Oro Valley Post 132 Newsletter, March 3, 2023.
Oro Valley Post 132 and Family activities/notices and information.
Post and Auxiliary membership meetings:
Thursday, March 16, 6:30 pm at Vistoso Memorial Chapel, 2285 E. Rancho Vistoso Blvd, Oro Valley. Special guest. Post member Mr. Harvey Horn will be our guest speaker. Harvey served as a navigator on B17s during WWII. During one mission near the end of the war, Harvey’s B17 was forced to ditch in the Adriatic Sea and he was captured by the Germans. Attend the meeting to hear Harvey’s story. The Auxiliary members meet in a separate room, same time, in same location. Those who attended the Post’s December meeting may recall meeting Mr. Walter Ram, another WWII veteran, who also spent time in a German POW camp. A social with complimentary refreshments follows each meeting of the Post and Auxiliary.
Sons of the American Legion Squadron 132 meeting:
Saturday, March 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, April 5, 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:
March 11, “Stuff the Truck” with pet supplies:
Tucson Veterans Serving Veterans (TVSV) and Oro Valley Post and Auxiliary Unit 132 are conducting a Stuff the Truck with Pet Supplies event. We are collecting items for the pets of the Veterans attending the March 15-16, 2023 Stand Down Resource Event for local homeless and other needy Veterans and their families. If you have a love of animals and would like to help our less fortunate Veterans, this is a great opportunity. When: Saturday, March 11, 10AM-2PM. Where: PETSMART at 4374 N. Oracle Rd. Tucson, AZ.
What is needed: Wet and dry unopened pet food, treats, and new or gently used toys, leashes, collars, blankets, harnesses, and collapsible bowls. Note: Cannot accept medications and open packages of food.
March 14-16, Tucson Stand Down for homeless and other needy veterans and their families:
The purpose of Stand Down is to provide homeless and other needy veterans and their families with access to services such as employment opportunities, housing, legal services, disability claims assistance, meals, clothing, care for their pets and more. Volunteers needed March 14 (sort donated clothing and set up), and March 15 Resource Day. Resource Day volunteers are needed for registration, the clothing “store”, food service, escorts, and other tasks. The Post and Auxiliary make an annual financial donation and field more volunteers than any other community partner of the sponsoring organization, the Tucson Veterans Serving Veterans (TVSV).
Location: Grand Luxe Hotel, 1365 W. Grant Rd, Tucson.
Sign up to volunteer at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C44ABA62BA2F4C16-2023 .
Past Activities and Information:
Auxiliary Unit 132 donates $2000 to the Tucson State Veterans Home:
Unit 132 president Melinda Nay presented Auxiliary Department President Barbara White with the check. The donation is to be used for the benefit of the residents of the Tucson State Vet Home. Thank you to our awesome Auxiliary members.
February 16, another packed house at our February meeting:
Before the start of the business meeting, commander Dan McGregor introduced Nicole Blanchard, teacher advisor to the students of Ironwood Ridge H.S. who are involved with the National Veterans Heritage Project (VHP). Five of the students accompanied Ms. Blanchard this evening. The program’s aim is to record, for posterity, the military service stories of veterans of all generations. The interview of the veteran, conducted by the student, is recorded and approved by the veteran before the story is provided to and inventoried by the National Archives in Washington, DC. Your story will also be included in the hard bound 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 call 520-407-4118. Sign up and tell your story to these inspired high school students.
February 23, Baby Shower for expectant service members:
A Baby Shower for Auxiliary Unit 132’s Baby Bag program was sponsored by the Knitwits of SaddleBrooke. The room was full of baby items which were donated to the Auxiliary Unit’s Baby Bag program. Rosie Gonzales is the Auxiliary’s program coordinator. The Auxiliary Unit members provide gift bags filled with essential baby items welcoming newborns to military families of local Arizona National Guard and expectant Veterans receiving care at the Tucson VA. The soon to be proud mothers were thrilled with the needed items. Thank you Rosie.
February 25, on to the state competition!!:
The two Post 132 sponsored contestants, left to right, Caleb Rasor, and Tonish Doshi, finished first and second respectively at the American Legion Arizona Area A competition of the 2023 American Legion Oratorical Scholarship Contest. Both now advance to the state competition, March 11, and will compete against the top two finishers of each of the other two Area levels of competition. Caleb and Tonish now have competed at three levels of competition. The first-place winner at state will be Arizona’s delegate to the national competition in Indianapolis, IN, April 21. The annual American Legion U.S. Constitution knowledge based oratorical contest is designed to instill a greater knowledge and appreciation of the U.S. Constitution among high school students. There are five levels of competition beginning at the local Post level leading to the National competition, with financial prizes, increasing in value at each level of competition. Congratulations to these talented and patriotic students.
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