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Tag: American Legion Post 281

DoD requiring new ID

Written by Jeff Mattingly on . Posted in Announcements.

Fellow Legionnaire and Post 281 member John Drnek passed this along:

  • Published July 19, 2024
  • By U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Lucas Weber
  • 911th Airlift Wing

PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AIR RESERVE STATION, Pa. —  

Beginning in 2026, the legacy Uniformed Services Identification (USID) card will no longer be accepted for access to benefits, privileges, or DoD bases.

Something to put on the “To Do” list for sure. Beat the rush and get yours soon!

For the rest of the story: Click Here

Wreaths Across America

Written by Jeff Mattingly on . Posted in Announcements.

Please join us in honoring our fallen veterans on Saturday December 14, 2024 @ 11:00 am at the Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery.

             In 1992, the Worcester Wreath Company began a tradition of placing remembrance wreaths on the headstones of our nation’s fallen heroes at Arlington National Cemetery during the holidays. This annual tribute continued solely for Arlington until The Wreaths Across America (WAA) nonprofit was established in 2007 and expanded to honor all veterans buried in cemeteries across our United States. Thousands of volunteers participate annually to help raise funds and by laying remembrance wreaths at the base of white headstones throughout the country during December.

Our mission is to REMEMBER the lives and sacrifices of our fallen veterans, HONOR all who serve and their families and TEACH the younger generations about the cost of those freedoms they enjoy every day.  At the Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery (MTSVC), an approximately 30 minute tribute ceremony, is held in the enclosed rotunda/chapel on the hill overlooking the cemetery. This service is open to the public. Upon completion, volunteers lay a remembrance wreath at headstones throughout the cemetery. Fundraising to purchase wreaths is a major challenge each year, as unfortunately, new headstones are added each day. Our wreath need is ever increasing. Remembrance wreaths must be sponsored or purchased by November 26, 2024.

Remembrance wreaths cost $17 each and may be purchased online or by check. Our local, Friends & Family Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery sponsorship group, has a unique code (TN0080) assigned by WAA that provides a third wreath free for every two sponsored. To sponsor wreaths online either use the QR Code below or please go to our website http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/TN0080  Payment may also be made by check payable to “Wreaths Across America” with “TN0080” on the memo line and mail to: 91 Appleton Road, Five Points, TN 38457. And a final option is to sponsor a wreath by texting “WREATH24” to 20222 with your cell phone. 

Sponsoring designated wreaths for a specific veteran/grave may be done online by choosing “Grave Specific” in more options when ordering. If you have any issues navigating the website, please contact Gino Giambelluca via email at gene3fan@yahoo.com , by home phone (931) 556-2340 or call/text (931) 242-7931. If purchasing with a check, just include a note with the veteran’s name as it appears on the headstone and location in the cemetery.

Please do not contact the cemetery directly for information about Wreaths Across America. All questions or concerns should be directed to Amanda Brown, WAA Location Coordinator and solely responsible for the program.

           Ceremony held at:  

Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery (MTSVC)  

    7931 McCrory Lane, Nashville, Tennessee 37221  (615) 532-2238                  

 Point of Contact:      Amanda Brown / abrownwaatn@gmail.com  (918) 808-2779 cell

Kroger Plus card community rewards charity code “YW675” 

Find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/waamtsvc

November 25

Written by Jeff Mattingly on . Posted in Announcements.

Is the Deadline to Sign Up

‘Tis the season!

Please use the following link to RSVP and help our caterer with preparations.

Please try to select your dessert preferences while you’re in there. There’s a little checkbox for additional items.

Pecan Pie or Banana Pudding

When you receive confirmation of your sign up it will say for you to bring your menu selections, NOT. That’s just the way this signup thing assumes you’re signing up and volunteering to bring things. We don’t have the ability to edit the confirmations. So please don’t bring anything but yourselves! You may pay at the door if you haven’t already done so. $20 each.

Oh, and if you’ve signed up at one of our meetings, then please go ahead and use this link to confirm. It will really help a lot!

Here’s the link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4DAFA62DA7F5C52-52895620-christmas

Thanks for your help. Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Post Meeting Agenda for 12 Nov

Written by Jeff Mattingly on . Posted in American Legion Post 281 News, Announcements.

News and Notes for the 12 Nov Regular Post meeting.  

6:00 PM Pizza, Chips and Soft Drinks during social time.

On or about 6:30, Begin Opening Protocol.

Boys State attendees.     

Introduce guest speaker Mayor James Maness to come and address post and answer questions 

Adopt Minutes as posted by Adjutant 

Christmas Banquet planning.   The annual Christmas Banquet will again be held at Rutland Senior Place at 435 NW Rutland Rd.   Doors will open at 6:00 PM.   To make reservations, let Steve Iles know at our meeting that you want to attend, or you can make reservations online at the following link.   Post 281: Christmas Banquet for 2024 .   Be sure to choose your main course and your dessert.    The cost is $20 per person.   You can pay at the meeting or at the door the night of the banquet.   Special Guest Speaker for the evening will be Susan Hunter as she describes the writing of her book 77 Letters, regarding letters sent to American Soldiers in Viet Nam from her mother.   

Challenge Coin,   We have worked up a challenge coin for our post.   It will be introduced to the members on Tuesday.   The decision was made to offer members a chance to purchase their own coins to give away.   The cost of each coin will be $ 8.00 each for members.    The coins will be given away to special recipients by the post where their service to our post and our community is noted.  Attached is a working proof of the coin.    (Terry wrote this. I can’t see how to attach the proof and it looked to tiny. So I thought to make it the featured image, above. Hope you like it! JM)

 New Business,    Wreaths Across America,     New event for the post to participate in.   David Hale and 2nd Vice Bob Snuck are our post representatives.     A member would like us to consider making this a yearly effort on the part of the post, if nothing else, just that our post should ask for a donation to contribute to the cause.   One member of our post is planning to donate $300.00

Flowers for Steven Cates, Tyler’s father, on behalf of the post. 

Veterans Day Parade

Written by Jeff Mattingly on . Posted in Announcements.

Our Honor Guard will be participating at the 11 am ceremony at the Wilson County Veterans Plaza (304 E Main St, Lebanon, TN 37087) and at Noon an Honor Guard detachment will be at Mission BBQ (Opry Mills, 161 Opry Mills Dr, Nashville, TN 37214) to present the colors and our own David Hale signing the National Anthem for their ceremony.

Please come out and join us!

Christmas Banquet for 2024

Written by Jeff Mattingly on . Posted in Announcements.

‘Tis the season!

Please use the following link to RSVP and help our caterer with preparations.

Although an email address is not required during the RSVP, if it in you’ll get a reminder 2 days before the banquet. You will also find a button there to add the event to your calendar.

Oh, and if you’ve signed up at one of our meetings, then please go ahead and use this link to confirm. It will really help a lot!

Here’s the link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4DAFA62DA7F5C52-52895620-christmas

Thanks for your help. Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Donation Center for Hurricane Helene Victims

Written by Jeff Mattingly on . Posted in American Legion Post 281 News, Announcements.

Lebanon Fire Department is hosting a donation center for the victims of the recent disaster of Hurricane Helene. The drop-off location will be at LFD Headquarters, located at 520 Coles Ferry Pike. This location will receive donations from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM until further notice. 

Please note, that while local communities appreciate the volunteer spirit during disasters and emergencies, it is important to refrain from sending resources that have not been requested by state or local authorities.

If you would like to bring donations to our upcoming picnic (10/5/24), and/or to our next post meeting (10/8/24), we’ll deliver them to the donation center.