Commander's Report for June, 2026:

1. 5 May Elections:  Thanks to all Legionnaires who participated in running for officer & executive committee positions for the 2026-27 annual terms.  And thanks for reelecting me as your Commander again, I am humbled and will endeavor to provide the better leadership our Post 16 deserves.  Current officer's 2025-26 annual terms run into the July 2026 General Membership meeting and per our constitution, officers are expected to continue in their respective positions until a replacement is elected.  So far, your Post still has a need for a new 2nd Vice-Commander, Finance Officer, Historian, Judge Advocate, and a 2nd Color Bearer vacancy for meetings; please consider stepping up!  

2. Post 16 hosted our annual Memorial Day Ceremony held on 25 May at the rear of the St. Tammany Parish Courthouse which was quite a success, despite the rain, due to the dedicated diligence and leadership of our 1st Vice-Commander, Dennis Charlesworth.  The event was well attended by 150+ Veterans, families, supporters, and local government officials.  The organized, prompt, hardworking logistical help of about 10 Mandeville High School JROTC Marines loading tables, chairs, tents made a huge difference, thanks!  If you didn't come, you missed a moving tribute to our fallen American comrades.  Plan on attending our Veterans Day Celebration on 11 November 2026 when our United States of America will by then be 250-years old!!!  

3. Post improvement projects can now resume with my goal to finish all of them before summer ends.  So please consider volunteering to help with painting the flagpole and its base, cleaning the Legion Creek ditch to eliminate flooding, installing 3-new culverts, building the footbridge, the beer garden, and improving the museum.

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY!!!

Despite the inclement weather, American Legion Post 16 Covington held its annual Memorial Day remembrance at the St Tammany Parish Justice Center. The rain forced the ceremony to be relocated to the Court House side of the Justice Center. Fortunately, a crowd of approximately 125 gathered under a covered area.

A special thanks to all who made this program happen.  Among those who were invaluable in the set-up and removal process were the Mandeville JROTC cadets. Others included a member of Boy Scout Troop 160, Legion members and SON's member, Mike Corkern.

Martin Desmond, Jr. provided the invocation and benediction.  The St. Tammany Parish Honor Guard consisting of Post 16 members presented the colors. Sandra Cash sang the National Anthem.  The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Miss Poppy, Madelyn Ogden and Junior Auxiliary member, Charlotte Todd. Post Commander Mack Maginnis provided the welcome and opening remarks.  The POW/MIA empty chair ceremony was performed by Second Vice Commander, Tom Vennen.

Among those making brief comments were St. Tammany Parish Councilman Larry Rolling, Covington Mayor Mark Johnson, Auxiliary President Brenda Ogden, SONs Commander Scott Cousins and Matt Cole of the LCPL Justin McLeese Detachment 1487 of the Marine Corps League. 

The guest speaker was Jane Griffiths, a longtime member of Post 16 and a former US Army nurse who served in Vietnam.  She shared her experiences which provided a unique perspective on the true meaning of Memorial Day. 

Mack Maginnis performed the laying of the wreath ceremony.  The Honor Guard fired a rifle salute and TAPS was played by Post 16 member Jim Horn. A flag folding ceremony was performed by Frank Tridico and Ignatius Desandro. (See attachment) The flag was then presented by Desandro to World War II and Korean War Veteran Major James Robinson in honor of his brother killed in WW II. Roses were presented to Robinson and two local Gold Star families. 

The ceremony concluded with God Bless the U.S.A. and God Bless America sung beautifully by Sandra Cash.  (See attachment).  It was immediately followed by a memorial for Robert H. Burns at the Covington Cemetery by the Honor Guard and a reception for veterans by the Covington Heritage Foundation.  

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY!!!

Bingo workers volunteered 12,000 hours in the past year.

We are looking for a volunteer to upgrade and maintain our LED sign. We are also looking for a volunteer to coordinate and keep our web pages.

We still need:

• Installation of chair rails in the ticket booth.

• Plumbing in both men's rooms need work.

• Green Exit signs need to be installed over the Son's room.

• The door knob for the Son's room need to be replaced.

• Electricity and water need to be run to the concession stand.

• Four floor tiles need to be replaced in the Auxiliary room.

• The east door exit main hall panic bar is difficult to lock open.

We are considering developing picnic areas on the south and west sides of the Post. On the west side there is a large live oak, we are thinking of two pavilion type open air, covered structures with four or five six seat picnic tables in each one on the south of the tree and one on the north of the tree. The same size structures on the south tree line. If you have ideas or know of someone with landscape architecture talents please contact me.

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY!!!

Greetings Fellow Comrades, et al.

May arrived bringing our annual Southern Louisiana heat and humidity. We had some intermittent rain that helped cool things off a bit. June brings the start of hurricane season but so far nothing has formed in the Gulf of America and the long-range forecast for hurricanes seem to be a bit less than last year. That said we need to always be prepared for the worse.  Having an escape route, necessary medical supplies, cash and important papers on hand are some of the things to consider.

One of our fellow comrades is still bed ridden, a couple are ill and on the long road to recovery. We need to keep them in our thoughts and prayers and wish for full recovery. May God comfort and heal all those who are sick in mind, body or spirit and give them courage and hope and bring them to the joy of God’s everlasting salvation.

Please take some time to review the sick list and let me know if I need to add or take someone off the prayer list. Also let me know if someone’s name is misspelled so I can correct it.  My email address is bobb10612@att.net

As always, please consider reaching out to those in need. I know they would appreciate hearing from you and know that a fellow legionnaire is thinking of them.

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 angels without knowing it.

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY!!!

The chaplain’s message for the month of June:

God of the ages, we thank you for all things today we give special thanks for our flag. Our countries symbol. We waved high and we waved proudly. Our flag is not just sentimental. It represents our country proud history. It reminds us of the experiences of our people and good and bad times You have been the major portion of our history Lord, you have been our refuge, our strength our help our help throughout the ages standby us now as we pray as we raise our flags with these banners we honor you as well as our country.

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

REPORT TO THE MEMBERSHIP – June 2026 

April 20, 2026, we performed Military Honors for Thurston Hahn, a Navy Veteran. We did a Rifle Salute and played Taps in support of the Navy Honor Team. Participating were Doug Johnson, Bob Beatty, Gary Songy, Richard Mecom, and Rick Sunders. 

May 2,2026, we performed Military Honors for Jacque Pelloat, an Army Veteran. We presented an Honor Poppy and a Bible to the family, and did a Rifle Salute and played Taps in support of the Army Honor Team. Participating were Doug Johnson, Bob Beatty, Frank Tridico, Richard Mecom, and Rick Sunders.