TN Post 281 (Tyler Cates) Post Meeting Minutes (13 May 2025)
Tennessee American Legion Post 281 (Tyler Cates) held its monthly post meeting on Tuesday 13 May 2025. Social time began at 1730 (pizza served) and ended at approximately 1800. 33 people attended (attendance list retained separately).
Post business began at approximately 1800 with the posting of the colors, the chaplain’s invocation, the Pledge of Allegiance, the recitation of the Legion Preamble and setting the POW/MIA chair.
The following post business was conducted:
Announcement made (Upcoming Activity): “Run For The Wall” on Sunday 18 May. Post support/volunteers requested to show up with American flags at Beckwith/Golden Bear Road where it overpasses Rt. 40.
Announcement made (Upcoming Activity): “Honoring America’s Flag” at the Mt. Juliet Clock Tower. We need a major post effort to support this annual event (and post fund raiser). We’ll begin with set-up at 0900 on Thursday 22 May and end with take-down & flag staging on Monday 26 May. We’ll need volunteers to help with set-up, take-down, standing guard, selling flags & helping with the Saturday 24 May (1800-1930) concert. Post members urged to sign up for as many of these activities as possible.
Announcement made (Upcoming Activity): “Armed Forces Week” will be held from 12-17 May and is supported by Mission Barbecue. Get your free veteran’s meal!
Announcement made (Upcoming Activity): “Boy’s State”. Our post is sending 11 young men to this year’s Boy’s State.
Announcement made (Upcoming Activity): “Mid-Year Department Convention” will be held on 14 & 15 June in Murfreesboro and will be attended by Terry Ward, Patti Whitmore & Steve Isles.
Announcement made (Upcoming Activity): Our honor guard will present a rifle volley at the Lebanon Veterans Center on Memorial Day (26 May) at 1000.
Announcement made (Upcoming Activity): At 1700 on 13 May Mike Faoro will be presenting awards to 2 JROTC students at GHHS.
New 2025/2026 Executive Committee members sworn in by former CDR Lew Hightower:
Recognition & thanks given to outgoing members Mike Faoro, Mike Snuck, Shawn Taylor & Don Barns for their dedication & service.
New members sworn in were: Adjutant Bruno Padovani, FO Steve Isles & Chaplain David Hale.
The following new EC members were not in attendance due to other commitments & will be sworn in on a later date: 1st Vice Jeff Mattingly, 2nd Vice Brandon Adderholt, SO Patti Whitmore.
Announcement made (Upcoming Activity): Next post meeting will be on Tuesday 10 June, with the social period beginning at 1730.
CDP, Community Center, Conference room Bravo, at 6:00 pm
5:30 PM Pizza and Soft Drink social time
6:00 PM Opening protocol.
Recognize former CDRs and guest
Introduce Ethan Scoby, Boy State
Introduce Commissioner Rober Fields, standing in for County Mayor Hutto
Reading of the minutes
CDR comments:
Recognition plaques for last year’s officers that are present.
AAR on Honoring America’s Flag (HAF) discussion/ recognize those who stepped up and helped with set up and manning the post table and with take down.
Discus the Dept/State conference that will be held on 14 June.
Planning for other boys that attended Boys State with 4 Boys State guys coming to talk with post at 8 July meeting and 5 Boys State guys for 12 August.
Wilson County Fair , 14 through 23 Aug. How do we get better exposure?
9 Sep meeting / Mt. Juliet HS JROTC D&C expedition in parking lot and the Ladies that attended Girls State will address the post and the Auxiliary too.
1st vice/ comments
2nd vice / comment
Adjutant is attending a wedding out of state
FO/ Review the 2026 budget as submitted by the FO and the finance committee/ comments.
SO/ comments
Chaplin / comments and report on members with health concerns
SGT @ Arms / out of state, but former SGT @ Arms Barnes is a trooper and willing to do anything we ask of him.
Hello to all of the members and friends of American Legion Post 281. Here we are at the mid-year point, and we’ve made it through the busiest month in our Post’s calendar. This time of the calendar year always seems to offer plenty of opportunities to get involved and to have an active role in our Post events. Hopefully I’ve captured some photo ops and have shared enough information about each event in this newsletter.
I am excited to announce that we have four new members of our Post’s Executive Committee, and many others that are continuing to serve in the positions they have held in previous years. Our new Post leadership is:
Commander Terry Ward (8th term, 3rd as Commander)
1st Vice Commander Jeff Mattingly (2nd term, new position)
2nd Vice Commander Brandon Adderholt (1st term)
Adjutant Bruno Padovani (1st term )
Finance Officer Stephen Iles (8th term)
Service Officer Patti Whitmore (3rd term)
Sgt at Arms Mike Adams ( 1st term)
Chaplain David Hale (4th term )
Pictured above, left to right: Mike Adams, Terry Ward, Stephen Iles, David Hale, Bruno Padovani (Not pictured: Jeff Mattingly, Brandon Adderholt, and Patti Whitmore.)
I am reminded of the phrase “Veterans Strengthening America” that I’ve read and heard other leaders use. It’s a phrase that strikes my inner being and motivates me to look at the bigger picture of why we gather together, and how fortunate I am to associate with the best citizens our country has. We are the “6.5 percenters” of our Nation’s population that are/were willing to sacrifice for a cause bigger than ourselves or own self-interests. We all have served, and continue to serve, our fellow veterans, our nation, our military, and communities we live in, and especially our youth and children. I challenge you all to take an active role in the programs and events we are a part of as a post! Post 281 has a reputation for being active and volunteering to make a difference. Come and join us and make it happen!
Randall Hutto is a lifelong resident of Wilson County. Growing up in Watertown, he graduated from Watertown High School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree from Middle Tennessee State University in 1984. He would continue his education with a master’s plus 30 hours in Education from Trevecca Nazarene College. He began his career in education at Lebanon High School in 1984, teaching U.S. History, Math and Physical Education. During his tenure at Lebanon High, Randall utilized his passion for both young people and athletics as an assistant varsity football coach for 18 years and led the Blue Devils Boys’ Varsity Basketball team as head coach for 12 years. After an 18-year career at Lebanon High School, Randall accepted the opportunity to serve as Assistant Director of Schools for the Lebanon Special School District in 2003. He began new and challenging career in September of 2010, when the citizens of Wilson County elected him to serve as Wilson County Mayor.
Joined the American Legion in 2015 hoping to find the military comradery I miss and to lend a hand in support of the things the American Legion does as well as any local/direct assistance I can offer.
Completed Basic Training 6/2023. Joined the Honor Guard 7/2023. Volunteered for website content management (Webmeister) 11/2023. Joined the Executive Committee as a non-voting member 2023. Completed Department of Tennessee Legion Collage 8/2024. Accepted the 1st Vice Commander position 5/2025.
Military history: Missouri Military Academy 1974 – 1978. Echo Company Commander, 90 cadets. Fusiliers exhibition drill team member and Individual Drill Regulation Squad Leader. U.S. Army 1979 – 1986. MP Corps – 95B, Signal Corps – 34H, and Quartermaster Corps – 94B.
Civilian background: 14 years in beverage distribution (beer), 14 years in second-tier retail distribution (Essex/Bargain Hunt), warehousing & online fulfilment. Local and OTR driving positions that filled in the gaps.
I attended basic training and Hull Technician A-school in Great Lakes, Illinois. My first duty station was on the USS Princeton, a guided missile cruiser out of San Diego, CA. Due to a motorcycle accident and my physical condition in early 2105, I was taken off of the ship.
I was stationed at Medical Center San Diego (Balboa) until 2016 working in Fleet Liaison (middleman between fleet and hospital organizing medevacs and briefing foreign ships), received orders to USS Frank Cable in Guam in 2016, entered the Planning division, allowing me to organize repair packages for submarines and surface ships throughout Asia and the Pacific theater. Honorable discharge in April 2018. I have been married 8 years and my wife and I have a 5-year-old boy. I currently work as an estimator for public, private, and commercial water and sewer services.
Adjutant Bruno Padovani is a retired industrial efficiency consultant who worked in the food processing industry. He is a 1980 US Naval Academy graduate and served on surface ships, eventually transitioning to the Naval Reserve, from which he retired in 1996. Bruno has been married to his wife June for 35 years. Bruno is not the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.
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Sergeant at Arms Mike Adams
I was drafted in 1968 in Nashville. After completing basic training at Ft Campbell, KY I went to AIT at Ft Leonard Wood, MO as a vehicle mechanic. At Leonard Wood I got orders for Vietnam in March of ’69 so I spent most of ’69 in Vietnam escorting convoys on a 5-ton gun truck that had two M-60s and a .50 Caliber mounted in the bed, named The Justifier. I spent a lot of time pulling guard duty on the bunker line in the Quan Try Provence of Dong Ha. I was recognized by my unit in Vietnam and was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal. I finished out my two years of service at Ft Bragg, North Carolina.
Pictured, left to right, HG Captain Steve Wren, Brenda Thompson, Don Moody, Mike Faoro, Grady Thompson, Mike Adams, and Pat Costanzo.
The total military honors rendered from our 2011 inception of Post 281 and the Honor Guard Team now stands at 509. Members have the distinction of wearing this recognition pin as part of the heritage of being a member of the Post 281 Honor Guard.
Post 281’s Honor Guard is one of the few Honor Guards in our Region. Our honor guard is typically called multiple times a month to provide honors at funerals all across our region. If an Honor Guard is needed to “Present the Colors” , they call our post first. The team is typically asked to offer a rifle volley as well. Our team is often called upon to be an Honor Guard for fellow veterans that have passed on to the “Post Everlasting” , as is the Legion-approved manner of recognizing the death of a member. OUR HONOR GUARD NEEDS ADDITIONAL MEMBERS. The post provides the uniforms and reimburses the travel expenses to and from any organized call on the part of the Honor Guard. If you are interested in finding out more, talk with any of the members of the team or contact HG Captain Steve Wren at 615-957-3489.
The Honor Guard’s current and past members are ( not in alphabetical order) : Cary Cundall and Steve Wren are the only active HG members who are left from the original 2011 HG. Jim Atwood, Bill Houston and Robert Fields were also original members and are no longer active. Current members include:
Mike Adams, Jim Cheramie, Pat Costanza, Mike Faoro, David Hale, Jeff Mattingly, Don Moody, Bruno Padovani, Arnold Painter, Dan Rhame, Jim Simpson, Wayne Smith, Shawn Taylor, Brenda Thompson, Fred Thompson, Grady Thompson and Bud Werner. Rolus Smith, Roland Forand and Mickey Clark were former active members for many years. Cleo Todd, George Cooper and Mike Scoville are deceased.
Tennessee’s got its first American Legion Oratorical champion who was the first-place winner of $25,000 in scholarship funds from the National Oratorical contest. Congratulations to Gina Harjani and her family of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. All Legion members of the state of Tennessee are proud to have had an active role in making all of this happen. The oratorical contest is one of the best things we do as Legionnaires , along with so many others, but most certainly one of my favorite elements of service to our community, our state, and our nation.
A group of our Post 281 members welcomed The Run For The Wall riders at the Beckwith Road overpass on May 18th. I would guesstimate there were around 200 riders in the main body and then several different smaller groups that passed before they came through. It was a great day to be out there and to be welcomed by so many motorists and truckers that were going under the bridge and were thrilled to see American flags waving. Our post always offers financial support to this event in the way of funding some of the fuel cost for riders on their journey across the country, from Oxnard, CA to The Wall in Washington, D.C.
American Legion of Tennessee, Boys State 25 -30 May, Tennessee Technical University, Cookville, Tennessee
Chris Davis, the News Channel 5, Emmy / AP Award-winning reporter at NewsChannel 5 Nashville, and former reporter at WHNT-Huntsville and KSDK- St. Louis (the red-haired young man pictured above on the right, when he was a junior in high school) shared his memories of being a Boys State selectee.
Governor Bill Lee (pictured above on the left) spoke at Tennessee’s Boys State today, “which got me reminiscing about my own American Legion Boys State experience,” stated Chris Davis.
Boys State is a nationwide program, run by the American Legion, which takes delegates from each high school and brings them together to learn about public service and leadership.
Over the course of a week, the boys (and girls at Girls State) elect a governor, mayors, aldermen and the like.
“I had a friend at Boys State that decided to run for governor, and I helped him run his campaign. The first picture there is me giving his nominating speech at the assembly. He won the nomination but fell short of the office. That experience probably served me well now that I cover the legislature for us.
“I recently found out that my grandfather and father also attended Boys State, which is pretty amazing. I’m glad the program still thrives.”
Our post sponsored the following young high school juniors. They have all committed to come and speak at one of our post meetings (reference below) and tell our members about their experience over the next three months, before school goes back into session.
From Mt Juliet High School:
Bangera, Tanish (July)
Brown, Oliver (Aug)
Constantin, David (Aug)
Lewis, Dyson (Aug)
Scoby, Ethan (June)
From Green Hill High School:
Bearup, Riley (Aug)
Gatlin, James (Jul)
Loftis, Adam (Jul)
Marshall, John (July, but presenting to the members of the Dell Webb Veteran’s Club )
For those members who are unaware, American Legion Post 281 is the sponsor of Boy Scout Troop 150 of Mt Juliet. This has been an ongoing relationship that started shortly after the post was chartered. In a recent conversation with a few troop leaders, we were made aware that they needed a new Troop flag. They wondered if we could help them with financing. The answer was an emphatic “of course. We’d be glad to step in and help out.” This is what the flag looks like.
Post 281 Commander Ward, center, Post 17 Commander Chris Beetles, left, Vietnam Veterans of American Commander Mike Myers, left and second row, and Linda Yates {President of the Auxiliary) Vietnam Veterans of America place a floral wreath in memory of Wilson County veterans that have given the ultimate sacrifice at the Wilson County Memorial Service held at the Veterans Center in Lebanon on Memorial Day.
Random shots worth seeing. More information about the Honoring America’s Flag event in the future.
1st Vice Mattingly wanted all branches of the service to be recognized in our meetings.Under Armor volunteers helping with setup of Field of Flags.JBD Express on stage and performing at our Patriotic Honor Concert with Honoring America’s Flag event.Beautiful sunset at the Honoring America’s Flag event.Special thanks to Post member Bridget Passatore for efforts in making this concert poster for our JBD Express entertainment during our Patriotic Honor Concert.Post 281 is a sponsor of Legend Race Car 66, owned and operated by Veteran Ed Bray of Cookeville, and an ardent supporter of “Be the ONE”, efforts for Veterans that are experiencing a difficult time, for whatever reason.
Don Moody served in the U.S. Navy during Vietnam from 1963 to 1969 as a Construction Mechanic, specializing in the maintenance and repair of the Navy’s heavy construction equipment.
For the rest of Don’s meritorious service narrative please Click Here and take a moment to read about some of our other recipients as well.
Arnold (Arnie) Painter
Arnie, Jr., comes from a long family tradition of military service. His great-grandfather served in the Confederacy in the Civil War. His grandfather served under General Pershing during the Mexican Expedition from 1916-1917. His father, Arnie, Sr., served in WWII and the Korean War. Both Senior and Junior Arnie’s served at the same time in the 2d Infantry Division during the Korean War.
For the rest of Arnie’s lengthy and colorful service narrative, please Click Hereand scroll down to find his story.
The next big event on our calendar is working the Veterans Building and American Legion booth at the Tennessee State/Wilson County Fair, August 14 thru 23. Free entrance into the fair, along with free parking.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Post Challenge Coin Sales and availablity
If you would like to purchase a Post Challenge Coin, contact FO Steve Iles though this website, or drop any post officer a note and we can “square you away”. Cost is $7.00 each. We have experienced very positive comments and greater-than-expected sales and it seems we will be placing a second order in the near future.
Each year at the end of the school year, our post recognizes cadets from the local JROTC programs that excel in military excellence and in scholastic excellence. The cadets are selected by the program’s senior military instructors based on a variety of factors.
Certificate (American Legion Scholastic Excellence) 2025: JULIA JIRKA
Senior Marine JRTOC instructor Major (R) Al Intili was presented a certificate of appreciation and a challenge coin from the post for his service to the students in our community, as he retired at the end of the 2024/2025 school year.
Green Hill’s JROTC program: Cadet Maben Morley received the Scholastic Excellence award and Cadet Levi Thompson received the Military Excellence award. No pictures are available.
For those of you whom have made it this far into the current newsletter, how about sharing a few comments or perhaps some recommendations for other “content” items that might be informative and entertaining. Although producing a document in the form of an online newsletter may seem simple, it represents hours of work and can be very frustrating too. Thanks……!
All members are needed to show up and help with the take down and storage of the flags and associated gear that make this event happen. Tomorrow, 26 May, 1:00 PM, clock tower, veterans memorial.
Tonight’s the night….. Honoring America’s Flag in honor of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Come and celebrate with us at the Mt. Juliet Veterans Clock tower at with a Patriotic Concert of music, food and enjoyment, in honor of the freedoms we have, because of their service to our GREAT country. 6:00 PM, bring lawn chairs.
Agenda for Post meeting on Tuesday, 13 May with social time and food STARTING 5:30 pm , MT. Juliet, Charlie Daniels Park, Community Center, Room Bravo
NEW START time for the pizza and social time is 5:30 PM. Regular meeting begins at 6:00 pm. We must be done NLT 7:45 pm on meeting nights.
Welcome guest and all members in attendance.
Adoption of minutes as posted on the Website 18 APR.
The busiest Month of the YEAR is here…. Calendar UPDATE as follows:
Sunday 18 May, Run for the Wall Support, 3:00 pm, at Golden Bear/Beckwith Road, bring your American Flag and support the Run for the Wall riders as they pass by on I 40, headed to Lebanon for a fuel stop at Pete’s Truck Stop, enroute to Cookeville.
Honoring America’s Flag Display in cooperation with the Mt. Juliet Exchange Club
Thursday 22 May, 09: 00 am, Clock Tower at MT Juliet RD and East and West Division, in stall rebar for Honoring America’s Flag event, with post members, Under Armor volunteers and others, in cooperation with the Mt. Juliet Exchange Club. Bring work gloves and a small ( 5 lb.) sledgehammer if you own one.
Thursday 22 May, 10: 00am, begin Exchange Club assistance support. See signup schedule, with continuous 24 hr. coverage for each day until take down on the 26th of May.
Saturday 24 May, 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm, Patriotic Honor Concert at Honoring America’s Flag event, featuring Mt. Juliet’s JBD express, along with the Ed Bray’s Ledgen race car #66. Food truck will be available. Tickets for attending are sold at the entrance; recommended donation is $12. Special tickets for an American Flag set, a burger, chip and drink, and enjoy the concert for $50 donation. See flyer on this website.
Monday 26 May, 3:00 pm, Take down and storage of flags and posters.
2. Thanks to former Executive Committee members, Mike Faoro, Bob Snuck, Shawn Taylor, and Don Barnes for their dedication and service to the post. Member Mike Faoro is presenting two JROTC award to students at GHHS at 5:00 pm, 13 May.
3. Oath of Office to our next Executive Committee for the year 2025-2026 will be conducted by former CDR Lew Hightower New 1st Vice, Jeff Mattingly, 2nd Vice Brandon Adderholt, S.O. Patti Whitmore and new S@A Mike Adams will not be at the meeting due to planned vacations. New Adjutant Bruno Padovani, F.O. Steve Iles, and Chaplain David Hale will be administered the Oath of Office.
4. Boys state update, we have 11 young men have registered with Dept attending.
5. Mid-Year Department Convention, Murfreesboro 14 -15 June, basically 8 am to Steve Iles , Patti Whitmore and I will be attending.
6. Wilson County Memorial Day (26 May) at the Vet Center in Lebanon @ 10 am, for all of Wilson County. HG will be present to conduct rifle volley.
8. Next big event on the horizon is the State/County Fair in 14-23 Aug.
Agenda for Post 281 regular meeting, 8 APR 25 @ The Charlie Daniels Park, Community Center, Room “B” as in BRAVO
6:00 PM, Mission BBQ is serving tonight with a variety of their wonderful BBQ options, along with green beans and cole slaw and drinks and dessert too along with soft drinks, tea, and cookies too. Socializing while eating. Mary will address our members and give everyone an update on their special days for veterans 17 May, (Armed Forces Day) at their restaurant located at Opry Mills Malls and when free sandwiches for Veterans will be available.
On or about 6:30, Begin opening protocol for the meeting.
Quits of Valor Presentations for members Arnie Painter and Don Moody/ by Robert St. John and John Herko.
Adoption of the minutes as posted on the Post website; 28 March, February as posted by the Post Adjutant.
Nominations for 2025/2026 Post Officers are open and looking to fill the 1st Vice, 2nd Vice, Adjutant, and Sergeant at Arms post positions.
Update on Honoring America’s Flag event, in May, and special music concert on Saturday, 24 May at the Clock tower. Cover sequence of timing and special coverages for security. Set up on 22 May….overnight coverage…..Concert 24 May…take down and storage 26 May.
Boys State, with our 10 boys we will sponsor, runs from 25 May to 30 May.
Memorial Day event in Lebanon at the Veterans Center, starting at 11:00 am.
Next regular post meeting scheduled for 13 May, CDP CC, room Bravo. 11 Mar.
HG, ALR, SAL, Auxiliary updates (Tree Sale information as on our website, plus volunteers)
Oratorical Update
CDR New Business / Correspondence/ CDR’s Comments / Leadership opportunities
Discussion about our Honoring America’s Flag event in May, with Possibilities of a night of music on 24 May making it big with a Concert at CD Park, 24 May.
Guest Speaker: Susan P. Hunter, author of book 77 Letters – Operation Morale Booster: Vietnam.
Tuesday, March 4, 2020, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Del Webb Lake Providence Veterans Club
Del Webb Lake Providence Clubhouse, 1100 Del Webb Blvd, Mt. Juliet, TN
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED: Contact John Herko, 830-431-1296 or to john.herko@me.com.
Social time (pizza) from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., followed by a short meeting and guest speaker.
About the author: Susan P. Hunter, a passionate supporter of Vietnam veterans (“#BravestGeneration), provides an energetic presentation about her mother, Joan Hunter) spearheading “Operation Morale Booster” during the Vietnam Era. It became an extraordinary humanitarian effort to ensure that every GI received a letter during the unit’s weekly mail call. Joan became an ardent pen pal to many veterans. One in particular, Robert Johnson, responded to her letters over the span of seven years (1966-1972)…hence, the title of the book. This unlikely “pen pal” relationship helped Johnson through some of his darkest days (including four tours in Vietnam) at home and abroad. As part of the presentation, Susan discusses some of the contrasts between WWII veterans and Vietnam veterans regarding length of assignments, days in combat, and how returning soldiers were treated by the country for which they risked their lives.
