Legion Family Members:

The last few months has been a new experience for all. We, here are the Post, hope and pray that this correspondence finds you and your family safe and healthy. We are certainly in uncharted waters going through this world-wide pandemic. First and foremost, please stay safe and healthy. Many of us have lost friends and/or acquaintances due to this terrible virus.

As most know we just recently opened on a limited basis, and according to the guidelines of Governor Scott. During our extended period of being closed we were able to accomplish a large amount of deferred maintenance which only could be done during a closedown. The club room has been completely done over; bar resurfaced, floors stripped, polished, and burnished, all the brass cleaned, new lights, new ansul system in the kitchen, etc. You have to stop in and see the great job that was done. Oh, and I have to add, just before the shutdown we installed a completely digital bingo system with multiple large screen TV’s in the hall. Much, if not all, of the work was accomplished by our own staff. This was made possible by our receiving a CARES Act (SBA) Grant in the amount of $24,437.32 which included cost of utilities and payroll. You have to stop in and check out the great work done.

As I indicated above major improvements have been made to include the bingo equipment and we are now open for bingo. Face masks, at this time are required, and social distancing is in place. Luckily we have a very large hall, and large screen TV’s spread out throughout the area, making this easily possible. Food is available as usual. Come on out and join us. We additionally need volunteers to help at our weekly (Wednesday’s) event.

Membership and Dues: As of July 1st we are in a new membership year, 2021. If you have not paid your dues, please do so promptly. This saves a lot of postage with reminder notices. Legionnaires’ can easily pay their dues on line at www.legion.org by using a credit or debit card. This also saves trees and the recycling of the paper.

I know it is a hard time to do so, but talk up the Legion. We all know veterans who are eligible for membership, as well as those eligible for the Sons of the American Legion (SAL) and the Auxiliary. We, as a Legion Family, do a lot of great things both nationally and locally. Post 27 has contributed significantly to the local community, various building funds, and children’s activities and events, not to mention the over $21,000.00 given annually to scholarships for those graduating from Middlebury Union High School and Hannaford Career Center. I might also add, the over 1,200 flags placed on veteran’s graves locally and the support of the veteran’s cemetery owned by the post and available to any veteran and family (with restrictions). On the National level we have the National Emergency Fund, Operation Comfort Warriors, Temporary Financial Assistance, and numerous other programs. I can’t forget the discounts that Legion members get. Check out all the benefits and discounts at www.legion.org . We have great selling points to acquire new members and we all must be recruiters. So please help.

Membership in the post has been decreasing with more and more members departing to Post Everlasting. We have not made 100% membership in quite a few years. Since January 2019 we have lost fourteen (14) members and they were: Ed Boudreau, Walter Calhoun, Lionel Cloutier, Francis Cram, Kevin Draper, Dennis Friend, Bernard Gale, John Levesque, Richard Mitchell, Ray Morgan, Duane Myrick, Bernard Pockette, John Shandrow, and Larry Washington.

Of particular note was the loss of Kevin Draper, as indicated above. He was our chef in the kitchen, and consummate volunteer. He was a graduate of the College of the Culinary Arts at Johnson & Wales. In his honor we have established a named scholarship for a graduate of the Hannaford Career Center advancing for a degree in the Culinary Arts. A befitting remembrance for our friend and fellow veteran.

Over the past years, I have repeatedly mailed out the application forms for the free American Legion Accidental Death policies. Make sure you have completed, signed and submitted these.

Speaking of insurance I have to address and talk about the Legionnaire Insurance Trust (LIT). Dental Insurance is available, check it out at https://lit.dentalinsurance.com It’s a great way to protect your teeth and your budget at the same time. Health Insurance is also available and you can call 1-855-356-4088 to see what is available and receive a quote. An Exclusive Benefit for Legionnaires is Long Term Care Plus (LTCRplus). This combines the best financial protection options with the critical assistance families need when dealing with long term care. You can learn more about LTCRplus by going to http://info.ltcrplus.com/web-LIT .
I could fill pages just listing what is available to members, both in benefits and programs, and outline in detail why all veteran’s should be members of the American Legion. Rather than me filling a lot of paper I again ask that all go to www.legion.org and see for themselves. There is so much information on this site to include informative and enjoyable videos, particularly about the history of the American Legion. Check it out, you will be pleasantly surprised.

I must end by once again wishing all the best of health, and urging all to stay safe and healthy. I also invite all to come and stop in to the post, now that we are back open, and see how great it looks. As our Commander, Laura Flint, recently stated at an Executive Board meeting, “we could not have survived so easily if it were not for the former officers and directors who saved and invested so wisely”. We have survived and we will be stronger than ever with everyone’s support.

As of now there are no scheduled events or travel in the foreseeable future. National and Department meetings and conferences have been canceled indefinitely. We have not scheduled a Clam Bake, and Early Bird or Birthday Dinner or any other events at this time. However you can join us for bingo every Wednesday night and support the post and our Legion Family Programs.

Tom Scanlon, Adjutant

for God, Country, and Community

NOTICE:

Help is always needed for Bingo on Wednesday evenings and for the Honor Guard. There is a high potential for both of these important functions being discontinued due to the lack of help and support. The bingo is a major source of funding for the annual scholarships awarded by the Post, SAL, and Auxiliary. One Wednesday evening every four weeks or so would be a great help and ensure that our weekly bingo continues.

BENEFITS CALCULATOR:

There is now an online benefits calculator for veterans on the Legion web site. Go to http://www.legion.org/benefitscalculator/

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE BINGO JACKPOT IS NOW $1,000 PER STATE REGULATIONS

Recent On-Line Update from Legion Headquarters - Click to Link