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Tag: Tyler Cates – American Legion Post 281

Wreaths Across America & Mission BBQ

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

Just found out about this:

Wreaths Across America and MISSION BBQ Kick-off 2025 American Heroes Cup Campaign

MISSION BBQ locations nationwide to donate a portion of Heroes Cup sales to support locally interred servicemembers, and their families.

Last year, MISSION BBQ customers raised $352,930 for WAA through its American Heroes Cup campaign, sponsoring the placement of more than 20,760 veterans’ wreaths in memory of our nation’s servicemembers – these wreaths will be placed by volunteers from more than 140 participating locations this year on National Wreaths Across America Day – Sat., December 13, 2025. Please scroll down for our MTVC event time and directions.

Starting on Wed., November 12, through the end of 2025, for every American Heroes Cup purchased at any of MISSION BBQ’s 156 locations for $4.99, $2 will be donated to WAA to sponsor veterans’ wreaths for placement in December 2026.

Through December 31, 2025, proceeds from the American Heroes Cups will be donated to WAA. Customers are encouraged to bring their American Heroes Cup on return visits to the restaurant to receive refills for $1.49. To find a MISSION BBQ location near you, visit https://mission-bbq.com/locations. 

Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery’s Wreaths Across America program is in full swing!

Results 2025 So Far

9,123 Wreaths Sponsored
63.4% to Goal
5,277 To Go!

Get directions – 7931 McCrory Lane (exit 188 off of I-40 )
Nashville, Tennessee 37221 United States

Please join us for Our Wreaths Across America Remembrance and Honor Program at the Cemetery Chapel on December 13, 2025 at 11:00 am.  Wreath Placement will follow immediately after the conclusion of the ceremony and TAPS is sounded by the bugler.

To sponsor wreaths for our location, please visit: Wreathsacrossamerica.org/ and scroll down this page to the supporting Sponsorship Groups. Purchasing via one of these groups provides a larger impact for your donation. For more information email abrownwaatn@gmail.com

Wilson Warriors

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

The breakfast is open to Veterans and all Active Duty Military and First Responders.

Donations are Welcome!

Wilson Warriors was formed years ago to help veterans who could not afford paying the fee to have their names placed on the walls at the Veterans Plaza.

Several of our Post 281 Honor Guard members will be in attendance. Hope to see you there!

2025 Christmas Banquet , December 9th

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

Ladies & Gentlemen!

The moment is fast approaching for our annual Christmas Banquet to take place. Come for a great time and to celebrate the beginning of the Holiday Season with the members of our post. American Legion Post 281 of Mt. Juliet would cordially like to invite you to attend our 15th annual Christmas banquet, being held on December 9th, 2025, at the Rutland Senior Center, 435 Northwest Rutland Rd., in the center’s banquet room. Doors will open at 5:30 PM and the banquet and festivities will begin at 6:00 PM .

If you would, please take a moment to visit the RSVP link below. Our deadline for ordering the food for the evening is the end of the month (30 Nov) which is quickly approaching. You can pay online when you make the reservation at the link below, or just pay at the door.

Rick Bell, the Mayor of Lebanon, is our speaker for the evening, He will be sharing stories about Castle Heights Military Academy and stories about Wilson County Veterans that have made their mark. We will also have some door prizes to give away and we’ll sing a few Christmas Carols as well.

RSVP

Wreaths Across America

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

Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery’s Wreaths Across America program is in full swing!

Results 2025 So Far

9,123 Wreaths Sponsored
63.4% to Goal
5,277 To Go!

Please join us for Our Wreaths Across America Remembrance and Honor Program at the Cemetery Chapel on December 13, 2025 at 11:00 am.  Wreath Placement will follow immediately after the conclusion of the ceremony and TAPS is sounded by the bugler.

To sponsor wreaths for our location, please visit: Wreathsacrossamerica.org/ and scroll down this page to the supporting Sponsorship Groups. Purchasing via one of these groups provides a larger impact for your donation. For more information email abrownwaatn@gmail.com

Veterans Day Program

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

Correction: Our previous email/post had the assembly point for the parade as the Library. In fact, according to Bill Moss, POC for the event, “The parade will originate from First United Methodist, 415 West Main Street, at 10:00 AM and proceed up West Main Street, go around the square and terminate at the Veteran’s Museum, next to the Wilson County Courthouse.”

Additionally, we now have an agenda for the program beginning at 11:00 AM.

  • Welcome – Chris Beadle, Commander American Legion Post 15
  • Master of Ceremonies – Bill Moss, Commander VFW Post 5015
  • Devotion/Prayer – Jeff Luttrell, Deacon First Baptist Church, Watertown, TN
  • Pledge of Allegiance – ZaBrina Seay, Director, Wilson County Veterans Service Office
  • National Anthem – Denise Michelle Johnson, Singer/Songwriter
  • Recognition of Anniversaries of Ending of Wars
  • Recognition of Branches of Service – Mike Myer, Commander VVA Post 1004
  • Speaker – Kevin J Croteau, LTC (Ret), USA
  • Rifle Volley – Honor Guard American Legion Post 281
  • Taps – American Legion Post 281, Mt. Juliet – Terry Ward, Commander Post 281

Of coarse, this is subject to change.

Our Riders and Upcoming Events

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

Phil Friedli has some information to share. Some old, some new.

On October 18th our Riders were out supporting the Wilson County Veterans Ride which was formerly known as the Bernie Ash Memorial Ride.

Yesterday, November 1st we were supporting riders and members of Post 75 Portland, TN. In observance of the passing of Aubrey “Ollie” Olive, a founding member of the riders chapter with the post. “Ollie” was a member of the legion for many years and he will be missed by many who knew him. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

Upcoming events:

November 11th we will participate in the Lebanon Veterans Parade. Approximately 30 units will begin assembling at the First United Methodist, 415 West Main Street at 9:30 a.m. for the parade which will begin at 10:00 a.m., featuring color guards, high school bands, scouts, public service and military vehicles, motor cycles, horses, JROTC units, National Guard, all Veterans organizations, vets marching and riding, trollies and many other units. Leading the parade will be 100 year old WWII vet T/Sgt Elmer Marler of Watertown just received France’s highest honor, the Legion of Merit at the Tennessee State Capitol in October. The parade will turn from S. Hatton onto West Main Street, to the square, counter clockwise to East Main Street to the Veterans Park and Museum.

The Veterans Day ceremony will begin promptly at 11:00 a.m. in compliance with the signing of the armistice ending WWI in 1918, and lasts for approximately one hour. The ceremony will consist of patriotic music, posting of the colors and wreaths to our war dead, raising of the service flags, recognizing all branches of the military and veterans. Gold Star Mothers, POW MIA. Color Guards and our American Legion Post 281 Honor Guard rifle volley preceding taps which ends the ceremony. The featured speaker this year is 1st Lt Norman F. Weber who as a child and as an American citizen, was held hostage in Hitler’s Germany and later served in the 82nd Airborne Division United States Army and the Air Force Reserve. Hot dogs and drinks will be served following the ceremony by Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1004. The event is sponsored annually by: American Legion Post 15, the City of Lebanon and Wilson County. https://lebanonwilsonchamber.com/lebanon-veterans-day/

Then on November 15th our Riders are participating for the 3rd year in the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System Veterans Day Parade an annual event held at the Alvin C. York VA Medical Center in Murfreesboro, TN, at 3400 Lebanon Rd. Pre-parade entertainment starting at 10 a.m. and the parade at 11 a.m.. The event is free and open to the public, featuring pre-parade entertainment, a ceremony, and the parade itself.  Phil says they bring patients out and it’s a good time. Come on out!

Kroger Community Rewards Update

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

Quick Update: The Kroger App has changed and since it ’tis the season we’d like to make it easy for you to help Post 281 continue to thrive.

If you’re having trouble signing up, reply to this email and let me know when I can call to help.

Most everyone has one of these. That is an account with Kroger that allows you to take advantage of their discounts and accrue fuel points or other rewards.

Other Rewards?

Other Rewards like Community Rewards!

You may remember some past postings here titled, “Almost Painless“. Here’s how the ‘new’ screens look.

Start the Kroger App on your phone and Click on the Head & Shoulders icon at the top left

Select, “My Account“

Select, “Community Rewards“

It may say “Change Organization” or Search for (Find an Organization) DS341 and Select “Enroll” and you’re done!

For those wishing to use a computer:

Log on to the Kroger webpage and click on the Head & Shoulders icon at the upper right.

Select, “Community Rewards“

It may say “Change Organization” or Search for (Find an Organization) DS341 and Select “Enroll” and you’re done!

That was Almost Painless wasn’t it?

2025 Christmas Banquet

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

American Legion Post 281 of Mt. Juliet would cordially like to invite you to attend our 15th annual Christmas banquet, being held on December 9th, 2025, at the Rutland Senior Center, 435 Northwest Rutland Rd., in the center’s banquet room.

Here’s a link for all the details and a convenient way to RSVP. We really need to hear from you by November 30, 2025.

RSVP