for American Legion Post #142; Hominy, Oklahoma.
>>>by Gary Lanham

The Post had terrific showing for its first Thursday meeting 1/3/13.  The gathering included Jim Frazier (Post Commander), Babo Carter (Sgt at Arms), Dick pope, Babe Long, Jack Cross (Treasurer), Steve Swinford, John Fields, Jerry Jackson, Vern Cain, Jim Hale, Eli Prater (adjunct), Rex Mantooth (Chaplin), and your humble correspondent.

After Jim led the Pledge of Allegiance and Rex opened with prayer, the subject then moved to the status of the new flag that was ordered last year.  It looks like we will get it by the end of the month, and plans are in motion to have a flag raising ceremony with more details to follow.  Dick Pope pointed out to me a few weeks ago that the current flag (now removed) was fairly tattered and suggested it get replaced.  I thought this was funny that I hadn’t noticed it until then, but since I come in for meetings from out of town, I’m usually there dark thirty in the morning (Mondays) or dark thirty in the evenings (1^st and 3^rd Thursday meetings).  I never really noticed it.

One milestone that was recognized at the meeting was the 95^th Birthday of our Chaplin Rex Mantooth.  Babo provided the appropriate birthday cake, and since we could not obtain a waiver from the local fire department, we decided to not light up the candles.  We all had a great time singing happy birthday to Rex which ended with “And many more”…to which he responded “I wouldn’t know what to do with them”.  That really got us laughing.  What a great patriot and person.

Monday’s Koffee Klatch was roll called with the same usual cast of outlaws.  And as usual was a delight to attend. In honor of the birthday boy (the aforementioned Rex) biscuits and gravy were added to the waffle menu.  John Fields brother from Ponca City was in attendance, and I enjoyed listening to our common experiences in Hawaii…He as an assigned Army troop and me as a USAF flyboy on leave.  He is a Purple Heart recipient, and we honor his sacrifice and service.

Just a reminder our regular meetings are the 1^st and 3^rd Thursdays of each month at 1900 hours (7:00 PM) and our Monday morning Koffee Klatch meetings over biscuits and gravy (or waffles) where we keep up on each other’s mischievous doings run generally from 7 am to 9 am .  We will be anticipating updates on the Mid-Winter Conference from our Post Commander.