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

It was great getting back home and settling in with the gang at the
Monday morning meeting.  Our fellowship included the regular cast of
characters Babe Long, Dick Pope, John Field, Rex Mantooth, Eli Prather
and our illustrious Post Commander, Jim Frazier.  When I asked Jim why
there were scorch marks on the ceiling, he explained that for the last
Thursday evening meeting (which I missed, being out of town) …he had brought a
birthday cake for his 66th birthday.  Unlike Rex’s birthday a few months
ago, he was able to get a waiver from the fire dept.   So that explains
that.  It’s an easy fix, a wet rag and good as new.
Happy belated birthday Jim!

Eli (Vice-Commander) shared with us, details on his recent visit to see
his daughter down in Florida. He commented that in Florida the weather
was cool, but blue and beautiful.  He noted the weather on their trip
back…was clouds and drizzle for the most part.  Well, we are glad to see
him back and safe.

On a personal note, I think of the past Easter Sunday, and how it moves
me to reflect on the past year.  Most folks reflect and recommit to
things on News Year’s Day.  I guess I’m the odd one.  While I reflect on
the Resurrection with all its promises of new live, new beginnings, it
reminds me to look inside and consider the new possibilities that lie
before me (and all of us). The power of that Resurrection for me adds
more inspiration to seek guidance from the Eternal Navigator, correct
course, trim sails, and move forward.

The backbone of American Legion Post 142, as with most Posts, is the
ladies of the American Legion Auxiliary #142.  I pondered on this after
a brief discussion with Polly Frazier this week who resides in
leadership with these terrific patriots.  It reminded me of a story I
had heard years ago, but needed to pull up off the internet to get
straight.  In a letter dated March 31, 1776, Abigail Adams wrote to her
husband, John Adams, urging him and the other members of the
Continental Congress not to forget about the nation’s women, when
fighting for America’s independence from Great Britain.

The future First Lady wrote in part, “I long to hear that you have
declared an independency.  And, by the way, in the new code of laws
which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, I desire you
would remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them
than your ancestors.  Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of
the husbands.  Remember, all men would be tyrants if they could.  If
particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are
determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by
any laws in which we have no voice or representation.”

Nearly 150 years before the House of Representatives voted to pass the
19th Amendment giving women the right to vote, Adams’ letter was a
private first step in the fight for equal rights for women. Recognized
and admired as a formidable woman in her own right, the union of
Abigail and John Adams persists as a model of mutual respect and
affection; they have since been referred to as “America’s first power
couple.” Their correspondence of over 1,000 letters written between
1762 and 1801 remains in the Massachusetts Historical Society, and
continues to give historians a unique perspective on domestic and
political life during the Revolutionary War Era. (Thanks to the History
Channel)

Our Post Commander, Jim Frazier wants to remind everyone that the
American Legion District Convention for District 1A and 1B (NE
Oklahoma) this year will be held April 27th in Pryor Oklahoma. He
emphasized that a good showing goes along way when voting takes place.

Our regular meetings are the 1st and 3rd 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 9:30 am if it “ain’t”
freezing.