By: Katelyn Sauls, Rejine Spivey, Jackie Clogan, Victoria Peterson, and Esther Kicito.
History of Sauls-Bridges Post 13Volume 69, Issue 6 June 2019 EVERY DAY IS MEMORIAL DAY—AND EVERY...
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Volume 69, Issue 6 June 2019 EVERY DAY IS MEMORIAL DAY—AND EVERY DAY IS VETERANS DAY!! This month we are celebrating the establishment of Sauls-Bridges American Legion Post 13. Below is a time- line of how our American Legion became what it is today. 1919: In the beginning, Captain Robert A. Gray, Commander of the American Legion held meetings at the County Court House or at the Busy Bee Café, which only allowed meetings if meeting members ate while there, hence the “dinner meeting” that is still in action today. 1922: The Post contracted to buy a lot on the southeast corner of Duval and Call Street, but due to a lack of funds and helpers to build, the purchase was dropped. 1924: Mr. Anderson had grand ideas for the land. He started to build a resort around the lake featuring a dance hall, but many considered this to far out in the country to be successful. So, Commander Gray received Lots 1- 9 around Lake Ella (known as Buhl’s Pond back in the day) from Mr. William Anderson, who was the owner of the Anderson Subdivision. Mr. Anderson kept one lot, giving lots 1-9 to Post 13. Some of the original piers and pilings of the old foundation are still present under the Post. 1925-1927: In 1923, construction of an electric power dam began on the Ocklocknee River requiring large amounts of lumber and timber. With great foresight, architect Al Moore designed a building for the lots on Lake Ella. A self-appointed group of Legionnaires formed a building materials search committee. These mem- bers included Guy Winthorp, K.J. Boyd, O.J. Nettles, Theo Proctor, Sam Wahnish, George I. Martin, William R. Galt, Bill Cates, Bill Wilson, and Miller Walston. Winthorp and Boyd were engineers on the dam and saw an opportunity to gather leftover lumber and timber from the dam construction for the new Post home. 1925-1942: During these years, rooms were added at both ends of the building and aluminum siding was added to the outside. The WWI method of scorching the walls with a blowtorch was used to create a rustic look in the interior of the building. 1946-1987: In post-WWII era, Syde Deeb, a member of the Post, loaned the Legion $7,500 and an additional 75 members purchased $100 no-interest bonds, which they donated to the Post. The interior of the building was finished and Lot 10 was purchased, making the Le- gion the sole owner of the entire block. Part of Lake Ella is on Post grounds. The Legion served as a community center during the 40s and 50s, with many functions held in the hall, including quite a few proms. The Re- treat Ceremony held on Independence Day was conducted by local unit Company A, 124th Infantry Battalion, Florida National Guard. 1988-1990: Bill and Alma Anderson, members of Post 13 and its Auxil- iary, bequeathed $37,000 for upkeep and improvements to the Legion including replacement of termite-ridden beams, termite treatment, fire alarms, exit signs, installation of plumbing and electrical systems, and a new four-burner electric stove. Also, the Vietnam Veterans organization became involved with improvements. ...continued on page 5 History of Sauls-Bridges Post 13
Transcript of History of Sauls-Bridges Post 13Volume 69, Issue 6 June 2019 EVERY DAY IS MEMORIAL DAY—AND EVERY...
Volume 69, Issue 6 June 2019
EVERY DAY IS MEMORIAL DAY—AND EVERY DAY IS VETERANS DAY!!
This month we are celebrating the establishment of Sauls-Bridges American Legion Post 13. Below is a time-line of how our American Legion became what it is today.
1919: In the beginning, Captain Robert A. Gray, Commander of the American Legion held meetings at the County Court House or at the Busy Bee Café, which only allowed meetings if meeting members ate while there, hence the “dinner meeting” that is still in action today.
1922: The Post contracted to buy a lot on the southeast corner of Duval and Call Street, but due to a lack of funds and helpers to build, the purchase was dropped.
1924: Mr. Anderson had grand ideas for the land. He started to build a resort around the lake featuring a dance hall, but many considered this to far out in the country to be successful. So, Commander Gray received Lots 1- 9 around Lake Ella (known as Buhl’s Pond back in the day) from Mr. William Anderson, who was the owner of the Anderson Subdivision. Mr. Anderson kept one lot, giving lots 1-9 to Post 13. Some of the original piers and pilings of the old foundation are still present under the Post.
1925-1927: In 1923, construction of an electric power dam began on the Ocklocknee River requiring large amounts of lumber and timber. With great foresight, architect Al Moore designed a building for the lots on
Lake Ella. A self-appointed group of Legionnaires formed a building materials search committee. These mem-bers included Guy Winthorp, K.J. Boyd, O.J. Nettles, Theo Proctor, Sam Wahnish, George I. Martin, William R. Galt, Bill Cates, Bill Wilson, and Miller Walston. Winthorp and Boyd were engineers on the dam and saw an opportunity to gather leftover lumber and timber from the dam construction for the new Post home.
1925-1942: During these years, rooms were added at both ends of the building and aluminum siding was added to the outside. The WWI method of scorching the walls with a blowtorch was used to create a rustic look in the interior of the building.
1946-1987: In post-WWII era, Syde Deeb, a member of the Post, loaned the Legion $7,500 and an additional 75 members purchased $100 no-interest bonds, which they donated to the Post. The interior of the building was finished and Lot 10 was purchased, making the Le-gion the sole owner of the entire block. Part of Lake Ella is on Post grounds.
The Legion served as a community center during the 40s and 50s, with many functions held in the hall, including quite a few proms. The Re-treat Ceremony held on Independence Day was conducted by local unit Company A, 124th Infantry Battalion, Florida National Guard.
1988-1990: Bill and Alma Anderson, members of Post 13 and its Auxil-iary, bequeathed $37,000 for upkeep and improvements to the Legion
including replacement of termite-ridden beams, termite treatment, fire alarms, exit signs, installation of plumbing and electrical systems, and a new four-burner electric stove. Also, the Vietnam Veterans organization became involved with improvements. ...continued on page 5
History of Sauls-Bridges Post 13
Dear Members:
June is a busy month at the Legion! We have our 100th year celebration June 9th and lots more, so view our calendar either online or in the newsletter. I’d like to mention our members who devote their time to opening and closing the Legion for our events. There are a lot of things that come together to make an event a success. Mom and I regularly attend the Tallahassee Swing Band Dance on Tuesday nights. Not only do volunteers open the Post, but also set up the bar area and provide whatever the bartender may need to serve our patrons, set up tables and chairs, make sure the bathrooms have plenty of supplies, and then close the Legion after everyone has gone home. Please consider volunteering and helping out. And a BIG THANK YOU to the TSB for playing every Tuesday night for us dancers. Also, there are dances on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Take a look! Our calendar is full!!
Thank you for being a member - Paula Wilkins
The Tallahassee National Cemetery held a special event honoring all Veterans who served during the Vietnam War. Henry Lowery, Jr., Chief Warrant Officer 5 USMC, Retired was the keynote speaker. Art Schwabe, Na-tional Executive Committee Alternate Florida and Jack Milburn, National Vice Commander were among the many attendee representing various Veteran’s Posts and Organizations paying tribute to Vietnam Vets for their service. A special thanks to a Big Bend Hospice volunteer who led the crowd in the Service Song Medley which included: Semper Paratus, Wild Blue Yonder, Anchors Aweigh, Marine Corps Hymn and The Army Goes Rolling Along. The event concluded with the Laying of the Wreaths by Keith Gaden and Debbie Mann, Rifle Salute by Big Bend Honor Guard and TAPS by Debbie Mann of the Big Bend Honor Guard.
Tallahassee National Cemetery – March 29, 2019 50th Anniversary Commemoration 1969-2019
PAGE 2 SAULS-BRI DGES AME RICAN LEGION POST 1 3 NE WS V OLUM E 69, ISSU E 6
SPRING BEING A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW, GOD CREATED JUNE. - AL BERNSTEIN
Photos and Article by Maria A Renzulli Unit 13 Photo Historian
NOTES FROM THE EDITOR
On March 23, 2019, the American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 13 hosted a special luncheon honoring our Women Vet-erans. There was an emotional period during the round table discussions where the women shared their person-al stories. Almost all of the women veterans saw action during their time in the military. Roll Call included: Sharon Brooks, Siouxniqua Smith, Donna Mobley, Patrice Dawson, Katie Walker, Felita McNeill, Debbie Mann, Sherika Mitchell, Valerie Janard, Virginia Stewart, Joyce Madison, Lynn Jones (Frazier), Linette Halter, Joyce Madison, and Celia Suluki. The delicious lunch was catered by Deborah Soude. Pot roast, chicken, yellow rice, baby lima beans were just a few items on the menu. The women were given gifts to commemorate this special luncheon.
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IT IS BETTER TO BE A YOUNG JUNE BUG THAN AN OLD BIRD OF PARADISE. - MARK TWAIN
SA ULS- BRI DG ES AM ERI CAN L EGI ON POST 13 N EWS
Women’s Veterans Luncheon – Theme “Women Are Veterans Too” The Faces of Our Women Veterans
V OLUM E 69, ISSU E 6
Photo by Maria A Renzull. Information for the below article supplied by ALA member.
On March 8, 2019, Unit 13 had the honor to host a brunch at Pappa’s Diner for Michele DeGennaro, Department of Florida President. Jane Hardacre, 3rd Vice President of our Department accompanied President DeGennaro. President DeGennaro reviewed certain aspects of her mission statement for her year in office and spoke about the number of homeless active duty veterans. “The Final Salute” was the name given to her project. Unit 13 gave a $50 check for this project. A wonderful sharing of conversation followed brunch before Michele DeGennaro and Jane Hardacre left for her next visit. The President visits around 250 individual units during her one year term and her dedication is much appreciated by every unit.
ALA PRESIDENT’S VISIT 2019
HUEY AT THE HOOCH
It’s a Huey UH-1 in case you didn’t know. Thanks to the De-partment of Defense, DRMS, and the State Florida Depart-ment of Forestry, this Huey became a project of the Brothers of the ‘Nam.
The sliding windows aboard the helicopter contain a list of all veterans (whether they rode on the helicopter or not) who passed as a result of the Vietnam War, not just KIA. These names are updated every Memorial Day in a special ceremony to pay tribute to all those who made the ultimate sacrifice. She had her final flight November 11, 2001 and remains on the shores of Lake Ella where she is finally at home.
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A FLAG DAY PRAYER
~SACRIFICES OF MANY ENABLE US TO ENJOY FREEDOM~
FROM THE COMMANDER
POST 13 COMMANDER
Here we are, halfway through our 100th anniversary year. You can find a lot of history that has been made by the American Legion as members saw needs of our Nation, communities, and Post, with em-phasis on veterans, their families, children and youth.
Post 13, during the May 8th Business Meeting, elected the same con-tinuing slate of officers who ran unopposed. Congratulations to one and all!
Don’t forget: Post Social May 23rd, Memorial Day May 27th, and Post 13 Birthday June 9th.
Val Frailey
O God, we thank Thee for the flag of our country and for all that our flag represents.
We thank Thee for giving victory to brave and valiant men who have given their last measure of strength in order that it might wave over the land of the free and the home of the brave.
We thank Thee for giving us the ideals of faith, and liberty, for preserving the sanctity of our homes, and freedom of worship. Conscious of our limitations and our deep unworthiness we pray that our Flag may bind together the many elements in our own dear country, and foster in our ranks a one hundred percent Americanism.
Make us who have served our country in time of war, willing at all times to uphold and defend our Constitution and our government. Grant that this Union, of sovereign states, may remain forever an indissoluble Union flying the same flag. Amen
https://www.legion.org/sons/filelib/BroPrayerMn12.pdf
FLAG DAY FACTS
The colors of the American flag are symbolic. Red stands for valor and hardiness. Blue stands for justice, perseverance, and vigilance. White stands for innocence and purity.
The design of the American flag has changed 27 times.
The term “Old Glory” was first used by Captain William Driver, a shipmaster from Salem, MA, after he received a flag as a gift from friends in 1831.
There are six American flags located on the moon, planted by Apollo crews 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 17.
Flag Day is also the same day as the birthday of the United States Army.
https://www.softschools.com
Hi Ladies,
June is upon us and many ALA units are preparing to attend the Department Convention in Orlando. Procedures will be sim-ilar to our Constitutional Conference where each Unit President in District Two presented a summary of their events and activities for the 2018-2019 year. At the Department Convention, the eighteen District Presidents will present reports on what the Districts have done. This is where our Unit 13 reports and volunteer hours make a difference. Let's strive to reports all of our volunteer hours for the 2019-2020 year.
Unit 13 at work!! Our student applicant for the CHILDREN OF WARRIORS SCHOLARSHIP has won! Students throughout the State of Florida apply for this $5,000.00 scholarship and only one receives it. Congratulations to Paris Creed King as she continues to pursue her goals.
Officers for 2019-2020 are President – Muriel A. Kweyama; Vice President – Nell Hewitt; Chaplain – Brigid Smith; Secretary – April Maier; Treasurer – Marilyn Houston; Sergeant-at-Arms is Theresa Little; Historian – Maria Renzulli; and three Mem-bers-at-Large are Marjorie McNeill, Delores Gaden, and Hazel Connell. Installation of officers will be at the July Post Social.
HIGHLIGHT – The name of Phyllis Lent has been placed on the "Volunteer Wall of Fame" at Hospice for all the lap robes and blankets she has made and donated to Hospice. The lap robes and blankets are presented to veterans through Hospice's Vet-eran Valor Program. We are amazed at her expert knitting abilities as she is legally blind and still provides services to Veter-ans and Military families. CONGRATULATIONS Phyllis!
Let us all send Prayers to our ALA members and Legion Family members who have had surgeries and illnesses throughout the months. Give them a quick call to say hello, thinking of you, miss you at our meetings, love you, etc.
FOR GOD AND COUNTRY GODSPEED ALWAYS, Muriel Alexander Kweyama, ALA Unit 13 President
PAGE 5 VOLUME 69 , ISSUE 6
Auxiliary News
WE SALUTE OUR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES
"WE ARE ALL IN"
HISTORY OF POST 13 CONTINUED...Little-used storerooms and a closet were gutted and space was made available to the Auxiliary for meetings in the Sally Kux Room. Outside, gutters were repaired and inside, blue carpet was added to the stage.
1991-1993: Many improvements to Post 13 continued during these years, including a new hot water heater, a used ice ma-chine, a donated stand-up cooler was added to the kitchen, and a hood system for the stove was incorporated into the security and fire alarm systems.
1994-1995: A new ice machine was purchased on a Lease to Buy program. The parking lot was enlarged from 12 spaces to 52. Area lights were installed and parking spaces were marked off using leftover wood power poles.
1996-1997: Under Commander Christensen, the Veteran’s Lounge was enlarged and remodeled including window upgrades and new window curtains. The main hall floor was refinished along with much needed mechanical maintenance. A fire-exit was enclosed and the store room was enlarged to meet demands. In the kitchen, new paint on walls and floor with upgrades to the electrical service. The results from the much needed improvements inside and outside, and to the grounds caused hall rentals to boom!
1998-1999: A third air conditioner was added the Post. Kitchen and storage space was increased, along with the office that provided an additional floor space of 12”x18” in each direction, and the office electrical system was updated. Handicap acces-sibility was installed to meet the needs of our growing community, including the handicap accessible ramp and parking space located lakeside.
2000-2019: Many improvements were made under the leadership of Commanders Val and John Folsom, including the re-placement of kitchen freezers/coolers and an ice maker. A projection system and a 65” screen HD television was added to the Veterans Lounge (thanks to Val). Jimmy Steele was instrumental in the addition of the sidewalk from the road to the Black Dog Café and a storage area was added under the deck of the Café, during which the County stepped in to help. Other nota-ble improvements were the refurbishment of the back deck and the Borne monument by the Eagle Scouts.
Submitted by Sam Wahnish and Miller Walston, Archives Committee to Harry A. Eppestein.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
JUN 9 100TH YEAR CELEBRATION AT POST 13 3:00 - 5:00 PM
JUN 14 FLAG DAY JUN 16 FATHER’S DAY JUN 27 POST SOCIAL
SOCIAL 6:00 PM PROGRAM 6:30 PM
V OLUM E 69, ISSU E 6 PAGE 6 SA ULS- BRI DG ES AM ERI CAN L EGI ON POST 13 N EWS
JUNE IS THE GATEWAY TO SUMMER - JEAN HERSEY
DID YOU KNOW?
BY John Folsom, Past Commander
June 1
1813 – The U.S. Navy gained its motto as the mortally wounded commander of the U.S. frigate “Chesapeake”, Captain James Lawrence (b.1871) was heard to say, “Don’t give up the ship!”, during a losing battle with a Brit-ish frigate “Shannon”; his ship was captured by the British frigate. Oliver Hazard Perry honored his dead friend Law-rence when he had the motto sewn onto the private battle flag flown during the Battle of Lake Erie, 10 September 1813. Cap-tain Lawrence, standing conspicuously in full-dress uniform on deck, had seen the midshipmen serving alongside him killed instantly. He was already nursing a pistol ball in the leg when he received his fatal wound from the enemy’s swivel gun in their maintop. It was here that he gave, repeatedly, his famous command, “Don’t give up the ship. Fight her till she sinks” and “Tell them to fire faster, don’t give up the ship.” Once helped below, lying on the surgeon’s table and informed of the Brit-ish sailors boarding above, he then called out, “Then blow her up! Blow the ship up! Defeated and captured, Lawrence died in agony three days later and was buried with full honors by his captors in Halifax. His body was transferred first to Salem, Massachusetts before coming that September to its final prominent resting place in Trinity Churchyard in his adopted city. He became even more of a hero in defeat as his command became a rallying cry throughout the war and the enduring motto for the United States Navy.
June 22
1847: The 1st doughnut with a hole in it was created.
1936: Congress passed an act to define jurisdiction of Coast Guard. In one of the most sweeping grants of police au-thority ever written into U.S. law, Congress designated the Coast Guard as the federal agency for “enforcement of laws gener-ally on the high seas and navigable waters of the United States.”
1940: Port Security responsibilities are undertaken again for the first time since World War I when President Franklin Roosevelt invoked the Espionage Act of 1917. The Coast Guard was to govern anchorage and movement of all vessels in U.S. waters and to protect vessels, harbors, and inland or coastal waterways of the U.S. The Dangerous Cargo Act gave the Coast Guard jurisdiction over ships with high explosives and dangerous cargoes.
1942: The first delivery of V-Mail was in 1942. V-mail, short for Victory Mail, was a hybrid mail process used by the United States during the Second World War as the primary and secure method to correspond with soldiers stationed abroad. To reduce the cost of transferring an origi-nal letter through the military postal system, a V-mail letter would be censored, copied to film, and printed back to paper upon arrival at its destination. The V-mail process is based on the earlier British Airgraph process.
INVITATION TO THE 100TH YEAR CELEBRATION
SAULS-BRIDGES POST 13 MEMBERS AND GUESTS
SUNDAY JUNE 9TH 3:00 - 5:00 PM
PROGRAM:
POST COMMANDER INTRODUCTIONS NATIONAL ANTHEM
INVOCATION POST HISTORY –POST COMMANDER
R.A. GRAY, SECRETARY OF STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOSHUA GOODMAN
RECOGNITION OF 37 ORIGINAL CHARTER MEMBERS
CAKE CUTTING FELLOWSHIP
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-mail
Another year has come and gone and Mrs. Lois Hanna will be celebrating her 99th birthday on June 22nd.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
PAGE 7V OLUM E 69, ISSU E 6To B
ook your Event at the P
ost, please call 850-284-6967. We do not m
aintain regular office hours. All services perform
ed here are volunteer hours. Generally, the office is open from
Noon
until late afternoon. If you must leave a m
essage, please make certain to leave your area code as part of your telephone num
ber.
June 2019SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
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5:00 - 9:00 PMNISHIMOTO 25TH ANNIVER-SARY PARTY
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11:00 am MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVEDCEREMONY AT OAKLAND CEMETERY
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7:30 pmTALLAHASSEE SWING BAND6:30 pmLESSONS WITH MICHAEL
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6:30 pmSUE BOYD DANCE AND LESSONS
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7:10 amTIPS MEETING3:00 - 5:00 pmLEGAL CLINIC
MEMORIAL DAY
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8:00 - 11:30 pmNAUGAHYDEPARK BAND
1
HALL AVAILABLE CALL 284-6967 OR 443-1878
2
7:00 pmGLORY BOUND GOSPEL SING
3
7:30 pmBALLROOM DANCE AND LESSON DANCE INSTRUCTOR HEATHER FULLER
4
7:30 pmTALLAHASSEE SWING BAND6:30 pmLESSONS WITHMICHAEL
5
6:30 pmSUE BOYD DANCE AND LESSONS
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7:10 amTIPS MEETING3:00 - 5:00 pmLEGAL CLINIC
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8:00 - 11:00 pmCROOKED SHOOZ BAND
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8:00 - 11:00 pmFRANK JONISBAND
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3:00 - 5:00 pm100TH YEAR CELEBRATIONPROGRAM AT POST 13CAKE CUTTING FELLOWSHIP
10
7:30 pmBALLROOM DANCE AND LESSON DANCE INSTRUCTOR HEATHER FULLER
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7:30 pmTALLAHASSEE SWING BAND6:30 pmLESSONS WITHMICHAEL
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6:30 pmSUE BOYD DANCE AND LESSONS
137:10 amTIPS Meeting3:00 - 5:00 pmLegal Clinic6:30 pmExecutive Board Meeting7:30 pmGeneral MembershipMeeting
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8:00 - 11:00 pmGARNET AND SOUL MUSIC with Mary Hoffman
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HALL AVAILABLE CALL 284-6967 OR 443-1878
16
HALL AVAILABLE CALL 284-6967 OR 443-1878
17
7:30 pmBALLROOM DANCE AND LESSON DANCE INSTRUCTOR HEATHER FULLER
18
7:30 pmTALLAHASSEE SWING BAND6:30 pmLESSONS WITH MICHAEL
19
6:30 pmSUE BOYD DANCE AND LESSONS
20
7:10 amTIPS MEETING3:00 - 5:00 pmLEGAL CLINIC
21
8:00 - 11:00 pmACME R&B BAND
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HALL AVAILABLE CALL 284-6967 OR 443-1878
23HALL AVAILABLE CALL 284-6967 OR 443-1878
31HALL AVAILABLE CALL 443-1878
24
7:30 pmBALLROOM DANCE AND LESSON DANCE INSTRUCTOR HEATHER FULLER
25
7:30 pmTALLAHASSEE SWING BAND6:30 pmLESSONS WITH MICHAEL
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6:30 pmSUE BOYD DANCE AND LESSONS
27
7:10 amTIPS MEETING3:00 - 5:00 pmLEGAL CLINIC6:30 pmPOST SOCIAL
28
8:00 - 11:30 pmROCKITZ BAND
29
HALL AVAILABLE CALL 284-6967 OR 443-1878
Located at:229 Lake Ella DriveTallahassee, Florida 32303
Mailing Address:American Legion, Sauls-Bridges Post #13 PO Box 38028 Tallahassee, FL 32315-8028
Phone: 850-222-3382Web: FloridaLegionPost13.orgEmail: [email protected]
Non-Profit Organization
US Postage PAID
Tallahassee, Florida
Permit No. 21
Post News
For God
and Country
Editing/Layout: Paula Wilkins
Photos: Email: [email protected]
Webpage (Face book): Google:
“American Legion Sauls-Bridges”
EVENTS BOOKING: (850) 284-6967
Deadline for the JULY 2019
Newsletter will be
JUNE 10th at 5:00pm
Newsletter items can be submitted three ways: (1) Place in the Newsletter Box in the Post 13 office (2) Mail to the return address above, or (3) Submit (with a subject line) to the Post’s Newsletter Email Address: (Please Note this is a NEW email address and should be used for NEWSLETTER communica-tion only.)
All Articles published require the Commander’s approval.
PLEASE NOTE:Post General Membership Business Meetings are held on
the 2ND Thursday of each month at 6:00 pm.
Return Service Requested
JUNE 2019
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE AN ITEM FOR THE NEWSLETTER PLEASE EMAIL [email protected]
