ALTENTHAL-JOERNS POST #158 MAY 9, 2000 MEETING MINUTES

The May meeting of the American Legion Post # 158 was called to order by Commander Seabaugh, at 8 p.m. The Color Guard advanced the colors, Chaplain Boyd Summers gave the opening prayer. The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, and the preamble of the American Legion Constitution were recited in unison by the 38 members present.

Minutes of the April, 2000 meeting were approved as printed.

Financial Report: Mike Proctor -- Report approved as read.

Membership: Lloyd Law -- Membership stands at 666. Goal for this year is 669.

Graves Information: Glen Bollinger -- Flags will be placed on graves in the Old Cemetery at 5 p.m., May 26. Flags will be placed on the graves in Russell Heights starting at 8 a.m., May 27.

Trustee: Harlen Siebert -- No report

Welfare-Club Room/Hospital: Bill Poe -- Club room report approved as read.

Post Flag Information: Carlton Meyer -- Two flags were donated to community organizations and one was sold.

Americanism Committee: Charles Hutson -- Memorial Day program will be at 9:30 a.m., May 29. Program will be in front of City Cemetery. In case of rain, it will be at the Legion Hall. Speaker will be Rev. John Rice from New McKendree United Methodist Church of Jackson. There will be six boys from Jackson going to Boy's State this year. There will be a $500 College Scholarship presented to a Jackson youth from Post 158.

House Report: Leon Laurentius -- Approved as read.

Honor Guard: Bill Sullivan -- Performed opening and closing ceremonies for the traveling Vietnam Memorial. Received a letter commending them on a great job.

Public Relations: Jim Nelson -- Contributions made to the American Legion Post 158 Memorial Scholarship Fund during the past month.

In memory of the 50th wedding anniversary of Loyd & Erna Schattauer

Mr. & Mrs. Harold Landgraf

In Honor of Floy Huckabee

Mr. & Mrs. Harold Landgraf

Bingo Leonard Adams -- Report approved as read

Baseball: Milton Nitsch -- Schedule of baseball games was posted. If you would like a copy of the schedule, contact Milton.

New Business:

The following Slate Officers was presented. These individuals have been contacted and are willing to serve. At the June meeting, printed ballots will be distributed with space for write-in nominations.

Commander Chaplain

Bill Sullivan Boyd Summers

I st Vice Commander Sergeant At Arms

Lloyd Law Don Darnell

2nd Vice Commander Finance Officer

Leonard Adams Mike Proctor

Adjutant Historian

Virgil Whitener Jim Nelson

Service Officer Trustees (2 to be elected)

Bill Poe, Mike Hyson, Bob Hartle, Vincent Schwartz

Drawing: $53.50 in the pot. Tom Boudinot, not present. 1/2 Pot drawing, Albert Lowes, Lora Cox, Walter Loennecke, Jack Piepenbrok, none present.

Color Guard retired the Colors. Chaplain Boyd Summers gave closing prayer. Closed the meeting at 9:05 p.m.

Refreshments: Vincent Schwartz -- Beef Stroganoff, fruit cocktail and drink was served to the members present.

Timothy Miller,

Adjutant

The Vietnam Memorial display recently at Cape Girardeau calls attention to all of the approaching of observing Memorial Day this month. The Vietnam wall contains the 58,000 names of those who gave their lives in this infamous war.

The wall is 250 feet long. In keeping perspective of the other wars of the United States, it would take seven Vietnam walls to contain the 400,000 names the casualties of World War II. Korea casualties were about equal to the Vietnam conflict, but the casualties of more than 500,000 of the Civil War would require nine walls the size of the Vietnam wall. Too, the United States had only a population of 25 million at that time, so the losses were very sever to almost all. One in four males were casualties in the South while one out of 10 in the Northern States. The population of the United States during W.W.II was about 230 million.

Memorial Day is a time to pause and remember the service and sacrifice of those who gave their lives. They earned the freedom we now enjoy.

Jim Nelson

Historian

Post 158