Tag Archive: American Legion Post 66

VFW/Legion Fund Raising Raffles

VFW/Legion Fund Raising Raffles
VFW/Legion Fund Raising Raffles

Last month we reported on plans to repeat the successful VFW fund raising raffle of 2023, now aimed at providing operating funds for both VFW Post 8870 and AL Post 66. As you all know, our principal fundraising project, Buddy Poppies, raises considerable sums, all of which are and must be devoted to our Relief Fund. Previously, we have depended on the individual generosity of our membership and individual supporters to fund Post operations.

Post 66 began distributing raffle tickets to members at this past week’s “Movie Night at the Hall” for their drawing to be held on July 4 at the Post’s centennial celebration.The grand prize will be an original framed portrait drawing by Mike Reagan, of film actor and well known supporter of Veteran causes, Gary Senise (AKA Lt. Dan from Forrest Gump).

Post 8870′ s drawing will be held once again at the Christmas party in December and we will begin distributing those raffle tickets for sale in late summer. The winner of that raffle will receive Reagan’s drawing of country singer Toby Keith, another celebrity with veteran’s interests at heart, composer and singer of songs extolling our military and veterans.

Meanwhile, we urge members of both posts to participate in supporting the project as a whole. Below are images of Reagan’s drawings of these two men. As fans of Keith are aware, he passed away in February as a result of stomach cancer. His songs are known for their patriotism and support of America’s military, active and veteran.

January Post Meeting

In lieu of a speaker, the Post recognized the following students for their essay submissions:
Our Patriot’s Pen winner – Karsen Friesen 6th Grade was not able to attend.

The 4th grade Youth Essay winner, Calijan Smith, below, left and the 5th grade winner, Eloise Liao at right, are shown in the photos below with Commander Bowen.

Also recognized was our Teacher of the Year, Ali Hammond, who was not able to attend.

January Post Meeting

Business Meeting Started@ 1815 Hrs

The minutes from the 10/18/2023 & the 11/15/2023 meetings were read and approved by the membership. The Quartermaster’s report was reviewed and approved by the membership.
Several expenditures were presented for approval and were so approved by voice vote, including expenditures for Quartermaster supplies, & equipment as well as a new video camera to facilitate the use of Zoom for meetings.

Christmas party meals and cash awards for the VFW Essay winners were also approved.
Two items were added to the Veterans Relief Fund budget; The Captain Joseph House and Sarge’s Place Shelter for the benefit of Gold Star Families and Homeless Veterans.

A proposal was also approved to pay to American Legion Post 66 an annual feel for the use of their building. We will recognize the recipients of the Police/Fire/EMT awards at our next meeting on 02/21/2024.

Mike Reagan has graciously offered to do a portrait of the recipients of the Post Police/Fire/EMT & Teache f the Year as chosen by the Post.

American Legion Clothing and Food Drive

American Legion Clothing and Food Drive

Community members showed their strong support for veterans when they stopped by the American Legion Post in Edmonds Saturday, Jan. 20 to drop off donations of food and winter clothing.

American Legion Post 66 and VFW post 8870 hosted the event to assist local veterans in need. Through the generosity of those donating, the two veterans’ organizations were able to collect hundreds of items for cold­weather use, including gloves, hats, socks, coats, shirts, pants, sweaters and blankets. They also collected over 300 pounds of food. Cash donations in the amount of $200 were received at the event.

Members of both posts were on hand to receive the donations and thank donors. Also helping was Mary Lancaster, chief of veterans’ outreach for Lynnwood Heroes Cafe. The items will go directly to veterans in need, with distribution arranged by Lynnwood Legion member (& Heroes Cafe Director) Gary Walderman.

Anything remaining after distribution will go to local food banks and shelters in need.

American Legion Clothing and Food Drive
Edmonds American Legion Post 66 Vice Commander Gary Walderman accepts one of the many donations the collected at the Jan. 20 food and clothing drive (Photo by Mark Bjorndal, MyEdmondsNews)

To make the event even more special, Jessica Dietsch of Project Serve Outreach graciously offered her mobile hot beverage service to provide coffee and cocoa to warm post members, and visitors who stopped by to drop off their items.

One of the donors traveled all the way from Mercer Island to bring clothing and food. “My wife used to live in Edmonds, and she wanted to contribute to this cause. It was worth the drive to help out,” he said.

Post 66 Commander Dan Mullene also noted that most of the people dropping off items said that they had heard of it through the My Neighborhood News Network, which includes online publications My Edmonds News, Lynnwood Today and MLTnews. “We appreciate the great support that Teresa Wippel and the My Neighborhood News Network offers in helping us promote our veteran-oriented events,” he said.

Legion and VFW leadership plan to move forward with further joint activities, to build on the success of this event. Well done!

American Legion Clothing and Food Drive
American Legion Clothing and Food Drive

VFW/Legion Christmas Party

by Duane Bowman

VFW/Legion Christmas Party

Our annual Christmas Party held on Saturday December 16 was a great success.

Thanks go out to Dan Mullene and American Legion Post 66 for co-hosting the event. Special thanks to my two decorating elves from our Auxiliary, Jo Boyett and Patsy Ethridge-Neal for all their hard work.

Great food and conversation were had plus we raised $500 from raffle items that was split with the American Legion.

VFW/Legion Christmas Party

We also raised $4,290 from our raffle of Michael Reagan’s Seahawks Legend poster. In addition, Michael did a special presentation to Michelle Clyborne of a portrait of her father, who served in the Special Forces in Vietnam.

We collected a lot of toys and food which I delivered to the Edmonds Food Bank by with the assistance of Quartermaster Joe Gray, to add to those already delivered from the collection at Teri’s Toybox, the downtown Edmonds toy store.

VFW/Legion Christmas Party

The Legion’s winter clothing Drive also received a lot of donations. The generosity of both the VFW and American Legion members is amazing!

If you weren’t able to make it to the party, we hope to see you there next year!

American Legion Post 66 Drop-off Event January 20th

To Collect Food, Cold Weather Items for Vets in Need

American Legion Post 66 Drop-off Event

Edmonds American Legion Post 66 will host a Drop-off Event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 20th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to accept donations of food and cold weather clothing items to assist local veterans in need.

Community members are encouraged to come by the Post, located at
117 6th A venue South in Edmonds, and drop off non-perishable food items and cold weather clothing like hats, gloves, socks, sweaters, and coats to help our local vets in need. The food and items will be distributed to veterans by the Lynnwood Heroes Cafe.

“There are over 50,000 veterans in Snohomish County, and many of them need help during winter due to difficult circumstances,” noted Legion Post Commander Dan Mullene. Post 66 members, along with members of VFW Post 8870, will be on hand to receive your donations. You may also donate money. Checks should be made out to “American Legion Post 66 Cold Weather Event.”

Mike Reagan Honors Memory of Past Post Commander Duane Pounds

Mike Reagan Honors Memory of Past Post Commander Duane Pounds

At our March meeting, the Post charter was draped to honor the memory of Duane Pounds. During his many years as a member of Post #8870, Duane had served as Commander for five years and played a crucial role in keeping the Post active and successfully recruiting new members who, eventually, assumed leadership roles. Duane died on February 19 due to complications from a stroke. Julie, his wife of 66 years, had passed away last July, and Duane never fully recovered from her loss. Duane had also been an active member of many other community organizations such as American Legion Post #66, Nile Shrine Temple, Lakeside Masonic Lodge, and many others. In honor of Duane’s many contributions to our Post, Mike Reagan presented a portrait of Duane to his family. Accepting the portrait on behalf of the Pounds family was Duane’s daughter, Randi, her daughter Kelly, and three of Duane’s great grandchildren. Mike, of course, founded the Fallen Heroes Project, and over the years, he has drawn portraits of over 4,000 soldiers who have been killed during our nation’s war on terrorism. Julie and Duane had five children, 10 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren.

The Last Word — from your Editor

The American Legion has welcomed VFW in their Hall. They ask VFW for no rent and provide us with the Hall where our meetings are much more comfortable and conducive to running a meeting than our old surroundings. So how do we thank them. By joining the American Legion. The cost to join is $35/year. That works out to less than 10 cents a day. Since every VFW member is eligible for membership, I want each of you to seriously consider joining. I really don’t want to hear the following excuses:

“I already belong to too many organizations” or “If I join I want to be active and I don’t have the time.”

My response is “bullsh_t”. American Legion Post 66 supports us and we need to support them. You can’t go wrong belonging to too many veterans’ organizations. So consider when you are at the next meeting picking up a membership application. Can’t make the meeting? Go on line and get an application. If you can’t afford it, let the American Legion Post know it and they will accommodate your budget. In any event, support your fellow veterans.

Post Changes Meeting Location

After many years of meeting at the Edmonds Senior Center, the Post has elected to change its meeting location to American Legion Post 66’s home at 117 6th Avenue S.. You can take a look at the new location by going to http://mapq.st/1sOd4al since I was unable to print a map for you. Or to put it in a different perspective, go one block east (up the hill) from the traffic circle on Main St. and 5th and turn right on 6th Ave. There is a large American Legion sign and a flag pole with an American and POW/MIA flag flying. Everything else i.e. time, cost of meals, etc. will remain the same, only the location is changing. For those of you who don’t mind walking a bit, please leave any open parking spots that are close to the hall open for those who aren’t as mobile.