Sons Corner - January 2025
Happy New Year to All my American Legion Family!! Here we go again into a new year of reflection, remembrance and starting over for 2025. May all the differences that may have been be gone, friends and families united, communities coming together and stronger than ever. I believe that this year will be our best yet, 2024 ended on a fantastic level for our Legion Family coming together. Although we may have had to say goodbye to some, we also have said hello to new family members arriving into this world.
In December 2024, the Legion Family leadership put together an Annual Calendar of events sponsored by Post 574 for the membership and community. These events will have a Chairperson to organize, but volunteers will be needed to operate. A list of said events will be printed and posted with a sign up list available for individuals to participate. Volunteers are what keep our events alive and active, volunteers also are what keep our Post always moving forward. Never be afraid to ask where you may be able to help, just jump in with both feet and have a blast! Thank you to all the volunteers that made 2024 successful in every way.
Squadron membership is just 10 members short of 100%. Thanks to the diligence of our 1st Vice Commander John SantaCroce, Adjutant Big Dan Nolin and the membership, we have had a great success in getting dues paid quickly. Let’s keep the pace up , recruit new members, find those who have left and get them to come back to the Squadron. Remember, it’s not the dues paid that matters, it’s the number of members we have that count as votes for the Veteran programs that go before Congress. For current members, go to the American Legion website, search VoterVoice, sign up and begin making that difference for the Vets at the Capitol.
A few dates to mark on your calendar for January 2025 - Squadron 574 sponsored Legion Family Breakfast will be on Sunday Jan. 12th, volunteers start between 6.30 and 7 AM, breakfast is served 8 to 11AM. House meeting Jan. 14th at 6:30PM, (open to all members). Next Squadron meeting will be on Tuesday Jan. 21st, starting at 7 PM. American Legion Mid-Winter Conference is Jan. 17, 18, &19th in Albany. (Thank you to the members attending this year). An early reminder date, the 4 Chaplains Memorial Breakfast is on Sunday February 9th, Memorial service starts at 10:30 AM, directed by Washington County Commander Larry Montello, (also our Past Post 574 Commander and current Squadron Historian) Breakfast will still start at 8AM.
In December, I met the 3 families that the Squadron 574 and Auxiliary Unit 574 adopted through the Washington County LEAP Adopt-a-Family Program. Thank you to Brian, Erica and Kate Vogel for your huge contribution in tasking buying gifts for the kids and parents. The Vogels have been doing the shopping for 3 years now and they do a marvelous job.
Washington County LEAP Adopt-a-Family Program
Through all the fundraisers and events, the compliments from the community never seem to end. I am so proud to be a part of this great organization, not only as a “second” home, but an awesome extended family. Keep up the great job you ALL have been doing in everything you do. God bless to all our veterans, first responders and active military. God bless America! Happy New Year!!
Sincerely – Dan Lancette – Squadron 574 Commander