COMMANDER’S CORNER
11/21/23 2 nd Edition
Hello Post 108 Legionaries,
Life has been busy and Post 108 has been busy as well. The following information was shared at the District 25
Quarterly Meeting on November 4, 2023.
August 13 – Post Canteen officially reopened with operations in compliance with all local, state and federal
requirements.
August 25 – Macon Post #108 had one member selected as a Delegate for the American Legion National
Convention.
September 9 – American Legion Auxiliary Unit #108 and Macon Post #108 hosted a special supper event for
Macon Post #108 Honor Guard members to show appreciation for their hard work and service to the community.
September 11 - First Responders Recognition for community service. Personal delivery of baskets filled with
homemade baked items for the Macon County Sheriff’s office, Franklin Police and Fire Departments along with
Macon County EMS.
September 16 – Macon Post #108 Yard Sale
September 19 - Post #108 and Squadron #108 Americanism Committee began installation of a Video Projector
and Screen at the Post for hosting patriotic presentations for students and the community.
September 26 – An Alcohol Law Enforcement training session was conducted for all Canteen employees and
interested Post Members.
September 28 – Macon Post #108 participated in and assisted with the annual WNC Veterans Stand Down held
in Franklin, NC.
October 7 – Members of Post #108 held a hot dog fundraiser and membership drive at a car show hosted by the
Pharaoh's Car Club of WNC.
October 8 – A member of Post #108 participated in the escort detail for the return of Capt. Fredrick Hall U.S.A.F
Vietnam MIA remains from the Greenville airport to the Wells Funeral Home in Waynesville, NC along with
Macon Post #108 Honor Guard members participating in the funeral service.
October 14 – Members of Post #108 participated in the return ceremony for the Blue Ridge Honor Flight. One
Post #108 member served as a guardian to a WW2 Veteran Honor Flight recipient.
October 21 – Post #108 teamed up with WNC Veterans Purpose to host a community cook out and bonfire to
bring awareness to WNC’s Veteran suicide, suicide prevention and the American Legion’s “Be The One” suicide
awareness program.
October 27 – Post #108 was represented at the Department Fall Conference.
In addition to these events we had Post members speak at Zion Baptist Church and Itola Elementary School on
behalf of Veterans Day. A hand full of Post 108 members met at Shoney’s for a free breakfast in honor of
Veterans and several members marched in the Veterans Day Parade. On November 12, our Post held its annual
Thanksgiving meal for members and family. If this wasn’t enough, the Post also held a membership drive at
Food Lion, raised money for a needy Veteran’s final expenses, picked up several boxes of toys for The Toys For
Tots charity on November 18, 2023.
As you can see, there are plenty of opportunities to serve at our Post and serve others. The annual Oratorical
Contest is coming up and I had hoped that Post 108 would participate this year. This is an excellent way to reach
the youth in our community. The contestants must be between the 9 th and 12 th grade. They will need to be able to
speak for 3 to 5 minutes on one of the U. S. Constitutional Amendments. American Legion National has selected
four amendments to be used in the competition. Each contestant will need to be prepared to speak on all four
since they will not know which one will be selected at an official contest meeting.
Our Post will need one chairman, three judges and two escorts in order to meet the requirements for holding a
Post level contest. I am volunteering to be the chairman and I have completed the requirements for working with
a youth program. Anyone working with minors will need to complete a background check and complete the on-
line youth volunteer training. The cost is $12.00 through the American Legion Department of North Carolina
website. Once the background check application has been submitted, a web link is sent to your email address,
you click the link and watch a video. When the video has been completed a 25 question test will follow. To
complete everything takes about one hour and fifteen minutes. The background check is good for one year from
the date completed.
If you are interested in being part of this program and if Post 108 is going to enter the District level competition, I
will need to hear from you by December 4, 2023. A Post competition will need to take place on January 5, 2023
to qualify in time for the District level. You can contact me at 828-524-0505, or reply by email,
commandermaconpost108@gmail.com
If our Post is unable to put together a team of judges by December 4, 2023 then we will not compete. There
needs to be enough time for the eligible students to practice and be prepared to speak at our Post. I have begun
making contact with schools in our area and I hope it has been time well spent. Our Post is also putting a team
together for Buddy Checks. I am asking for members to help make monthly phone calls. Depending on how
many are on the team, each member will be asked to call 20 to 30 fellow Legionaries. Do you want an
opportunity to Be The One that makes a difference in someone’s life? If so, let me know.
I make every effort to keep the information needing to be shared to just one page, but as you can see there was
too much for one page. I also want to make the print large enough for everyone to read easily, including me.
Thank you,
Jack Castle, Commander
Macon Post 108