Blog

Post Update 6.21.2020

Hello everyone. We are pleased to provide important updates about our Post. Please read carefully.

The Legion Executive Committee held its monthly meeting on June 18th. After much deliberation, the EC voted to reopen the Post on July 1, 2020. We look forward to seeing all of you again!

As you know, our Post is subject to certain rules and regulations, from the city, county, and the state of Georgia, regarding operations during this COVID pandemic. We will abide by all of these rules, and we will require all members and guests to do the same while on the premises. The rules are too significant to list here, but we do want to highlight a few significant changes you will notice once we reopen:

  • We will reopen with full, normal hours for the Social Quarters. However, we will modify those hours if appropriate
  • Many of our usual activities will be prohibited. No Queen of Hearts, poker, card games, bands, or bar bingo will take place initially. We hope to restore these activities soon, and we will update you when they are allowed.
  • No outside food or drinks will be allowed. The SQ will have most of our usual offerings, but we will modify how food and drinks are served to ensure we meet all cleanliness guidelines. In addition, the various Post meals (SAL breakfasts, monthly dinners) will not yet return. 
  • SQ staff will wear masks when near customers, and we encourage all members and guests to wear masks when near others. You may bring your own, and we will have some to distribute as well.
  • Bar service will take place in designated areas at the bar. The staff will not provide table service. If you need assistance, let us know. There are no restrictions on how many people may sit together, but there are restrictions related to the bar. All patrons must have a seat. There is no loitering around the bar.
  • The post will be open to our members, members of other posts, and guests of our members. However, we are going to ask everyone to sign the ledger, not just guests. This will help us with tracking and notification if anyone becomes sick. Also, our maximum capacity is significantly reduced by state regulations. The Junior Vice Commander for the SQ will be responsible for limiting access, should that become necessary to remain within the regulations.
  • Whenever possible, we ask that members enter the SQ via the main (key card) entrance and leave via the deck. 

Our efforts are focused on opening the SQ on July 1st. Once the SQ is open and operating fully, we’ll turn toward cleaning and opening the main hall upstairs. Thus, there will not be an in-person monthly meeting for July. We are hoping to resume monthly meetings in August.

We appreciate your patience, and we are excited to welcome you back to Post 29!

Respectfully,

Post 29 Executive Committee

POW MIA Update 6.26.2020

The DoD DPAA POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced this week the return of four (4) U. S. service men to their families for burial with full military honors and to bring closure to their loved ones.
 
  1. Army, Cpl Francis J. Ruchon, 21, of Douglas County, Wisconsin, Company C, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, Lost on 09/01/1950—Accountrf for on 06/18/2020—Changnyeong/ Korea
  2. Army, Master Sgt James L.Quong, 30,  of Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, Company D, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, Lost on 12/02/1950—Accounted for on 06/18/2020—Chosin Reservoir/ Korea
  3. Marines, Pfc John M. Fahy, 19, of New York, Compan D, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, Lost on 11/22/1943—Accounted for on 06/05/2020—Tarawa Atoll/ WWII
  4. Navy, Fire Controlman 3rd Class Robert T. Stout, 21, of St Louis County, Missouri, USS Oklahoma, Lost on 12/07/1941—Accounted for on 06/18/2020—-Pearl Harbor/ WWII
TOTAL TO DATE—-115
WWII————-81
KOREA————34
VIETNAM———–0
 

“You Are Not Forgotten”

Tommy Cannon
Commander
Georgia POW/MIA Honor Guard

Memorial Day 2020

Dear American Legion Family Members and Friends,

Memorial Day, for most of us, will be different this year. The meaning, however, does not change.

I’m calling on The American Legion Family to encourage communities far and wide to pay tribute to our nation’s fallen heroes at dusk May 25, Memorial Day, by lighting candles of honor and placing them on front porches. Such a display will remind everyone that our resolve to honor those who served before us will continue even as social-distancing measures limit our ability to perform traditional Memorial Day remembrances.

We must adapt and overcome the pandemic in order to pay our respects to the true meaning of Memorial Day.

The manner and placement of the candles of honor are up to each individual. If possible, I recommend using a front porch as a visible reminder of the price that was paid for freedom.

Color options for consideration could include: A red candle to remember the blood shed in battle for the protection of our freedoms. A white candle to keep our POWs/MIAs ever in our thoughts and prayers as we await their return home A blue candle to salute the memories of those who made it home but are no longer with us. However you choose, whether it’s one candle or three, I ask that photos of those candles be shared on social media, tagging The American Legion National Headquarters and using the hashtag #candlesofhonor so our message will reach families everywhere. An additional option is to show your gratitude by having each member of a family or group hold up a sign spelling out a message of Memorial Day. WE SHALL NEVER FORGET would be a good choice.

Also, this year, remember our Virtual Memorial Day page on legion.org/legiontown. Please share with our national audiences the story of someone who served in the Armed Forces who holds special meaning to you. Share who you will be remembering this Memorial Day on social media using hashtag #VirtualMemorialDay.

And let’s not forget that Friday is National Poppy Day. While our poppy distribution plans may be different this year, it’s also an opportunity to innovate. The American Legion Auxiliary National Headquarters is planning a Facebook watch party May 22 at noon EDT. American Legion Family members across the country are also planning other low-contact ways to remember the fallen and keep faith with the disabled through the symbol of our official flower, the red poppy.

No matter how we remember this year, the most important message we need to send is that we will never forget. 
For God and country,

James W. “Bill” Oxford
National Commander

Post Update 5.19.2020

     Hope everyone is safe and sound! I just wanted to update you on a couple of items.

In regards to our annual visit on  Memorial Day weekend to the Mars Hill Cemetery to honor Horace Orr, the Cemetery has advised me that they have postponed all activities till further notice. Therefore, I am planning a very brief ceremony at the grave site on that Sunday. It will be just myself and the Chaplin along with our Historian. I am planning to present a Wreath if possible, waiting to hear back from them if that will be ok.

     As for reopening our Post, we are working out the details on how and when that may happen. The Board will meet at the end of this month and will make those decisions. Please be sure, our Members will be advised of our decisions once we have made them.

     Also, we are being told at this point the Marietta 4th of July Parade is still on. We have signed up and plan to patriciate if it happens. Will keep you posted.

     We will not have a June General Meeting, hoping to resume them starting July.

    In closing please take of yourself and your families during this critical time. The well being of our Members is what is most important.

Walt Cusick, Jr

Commander

Commander’s Column – May

Well here we are in May, no question the last few months have been something none of us have ever experienced for sure! I hope and pray all our Family Members are holding up safe and sound.

The Post remains closed until further notice. We are continuing to track to the situation to see when it would make sense for us to reopen. Please be assured that this decision will not be made until we are confident it is in the best interest of all our Members.

We have been fortunate to this point to have only lost a few of our Members, none of which have been Virus related to my knowledge. Our Chaplin Roy Lantz has done an outstanding job in reaching out to their families and offering our support.

Jr. Vice Russ Wood and Teresa have done an outstanding job in making sure our staff have been well taken care and are receiving the benefits they are entitled to. Also, Russ has taken all the steps required to see that the Post is receiving all the assistance we are able to receive.

As I reported early this month, there will be no Elections this year. Our current Board will stay in place and function as normal.  This action was directed from the National Headquarters via a Resolution to the Department and to all Districts and Posts.  Therefore, we will hold in place as directed.

     In closing, I wish you all the best and please be safe! This will pass; however, it will require some adjustments in how we live our live’s going forward. As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. May God Bless the Post 29 Family and this Great Nation! I am proud to be your Commander!

Walt Cusick, Jr.

Commander

Horace Orr Post 29, Inc.

SAL Column – May

To the Sons of the American Legion Members- I trust this newsletter finds each of you and your families safe and well.  Please let us know if you or if you know other members of the legion who are sick or have been impacted by the corona virus. 

The Sons like all of the American Legion Family are looking forward to the day we can re-open our legion safely for all of our members.  Needless to say we all living in a “new world” of safety and regulatory concerns.  The legion is monitoring the situation concerning re-opening, and will re-open when it feels we can open to post to all activities and it will be safe for all parties. 

We will be submitting our officers next to Dept. in the coming days. Currently I still have open the office of Jr. Vice and Historian vacant for the coming year.  If you have an interest in serving as an office please let me know soon. 

The Sons of the American Legion at Post 29 is also trying to close out membership for 2020.  We are about 20 members short of our goal, so if you have not renewed, please do so and if you have potential new members let us know!  We truly want to be the largest post in the state again this year. 

While we watch our grass grow and clean out our garages during this down time please continue to be safe and well and let us know how you are doing.  Please feel to free to contact me if the Sons of the American Legion Post 29 can be of service to you. 

Thanks

Tom Bell

Commander -Squadron 29

Sons of the American Legion American Legion Post 29

Post Status 5.15.2020

Horace Orr Post 29, Inc. remains closed until further notice. The Executive Committee met via phone conference on 4.30.2020 and confirmed that the Post is to remain closed. The Commander will prepare a full update on various issues soon. Here are a few key reminders.

The American Legion Department of Georgia has a directive which remains in effect that no member posts may reopen unless they follow all of the guidelines of the Governor and the CDC. Post 29 will not reopen until this directive can be met in full. Per the Governor, bars in Georgia must remain closed until at least May 31st. This restriction applies to our Social Quarters.

The state of Georgia remains in under a State of Emergency, and a Shelter In Place order is in effect for the sick, obese, those with medical conditions, and anyone over age 65. These restrictions are scheduled to remain in effect until June 12, 2020. This impacts a significant portion (a majority) of our member base.

Before establishments may reopen, they must put various health and safety protocols into place. It will take us time to make those happen. Of particular impact will be how we can fairly limit access, since there can be no more than 10 people per 300 square feet of space.

Lastly, please do not come to the post. Don’t hang out in the parking lot, and don’t try to enter. We will open in due time, with a proper plan to protect the safety of our members and staff.

Sadly, we know a few of our members have recently contacted the COVID19. And it is likely more will. Please stay safe, and well. Be responsible. Check on a buddy. Reach out if you need anything.