talented and patriotic students. The annual program consists of five levels of competition beginning at the local Post level and leading to the National competition with monetary awards at each level. The Post 132 sponsored program is the most successful in the state of Arizona with Post 132 having sponsored five of the last seven Department of Arizona delegates sent to the national competition. POC is George Eveland, call 540-446-9801 or email w8vg1996@gmail.com .
February 16, Post meeting, Calling all veterans:
Tell your story to the Iron Ridge High School(IRHS) students involved with the Veterans Heritage Project. They want to hear your military service story. The veteran is interviewed by a student, your story will be recorded and provided to and inventoried by the National Archives in Washington, DC. Your story will also be included in thehard-boundd book titled “Since You Asked” which is published annually by the students. This program is for all veterans no matter when or where they served. For information or to sign up for an interview, please contact the IRHS VHP teacher advisor Nicole Blanchard at nblanchard@amphi.com or 520-407-4118. Nicole and several students will attend the February 16 Post meeting.
Past Activities and Information:
Dec 15, another packed house at the December holiday meeting:
Before the business meeting, 82 members of our Legion family and their guests enjoyed a delicious meal, compliments of the Post. Members of the Auxiliary Unit provided a huge assortment of delicious desserts. A big thank you to all who volunteered with the planning, serving and cleanup of our annual holiday meal and social. Post commander Dan McGregor introduced a special guest, Walter Ram, a B-17 radioman/gunner, U.S. Army Air Corps, WWII Veteran. Mr. Ram addressed the attendees telling all about his B-17 being shot down over Germany, his capture, and 19 months in captivity and eventual liberation. Left photo: Mr. Ram. Center photo: Commander McGregor presented founding member and six terms past commander Ed Davis with a certificate of appreciation for his dedication and devotion to the Post, its programs and its members. Right photo: Commander McGregor also presented a certificate of appreciation to 2nd Vice Commander Bob Franke for all that Bob does for the Post. Many of our programs are successful because of Bob’s efforts.
December 17: National Wreaths Across America Remembrance Day.
A day to Honor and Remember the service and sacrifice of all deceased veterans. Services were held at several local cemeteries. During the service at the AZ Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Marana, Auxiliary Unit 132 received special recognition for sponsoring 1,575 wreaths this year, more than any other community partner. Because of their herculean effort, all interment sites at the Marana cemetery received a Remembrance Wreath. A special thank you to those who sponsored a wreath(s) through the Auxiliary Unit. You made it possible. Worldwide, more than 3.6M wreaths were placed on this day.
Contact Info:
Facebook:
Please like, follow and share with others to help spread the word about our Post and its award winning programs. www.facebook.com/ovamericanlegionPost132.com.
Post Website:
Post Mailing address:
Oro Valley Post 132, PO Box 69665, Oro Valley, AZ 85737.
Post 132 commander:
Dan McGregor, call 425-681-3962 or email ovp132@yahoo.com.
SAL Squadron 132 commander:
Ed Davis, call 520-229-1064 or email egdavis@att.net
Riders Chapter 132 Director:
Garry Lawrence call 520-245-8521 or email faretired@gmail.com.
Service Officer:
Jim Martens call 503-939-1570 or email jamesmartens46@gmail.com.
Auxiliary Unit president:
Melinda Nay email ovunit132@gmail.com.
Past Commander/Newsletter Editor:
Ed Davis, call 520-229-1064 or email egdavis@att.net