1. Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy 2026 New Year, to ALL!!!  

2.  Membership:  please strongly consider becoming a Paid Up For Life ("PUFL") member of the American  Legion, for our Post 16 and for continuation of the Legion in our Nation.  Here is the PUFL pay table explained Age by Decade:   -veterans currently Aged 18-29 fee = $1,535 covering 30-years of current $50-yearly dues or through age 48-59 and permanent membership;  Age 30-39 fee = $1,399 covers 28-yrs of dues thru age 58-67 and up;  Age 40-49 fee = $1,229 covers 25-yrs of dues thru age 65-74 and up;  Age 50-59 fee = $1,025 covers 21-yrs of dues thru age 71-80 and up;  Age 60-69 fee = $815 covers 16-yrs of dues thru age 76-85 and up;  Age 70-79 fee = $599 covers 12-yrs of dues thru age 82-91 and up;  Age 80-89 fee = $429 covers 9-yrs of dues thru age 89-98 and up;  Age 90+ fee = $329 covers 7-years of dues & up.   WHY would you do this...?   1. Dues inevitably increase: $12 in 1975 when I joined Post 16 to $50 in 2025.  2. Avoid being an expired/unpaid member as listed on our roster for all to see. 

3. Important: You cannot have the opportunity to serve in leadership as an officer of the Legion or even volunteer at our Bingo sessions (State of Louisiana) to raise charitable giving funds and pay our bills to keep our Post open, if you aren't a current paid member. 

4. As your current Commander, I recommend you pay the one-time total amount versus the installment plan every month over 1-year in order to avoid default and losing your investment in this opportunity: like missing a car note and having it repossessed with no recompense. 

5.  LEGACY "Insurance":  WE very few veterans amongst our Nation's population have already done our sworn duty to our Country, and many continue in community volunteering.  Our ranks are inevitably thinning, so I encourage YOU to view PUFL as a donation, legacy, opportunity, and inspiration to those veterans who follow us.  I became a PUFL member at age 40, now almost 75.  Thank You!

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY!!!

Happy New Year!  Let’s make 2026 another great year for Post16.

It is customary to make New Year’s resolutions.  A resolution is a firm decision to do or not do something.  As the First Vice Commander of Post 16, mine are to do everything I possibly can to increase membership and get members more actively involved with Post activities.  Even if it is getting existing members or new ones to attend an additional meeting or participate in one more event during the year, I believe it will add to our success in 2026.

Looking forward to a new year is common, but we often neglect to recognize what we have accomplished over the past 12 months.  Post 16, aided by the efforts of a small core group of dedicated volunteers, has once again been very active.  Our emphasis on increasing membership has had very positive results.  BINGO continued to be the lifeblood of the organization’s fundraising efforts.  The annual Memorial Day and Veterans Day Ceremonies were successes.  The Honor Guard remained very busy as a significant portion of the St Tammany Parish Honor Guard.  We were active members of the Covington Business Association by participating in their Block Parties and Kokomo Stroll and Nightmare on Columbia Street events.  The Great American Legion Banana Split Celebration and Sleepout for Homeless Veterans remained popular within the community.  A Cruise Night returned for its second year. Post 16 was represented again in Covington’s Mardi Gras and Lollipop Christmas parades. 

New additions to our long list of events included the introduction of monthly free military breakfasts, the Banana Split GALA with Swing 101 Big Band and our inaugural Oldies Dance.  These events were implemented with the intention of introducing the public to our facilities, creating entertaining social events and attracting new members.  Our first Dine and Donate at Texas Roadhouse created a new fundraising opportunity.  

Thank you to everyone who supported our events.  Every member has the duty and responsibility to help assure our future success.  By working together and making small individual efforts we can make a difference.  Please consider how you can contribute in 2026 and include Post 16 in your resolutions.

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY!!!

Our Post 16, after a year of volunteer work, has finally been reinspected by the State Fire Marshal and we have passed!!! Also, we still need help with preparing the old concession stand behind our Post Hall for reuse - please check with me, thanks. 

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY!!!

Greetings fellow comrades, et.al,

November 30th has come and gone and along with it was the 2025 Hurricane season. We were blessed in that we had no major hurricanes hit Southern Louisiana, the ones that developed off the Western coast of Africa headed north after reaching the Caribbean and moved along the eastern coast line. We are so grateful that we were spared and suffered no damage or loss of life.

We have a fellow comrade who is recovering from two occlusions to repair nerve damage in his neck as well as suffering damage from a serious fall. He is undergoing physical rehab and faces a long journey to recovery.

Another comrade is bedridden and is unable to feed himself. He needs full time care and isn’t able to qualify for VA housing because of his deteriorating physical condition.

Another fellow comrade is going to the hospital on December 22 for a procedure to help him with his bladder and bowel problems. Please pray for him, especially on December 22 for successful surgery.

A fellow comrade who is in the Heritage Nursing home is going to the hospital in the middle of December for an MRI for a mass detected on his pancreas. Both he and his wife need our thoughts and prayers.

On the good side, our comrade who suffered a stroke is doing well and recovering nicely.

Please pray for our fellow comrades and any others in need of God’s healing hand. May God comfort and heal all those who are sick in mind, body or sprit and give them strength and courage in their time of trouble.

My God bless each and every one of you and your family and keep you safe during this holiday season. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Hebrews 13 verses 1-2: Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers for by this, some have entertained angles without knowing it. 

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY!!!

The chaplain’s message for the month of January:

Dear God, when I feel my security shaken, when I wonder what will come next and the events of this great nation, help me keep my eyes on you, to trust in you. You have promised to be strong for all who run to you. You are a shelter of an uncertainty and an immovable rock of securities in an insecure world, thank you that your eternal kingdom will never fail, and as I placed my faith in you, I can then pray for my beloved country with a renewed sense of calm, knowing that you will never leave me nor forsake me, amen.

Arthur Sutton 

Chaplain

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, John Donnelly, Johnny Canty IV, Jo Condon

Greetings to all and to all a good night!

Yes, Christmas and the New Year was upon us and has now gone. I hope all had a wonderful and safe holiday time. We are now into the year of 2026 and hopefully a better year than all the ones behind us even with all the happiness and sadness of the past years.

This was printed in the newsletter in the December newsletter to ensure all knew of the proposed amendment to the Post Constitution and the required 7-day notification to all post members.

“At the January 6th monthly General Meeting the following new item will be discussed and voted on. The Constitution requires a 2/3 vote at the meeting to make additions and changes.

Constitution of Robert H. Burns Post 16 Department of Louisiana.

THE NEW AMENDMENT IS:

Article III, Nature

Section 4:

With no current Section 4 therefore there is nothing to advise the membership of the current section.

Section 4: (NEW)

Robert H. Burns, American Legion Post 16, Covington, Louisiana follows and complies with All half-staff Notifications/Proclamations by the President of the United States and/or the Governor of Louisiana.”