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Honoring America’s Flag……tonight, 6:00 pm

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.

13 May 2025, Post 281 Meeting Agenda

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: 00 am, 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.

Officers Reports , 1st V/2ndV/ADJ/FO/SO/CH (sick call) HG/ALR/ Committees  

Closing Protocol to follow.  

9.  Next regular post meeting scheduled for 10 June 2025     

Honor America’s Flag 2025 #2 #2

Hey, I goofed! We need more help. Especially setting up the flags! I’ve changed the Sign Up app. Please click the link below to get on board. There’s also several other opportunities to help, so let’s getter done!

Our biggest fundraising event of the year, so far. We Need Your Help!

Please click the link below to sign up. This year is going to be really special!

Click Here to go sign up!

We will also need your help with promoting our Patriotic Honor Concert! Stay Tuned for more information!

April 2025 General Meeting Minutes

COMPILED/SUBMITTED BY:  ADJUTANT Shawn R Taylor   

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES – Date: 8 Apr 2025

Reviewed By: COMMANDER Terry Ward, POST 281, Tyler Cates, Dept of TN      

CONVENED:  1830   ADJOURNED: 1945  

MEMBERS PRESENT: 28   VISITORS: 10   POST OFFICERS: 9    TOTAL: 47

ASSEMBED

At 1730 hrs., the doors of the Mt. Juliet Community Center (MJCC) were opened for food and fellowship.  Merry Roberts, with Mission BBQ, provided food and drinks for members and guests.

GUESTS AND SPEAKERS

  • The family of Arnold Painter and Don Moody.
  •  QOV – Robert St John presented members, Arnold Painter and Don Moody with Quilts of Valor.  Over 409k quits have been presented thus far.
  •  Merry Roberts – Armed Forces Week is May 12th – 17th.  All week veterans may come by and get 1 free sandwich (per week).  Each day will celebrate one of the armed services.  On Saturday, May 17th, David Hale will sing the National Anthem.

OPENING CEREMONY

At 18:30 CMDR Ward called the Post to order and offered prayer, followed by placement of the POW/MIA Flag at the designated memorial table by Sgt-at-Arms Don Barnes.  This was followed by The Pledge of Allegiance and the Preamble of the Constitution of The American Legion.

Past Commanders and Distinguished Guests

CMDR Ward recognized Post 281 Past Commander Lew Hightower.

New members were welcomed:

  •  None

READING OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING

A motion to wave the reading and accept as written last month’s general meeting minutes that were posted on the post’s website was made by Lew Hightower.  Seconded by Don Moody.  Motion Approved.

OFFICERS REPORT

  • COMMANDER – Terry Ward
    • Wants to start the meetings at 5:30 pm instead of 6pm.  We have to vacate the MJCC before 8pm so the doors can be locked promptly at 8.
  • 1ST VICE – Mike Faoro
    • Nothing to Report
  • 2ND VICE – Bob Snuck
    • Rocky, with MJ Parks and Recreation, wants a helicopter for display.  Preferrable a Cobra or a Huey.  Bob is going to Ft Drum in the near future to talk to them about securing one.
    • Bob received a coin from the American Legion Honor Guard while attending a funeral in Sebastian, Fl.
  • ADJUTANT – Shawn Taylor
    • Dept Convention is June 14th-15th at Embassy Suites SE in Murfreesboro, TN.
    • National Convention will be August 21st-28th in Tampa, FL.
    • National American Legion College will be November 16th-21st.  Applications due to Department by June 9th.  Interviews will be Saturday, June 14th, 2025 during the convention.
    • SAL nominations for SAL of the Year due by May 15th.
    • CPR due by May 15th, 2025.
    • New Instagram account for department. @theamericanlegiontn
  • FINANCE OFFICER – Steve Iles
    • Post 281 finances are healthy.  $7,767 is in the checking.  $22k in 3 CD’s.
    • $4,250 was spent this month for Boys State.  We did receive a check from the Del Webb Veteran’s Club for $425 which sponsors 1 boy.
  • SERVICE OFFICER – Patti Whitmore
    • Open emails with caution.  Phishing is on the uprise. 
    • Also look for emails from the Lebanon Service Officer.  They send out emails for medical follow ups.
  • CHAPLAIN – David Hale
    • SICK CALL
  • George Barnes.  Getting shots in his eyes.  Had a very hard week.  Just turned 90 and is resting.
  • Max Wix.  Has lymphoma Leukemia.  April 15th will start monthly Immunotherapy infusion for Chronic Lymphoid Leukemia (CLL).  Last week he did a new bone density I.V. Infusion.  Gloria is doing well.
  • Terry Yates.  Traveling and feeling much better.
  • Ed Collins.  Victim of a road rage incident.  Rental vehicle doesn’t accommodate his mobility issues.  Has about 3 lbs of metal in his body and his spine is fragile and has difficulty getting around.
  • Jerry Chatfield.  Fell and broke his hip.  Was present at the meeting.
  • SERGEANT-AT-ARMS – Don Barnes
    • Nothing to Report

COMMITTEE REPORTS

  • Honor Guard – Capt. Steve Wren
    • Honor Guard just completed their 501st ceremony since the inception of the post’s honor guard.
  • Sons of the American Legion – Adjutant Lew Hightower
    • Need to have a meeting next month for officer elections and to take care of past dues.
  • American Legion Riders – Director Bob Ramsey
    • The riders are not very active.  There will be an activity this Saturday, 12th, a train ride for the Mile Long yard sale, from Nashville to Watertown.
  • Honoring America’s Flag – Terry Ward
    • There will be a concert on Saturday, May 24th at the clock tower.  It will start at 1800 and last 90 minutes.  People will be able to purchase a ticket for $35 which will include a food ticket and a flag. 
    • The VVA will also have a food truck on site.
  • Buddy Check – John Herko
    • The month of April about 15 members will conduct the spring buddy checks and attempt to contact about 190 members.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

  • Nothing to Report

NEW BUSINESS

  • POST OFFICER NOMINATIONS AND ELECTION
    • Commander Ward opened the floor for the nomination and election of post officers for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
    • Four officers are stepping down, 1st Vice, 2nd Vice, Adjutant and SAA.
    • Terry Ward nominates Jeff Mattingly for 1st Vice Commander
    • Shawn Taylor nominates Bruno Padovani for Adjutant.
    • Don Barnes nominates Mike Adams for Sergeant at Arms.
    • Patti Whitmore nominates Brandon Adderholt for 2nd Vice Commander
      • Don Moody seconded the nominations.
      • All nominated accepted their nominations.
      • With no discussion, the membership present voted by voice and the motion passed.  All officers, new and remaining, will be sworn in at the May General Meeting.
  • Post 281 Officers for 2025-26
    • Commander – Terry Ward
    • 1st Vice Commander – Jeff Mattingly
    • 2nd Vice Commander – Brandon Adderholt
    • Adjutant – Bruno Padovani
    • Finance Officer – Steve Iles
    • Service Officer – Patti Whitmore
    • Sergeant at Arms – Mike Adams
    • Chaplain – David Hale

FOR THE GOOD OF THE AMERICAN LEGION

  • Marine Week will be in Nashville, Tennessee June 1st – 7th, 2025.
  • April 18th – People should put 2 lights in every home.  Preferrable up high.  This is in remembrance of when the British were sent to take all the guns and powder from every home in the New England area.  The 2 lights up high was the signal that the British were coming by land.  This started the American Revolution.

MEETING ADJOURNMENT

With no further business to attend to, the closing ceremony was conducted, with closing prayer offered.  The POW/MIA Flag was retrieved for storage.  This was followed by honors to our flag and the meeting was adjourned at 1945 hrs. 

Post 281 regular meeting, 8 APR 25

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.   

Officer reports:     1st Vice, 2nd Vice,  ADJ, FO, SO,  S@A, CH (sick call)

HG, ALR, SAL, Auxiliary updates ,  Buddy Calls update/ John Herko

CDR     New Business / Correspondence/ CDR’s Comments 

  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.      

Anything else for the good of the legion.  

Closing Protocol.          

TENNESSEE LEGIONNAIRE AND INSTAGRAM

The American Legion Department of Tennessee Monthly Bulletin includes a lot of upcoming events and goings on around the state. The Department also publishes the Tennessee Legionnaire which comes out in February, May, August, and November. A glimpse of what’s going on around us if you will.

The bulletin says, ‘The Tennessee Legionnaire has a new design which lends itself to photos of the things happening around the department. Email your photos to shannon@tnlegion.org. Also, we have launched an Instagram account for the Department, and you can find it. Follow us there so we can follow you as well. Instagram is a great way to connect with young veterans, who often do not use Facebook.’

Thanks to Shawn Taylor, our Adjutant, for highlighting this announcement.