Reminders:

1.     Nominations for Commanders, other Officers, and the Executive Committee start 1 April 2025.

2.     Volunteers needed for the Memorial Day Ceremony at end of May 2025.

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY!!!

Recently six new members have been added to Post 16.  Please welcome Joseph Bosch (Navy); Paul Dunn, Philip Parrino and Timothy Soehner (Air Force); and Hans Hassinger and James Penny (Army) to our membership.  This marks the largest group to join us in recent times. 

This growth has enabled us to regain our position as the second largest American Legion Post in Louisiana.  With 283 members, only Shreveport Post 14 with 742 members exceeds our total membership.  Nicholson Post 38 with 244 members is a close third place.

The addition of these new members offsets the loss of two World War II veterans.  The memories of Harold Fonte and Sam Ford were honored with a Post Everlasting at our March General Meeting.  Farewell, Comrades, Farewell!

Our recruiting efforts have benefited from our monthly Military Breakfasts and the Lenten fish fries.  These activities have provided excellent opportunities to promote the Legion, Auxiliary and the SONs with veterans visiting the Post along with their families. All members are encouraged to welcome, introduce, mingle with, inform and invite potential members of our organizations to join us.

Although the District has our 2025 membership goal as 286, I feel confident with a concerted effort we can exceed 300 members by the end of the fiscal year.  The Covington Block Party Friday, March 28 provides an enjoyable event to interact with veterans and their families.  In addition, the Military Breakfast on Saturday, April 12 will celebrate the Month of the Military Child to honor their service, commitment, and sacrifice.  Spread the word that military families are invited to attend and celebrate the contributions of their children and youth. Let’s keep recent momentum and continue to increase our membership.

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY!!!

The museum is nearly back to where we want it with all the books on the shelves and they are categorized within the various wars the U.S. was involved in. The labels will be completed within a few weeks to make it easier to find your way through the many hundreds of books.

The diseased nine (9) trees in the back of our property have we cut down and the stumps have been grinded down.

April is our month to nominate officers of out Post. We need many members to step up and give a little time to your Post volunteer. If you want to give back to your Post, please call me so we can talk about this. Thank you.

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY!!!

Greetings fellow Comrades, et al,

March has arrived with the blooming of the beautiful azaleas and other beautiful flowers, signaling that Spring has arrived. Unfortunately, tornados ripped through some of the Southern states on March 15th causing significant damage to buildings and resulting in over 30 deaths. Let us pray for the first responders and aid workers who were quickly on the scene to help the survivors. May those who died rest in peace.

Some of our comrades are recovering from stays in the hospital.  Others are recovering from illnesses at home or in a care facility. Hopefully some of them will be able to recover enough to join us at our monthly meetings.

Let us pray for our fellow comrades and any others in need of God’s healing hand.

Please consider reaching out to those in need. A simple phone call will mean the world to them and would be most appreciative. Feel free to contact me for any phone numbers you would like to call.

A hospital bed with remote foot and head control buttons and a motorized chair are still available free of charge for anyone needing them, preferably a veteran or a veteran’s family. They are located in Covington and the only requirement is that you have to pick them up and deliver them. Please contact Ignatius or me if you are interested in getting them.

The newsletter prayer list had been updated. If you know of anyone who needs to be added or deleted from the prayer list, please let know or drop a note in the prayer box outside the museum. Also, if you add someone to the prayer list, write their name legibly so I won’t misspell their name.

God Bless you and your family and be safe.
James 3 verses 12&14 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom.

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY!!!

The chaplain’s message for April,

Turn our heads toward you oh God, help us as a nation to realize that you are the source of comfort and strength, not only in crisis, but also in prosperity keep us from attitudes of pride, self-indulgently that would cause us to ignore you grant us humility that we make continue to experience your great blessings and love amen. 

Sick Call List: The following Legionnaires and Auxiliary members are: Art and Shirley Bennett, Eileen Oltmann, Dottie DeBrock, Donald Spreen, Jimmy Livermore, Lynn and Linda Schneider, Matt Cole, Margaret Casey, Linda Canty, Cathy Richoux, John Canty IV, Jim Prattini, Wayne Plaisance, Ernie and Marie Nunez, Donny Taylor, Mrs. Dorothy Lounsbury, Brenda Ogden, Roosevelt Smith, John (Crab) Canty, Lisa Qualkenbush, Daniel Nunez, Joe Reich, Bryan Scherer, Mike Brown, Cherrie Sylve, Melva Kimberly, Trindi Nunez, Brody Goudeau, Irwin Marant, Greg McVay, Kyle McCain, Ed Toups, Claudette Toups, Bill Charrier, Courtney Livermore, Patricia Oster, Mike Gennuse, Jr, Magen Diebold, Jacques (Pappy) Pelloat, Scott Cousins, Chuck Rooney Jr, James Cole, Wayne Noakes, Mary Leaycraft, Francine Pines, John Lovell, Allen Guillory, Stacey Miller

On Thursday, Mar 13, 2025, we performed Military Honors for Harold Fonte, a Navy Veteran and member of Post 16.  We bid Farewell, presented a Bible, did a Rifle Salute and played Taps in support of the Navy Honor Team.

Participating were Bob Beatty, Doug Johnson, Jim Horn, Richard Mecom, Ignatius DeSandro, Gary Songy, and Rick Sunders.

On Thursday, Mar 20, 2025, we performed Military Honors for Sam Ford, a Navy Veteran and member of Post 16.  We presented a Bible, bid Farewell with Memorial poppies, and did a Rifle Salute and played Taps in support of the Navy Honors Team.

Participating were Bob Beatty, Frank Tridico, Joe Ogden, Jim Horn, Ignatius DeSandro, John Canty, Richard Mecom, and Rick Sunders.

General Cushman recognized Veterans with the Louisiana Veterans Honor Medal. Participating were Doug Johnson and Frank Lanzetta on Thursday, Mar 20,2025, we presented the Colors at the Christwood Senior Center.

Greetings,

I have a couple of images for you to view.