NEWS FROM THE HUT by John Hamilton
This year has been a year of new faces and members at the Hominy Post 142. There have been several articles posted in the Hominy News-Progress about the need for new members and younger members from the Desert Storm, Terrorism wars and Afghanistan Military Campaigns since the attack on the World Trade Center buildings on September 11, 2001at 7:46 AM CDT. The response to those articles has been great. So far this year, there have been four new members that have joined the American Legion, Blackwell-Frazier, Post 142 in Hominy, OK.
The first new member was Russel Hanoch who is a veteran of the United States Air Force and served in Panama. The next member to join was Michael Callahan, another United States Air Force veteran who served in Vietnam. Then, amazingly, we had two young veterans join our post at the same time on the same night. John Carter, who, also amazingly is another United States Air Force veteran who served our country in the Persian Gulf. The young man who joined at the same time was Jonathan Engle and he is a veteran of the United States Army who also served in the Persian Gulf. The post now has 26 USA Veterans, 14 USAF Veterans, 7 USN Veterans, three USMC Veterans, and one USCG Veteran.
The Hominy Post 142 has been around for some time. The first Post Commander was recorded as Ernest Walker in 1920 to 1927, although the application for a permanent post charter that was sent to National Headquarters in 1923 listed a Robert L. Lewis as the commander. This 1923 application was signed by the first American Legion National Adjutant Lemuel Bolles. In 1923, there was a total post membership of 50 legionnaires with a possible 75 local veterans to draw from. By 1948, when Post 142 in Hominy applied for a name change from Andrew Blackwell to Blackwell-Frazier, the total number of members enrolled since the formation of the post was 107 out of a possible 140 ex-service members to draw from. Currently the post has an active membership of 53 Legionnaires
If you have served federal active duty in the United States Armed Forces since December 7, 1941, have been honorably discharged or are still serving, you are eligible for membership in The American Legion!
Because eligibility dates remain open, all active-duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces are eligible to join The American Legion.
The American Legion’s success depends entirely on active membership, participation, and volunteerism. The organization belongs to the people it serves and the communities in which it thrives.
The American Legion’s mission statement, as adopted by the National Executive Committee in October 2020, is:
To enhance the well-being of America’s veterans, their families, our military, and our communities by our devotion to mutual helpfulness. The American Legion’s vision statement is “The American Legion: Veterans Strengthening America.”
The Hominy Post 142 is welcoming all veterans, but especially those that have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan, but also Lebanon/Grenada, Panama, Persian Gulf, or Vietnam. The American Legion needs all you young veterans, male, and female. The Hominy Post 142 supports the Hominy, Cleveland and Wynona, Oklahoma areas.
To join, please contact: John Hamilton, Hominy Post 142, 118 S. Wood Ave., Hominy, OK 74035
Until further notice, our regular Legion meeting will be the third Thursday of each month. Our next meeting will be on Thursday, September 16th at 7:00 PM. The Sons of the American Legion meetings have been suspended until further notice, depending on the future COVID-19 situation. We have resumed the having dinner at monthly meetings now on the third Thursday of the month although not every month. The Monday morning Koffee Klatch meetings have been resumed at 8:00 AM. If you are a veteran, or currently on active duty, come by for our monthly meeting, and/or the Monday morning Koffee Klatch meetings. If you have a good story, it may end up in print. Also, keep up with us at the Post 142 website “americanlegion142.org” and Hominy Legion on Facebook.
Blackwell-Frazier American Legion Post #142 Hominy, Oklahoma 