At the next meeting – August 21, 2017 voting will be for By-Law changes. Posted at the Legion and submitted at the July meeting. See them on the Legion Calendar page…..
Amrican Legion Family Picnic was a great success! There were games, local food and lots of fun by all!
Thanks to all that helped out and our cooks…..Stan and Ray
Conferences
Mid-Winter Albany, NY January 20-22 2017
Department Conventions
Syracuse, NY -July 20-22 , 2017
National Conventions
Louisville, KY August 25 – 31 2017
The Flag Code does not actually give specifics on how to destroy the flag. One should use common sense making sure the procedure is in good taste and shows no disrespect for the flag. Many of the following organizations have collections in your local community to collect and perform a flag burning ceremony: American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of America, Mayor, City Hall or other patriotic organizations.”
The Honor Flight was a great success. We had 5 Veterans go to Washington D.C. to visit the memorials. The day started with a luncheon to recognize them. The Clayton Color Guard was there, many dignitaries from the town and village and NYS. Family and friends sat in the room enjoying lunch as the head table was filled with our WWII Veterans: Joe Bogonian, Jack Ducat, Don Frickman, Dick Hof and Bob Williams. The limousine from Coralone ride to Syracuse was exciting as we passed the school of children out front of Giordano school holding American flags and chanting “USA, USA!” The Legion riders and State Police gave them an escort all the was to Syracuse Airport.
Washington D.C. was toured and they visited: WWII Memorial, Korean Memorial, Vietnam Wall, Arlington Cemetery along with the Changing of the Guard and Iwo Jima which had a barrier that was torn down for the bus to visit it as with the shut down it was blocked. They went through it and visited the memorial as the last stop. At every stop the Veterans were greeted with “Thank you for your service sir!” and “Welcome Home”. It was very emotional at times.
At the airports coming and going there were swarms of people and high school cheer leaders well wishing our veterans and shaking their hands.
After a special day we headed back to Clayton and again had a State Police escort, lights going on a dark Saturday night. What a surprise as we arrived at Clayton Post and had over 20 people standing outside waving and cheering as we arrived back home. It was a very special day for these veterans to remember and to experience the home coming they did not get. Many thanks to Legion Members, Sons of the Legion, Auxiliary and ABM, for their support and many other local contributors.