S.A.L. Commander-Bob O'Neal
Nominations for SAL Officers for 2023-2024 will be accepted until April 19th. All positions except 2nd Vice and Historian have at least one nominee to date. All SAL members in good standing are eligible to be nominated and elected to an Officer position. To place your name in nomination, send an email to sons347fl@gmail.com.
The May 13th Golf Tournament at Harbor Hills CC is filling up; there are only 6 teams left. The flyer is on the bulletin board in the hallway and in the office window. The cost per player ($85) is the lowest of any of the Charity golf outings around, and it is a fun tournament with a light breakfast before teeing off and lunch back at the post with prizes. Players may register as a team of 4 or as individuals. This event benefits the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation. For more details you may contact Bob O’Neal @352-350-4932 or George Worton @410-382-0473.
For God and Country
APRIL 2023
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Happy New Year! We are thankful for all the support for our charities in the past year and looking forward to the new year.
We have the Valentines Dance Saturday February 11th to benefit Special Olympics.
The annual Golf Tournament, which benefits the Child Welfare Foundation, Saturday May 13th.
Flyers for both events are posted on the bulletin board, tickets for the dance go on sale January 3rd and registration for the golf tournament also starts this month.
It is gratifying to know that the Post 347 family is working together to make these and all the charitable functions of the Post successful as we work together and have a good time while bettering the lives of Veterans and children.
For God and Country
JANUARY 2023
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Our Legion Family will be honoring our departed Veterans with the Wreaths Across America Ceremony and laying of wreaths on the graves of 136 veterans at the Lady Lake Cemetery Saturday December 17th at noon. Everyone is invited to attend and participate.
The SAL is planning a Valentines Dance with dinner, music and dancing Saturday February 11, 2023. Mark your calendars; information will be out soon and tickets will go on sale in January.
The Holiday season is upon us. We hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
For God and Country.
DECEMBER 2022
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The SAL’s Fall Harvest Dance Saturday 11/5, which benefits the Fisher House in Gainesville. We still have a few tickets available in the office or the lounge in case you miss the Tuesday night sales. Call Vic Prezioso at 407-373-3485 for more information.
The Ian Hurricane Relief Fund sponsored by The Department of Florida has gotten a lot of donations, for which we are thankful. The SAL will be making a donation to support this effort and we encourage everyone to make private donations with checks to post 347. The Post will be presenting a combined donation at the Fall Conference in Orlando November 18th.
The Wreaths Across America ceremony this year will be Saturday, December 17th at the Lady Lake Cemetery. We will be placing wreaths on the graves of 136 veterans. Anyone interested in being part of this ceremony should contact Bob O’Neal (boneal1939@gmail.com)
The annual Charity Golf Tournament will be held Saturday May 13, 2023 at Harbor Hills CC. A flyer will be posted shortly and we anticipate taking reservations in January, so mark your calendars and start putting teams together.
Yours in God and Country
NOVEMBER 2022
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The SAL’s Fall Harvest Dance is Saturday November 5th 5-9PM with Just Mike as the entertainment. There will be a chicken cordon bleu dinner and a cash bar. Tickets go on sale @15.00 Tuesdays in October 4-6:30PM (+ a lottery board) before Queen of Hearts, and in the office window Monday-Friday 9AM-4PM.
Proceeds from the dance will benefit the Fisher House at the VA hospital in Gainesville.
Thank you to all the members and guests for supporting our Sunday, Monday and Thursday meals. We have gotten a lot of compliments, which our volunteers appreciate. Our commitment is to keep everyone happy, which includes the charities which are the beneficiaries of the food sales.
For God and Country
Ocotber, 2022
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The SAL joins with all the units of the Post in welcoming everyone back to the reopened building following the installation of the beautiful new flooring plus a number of other improvements including plumbing in the lounge and the kitchen and painting in areas such as the main entrance.
The grand opening Monday August 29th included the reopening of the kitchen with the SAL’s Burger Night.
The SAL’s Fall Harvest Dance is Saturday November 5th with Just Mike as the entertainment. Tickets go on sale Tuesday October 4th before Queen of Hearts and in the office window @$15.00 each, which includes a Chicken Cordon Bleu dinner and cash bar.
Proceeds will benefit the Fisher House in Gainesville.
September, 2022
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Several of us spent July 4th at Eaton’s Beach in Weirsdale, selling wristbands to eager people to watch the restaurant’s fireworks display from the beach. We raised $1,700 which will be donated to Special Olympics. A special thanks go out to Lloyd Pennington, Eaton’s Beach General Manager, and to our Sgt-at-Arms Tony Watkins, who organized the event.
A fundraising committee is being formed for next May’s Golf Tournament. If you are interested in being part of this committee, please contact George Worton (410)382-0473.
The Sons will be supporting the 10 Riders from our Post who are participating in the Legacy Ride August 21-25. Any member who wishes to make a donation, should contact Sherri Ward (sherriwrd@yahoo.com). For more information about the Legacy Ride, go to https://www.legion.org/riders/legacyrun
For God and Country
August, 2022
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Our Officers for this year remain the same except that we welcome Tim Standfest as our new Historian.
The SAL’s 50th Florida Convention in June was busy with a huge amount of charitable donations, including our Squadron’s donations of $13,000 to the Child Welfare Foundation and $6,000 to Special Olympics.
Our Past Commander, John Gorsuch, was reelected as District 6 Commander. Past Commander and Past Eastern Area Commander George Worton was named Detachment VA&R Committee Chairman.
The Squadron ended the fiscal year in June at 908 members,110% of the Detachment’s target. The Florida Detachment surpassed its target of 21,000 members, a new record.
The kitchen is in urgent need of volunteers. Any member of the Legion Family is welcome and should contact Bud Bowyer (856-466-5707)
FOR GOD AND COUNTRY
July 2022
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The May 14 Golf Tournament at Harbor Hills was a resounding success and a lot of fun topped off with a great meal and prizes galore, plus a silent and a live auction..
We want to thank all who stepped up and participated with donations which helped us raise over 20K, with a net in the range of 12-13k after expenses for the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation.
The final tally will be announced as soon as possible. We look forward to holding another tournament next year.
The May 17th Scholarship Awards Ceremony at the Villages High School was a highlight for the SAL as 2nd Vice Vic Prezioso presented scholarships worth $7,000 to 8 students. The Scholarship Committee, with chair Bud Bowyer, plus Bill Gray, Charlie McGlone, Danny Roe and Vic Prezioso, also awarded $2,000 to a Belleview HS student and $1,000 to a Weirsdale HS student. These bright motivated students are our future and we are honored to help them advance their education.
The SAL continues to grow with the membership reaching 909 members in May, a new record.
This Post continues to be a draw for Sons of WW11, Korea and Vietnam Veterans and we encourage them to join and volunteer their time in pursuit of our charitable activities. We see the coming year as one of continued growth.
As the snowbirds depart for the summer, we are in need of volunteers for the kitchen Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays. Most of us got to know each other and the Squadron through volunteering in the kitchen.
June, 2022
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