“News from the Hut”
for American Legion Post #142; Hominy, Oklahoma.
by Gary Lanham

Post Commander Charles O’Leary and Vice Commander Steve Swinford have returned from Shawnee, OK; and the State American Legion Convention. News is things are growing well for the organization and (drum roll please) Post 142 received a plaque an official streamer to hang from our Legion Flag as we had 100% membership renewal and it was submitted before December 31, 2014. Way to go Jack Cross!

Other new changes are that male spouses of female Legion members, can now join the Sons of American Legion and that the Legion Riders are now a Department of Oklahoma official Legion Program. The new Department Commander is Bobby Bryant from Cushing, who was elected without opposition. He is a former Navy Seabee (Navy guys who build roads, airfields, and buildings) with two tours in Vietnam. Mitch Henderson from Post 1 in Tulsa (our former 1B District Commander) received a recruiting award for recruiting over three hundred new members into the Legion and was elected Vice-Commander East. Overall, I heard it was a great meeting and the Oklahoma American Legion stands strong.

The Legion-Auxiliary Installation Dinner will be Friday, August 14th at 6:00pm at the Hut. Jerry Sebert will cook ribs and chicken and will ask the Auxiliary/spouses to bring sides and desserts. Plans are to host the Post Installation Ceremony at the same time. Lucky and Myrna Ladwig from Skiatook were at the convention and confirmed they will attend the Post 142 Installation Dinner on Friday, August 14th at 6:00pm to preside over both the Legion and Auxiliary Installations. They are our honored guests.

This may seem insignificant to some, maybe just an old guy like me rambling, but today in 2003 Affordable Internet access made its way to Afghanistan. The country, ravaged by 23 years of civil war, received what United Nations information technology workers called the first inexpensive public internet service there. In August, five more Kabul post offices would be outfitted with Internet connections, where it costs the equivalent of $1 an hour to check e-mail and surf the Web. This was important to me as a soon to be retired Chief Master Sargent. With so many of my troops deployed, I was able to “be there” when they encountered situations or just needed “the old guys” advice even after my retirement.

Don’t forget our regular meetings continue the first and third Thursdays of the month at 7:00 PM (August 6th). Monday morning Koffee Klatch meetings in August are still planned (if weather permits) and running starting around 0700 till about 0900. As always much thanks to the crew for providing biscuits and gravy and maybe a waffle or two and always a cup of Joe (coffee to the civilians). If you are a veteran come on by. If you have a good story it may end up in print. Also, keep up with us at website “americanlegion142.org”.