COMMANDERS MESSAGE May/June 2008

We are at that time of the year where Post 372 has been, and will be, involved in many activities.
On March 22, the Post had its annual Easter Egg Hunt for members’ children. We had a very good turnout which included the egg hunt, food and entertainment. A good time was enjoyed by all.
On April 12th, Sr. Vice Commander Ernest Brosh, Chaplain Chester Malik, Sal Officer Thomas Wright and myself were guests at the Philippino Bataan Death March ceremony. I was honored to be selected to present a wreath and to be a guest speaker. On the same day members of the Post assisted the Cherry Hill Fire Department with the planting of new cherry trees on Chapel Avenue. This was followed on the next day with the placement of American Flags along the whole length of Chapel Avenue.
On May 18th, the Post will be placing over 2000 flags on the graves of veterans at Locustwood Cemetery. On May 26th we will participate in Memorial Day services at the Township Municipal Building.
On June 1st representatives from American Legion Posts throughout the state will attend the annual Veterans Memorial Service at Locustwood Cemetery.
In closing, please say a prayer for our veterans who have gone to the Last Command, as well as our troops that are defending our great country.

For God and country,
Commander
Charles Macukewicz

COMMANDERS MESSAGE Jan/Feb 2008

 I hope that everyone had a great holiday season and that Santa was generous to you and your family.
2007 was again a very successful year for Post 372. We went “over the top” again with our total membership and, as usual, the Sal’s and the Women’s Auxiliary continued its great support of the Post. The Auxiliary continue its support of our troops in Iraq as well as our veterans facilities throughout New Jersey. The Sal’s had another extremely successful “Family Day” function as well as a Halloween and Xmas party.
The Post also totally refurbished the kitchen which now includes a new stove, stainless steel sinks, food prep counter and a new tile floor. The banquet hall also has had major modifications that will hopefully lower the noise levels during Post functions and rentals./
The Post has also added two flat screen TV’s which gives us a total of three flat screens.
One other item that we should be extremely proud of is our total charitable donations of $33606.70 for 2007.
The last item that I will mention, and the most important is our support of the troops that are currently fighting for our country. Please take the time to say a Prayer for all of these gallant men and women who did not have the opportunity to spend the holidays with their loved ones. Also, let us not forget the veterans who fought for us in the past and always be proud of the fact “that you served your country”.
May 2008 be a year of prosperity, good health and success for us all.

For God and Country,
Charles Macukewicz
Commander

No Message from the Commander for Sept/Oct - Nov/Dec

VICE COMMANDERS MESSAGE (Don McDonough) Nov/Dec. 2007

  With the Post #372 roster hovering around the 400-member mark, we are an extremely active and dynamic American Legion branch in the South Jersey metropolitan region. As such, we’re proud and “blessed” to boast of two superb, award-winning communication tools we’ve designed especially for our members. I’m referring to both The Scoop--the attractively pictorial version of Post news and doings--as well as our Internet web page, www.ALCH372.com. This is our main contact to the world at large. Each of these tools serves a useful and practical purpose bringing valuable public awareness while spotlighting the varied Legion activities that covey another quality of life asset to our Cherry Hill community. Two such programs come to mind; American Legion Junior baseball and Boys State, the Legion-sponsored program designed to give young kids a better understanding of life, government and how things really work in life. We’re blessed that Post #372 baseball team brought home top team honors this year in final State League playoffs. At the same time, our Post leadership was able to sponsor and send a record 14 young men—hand picked for their scholastic honors—to the annual Boys State week-long Convention held at Ryder College in upstate New Jersey. Both proceedings received wide coverage on the web page and in The Scoop, much to the pride and admiration of parents, the boys involved and the general membership of the Post, prime sponsor of these events. And since we’re passing out gratitude, let’s acknowledge the key architects of both tools, our Post communication team of designer Sue Quinn-Morris, vice Commander Ernie Brosh and Trustee Charles Alberti. As we approach Thanksgiving, we might add these two communication “blessings”--the web page and The Scoop--to our expanding list of member benefits of Cherry Hill Post #372,

For God and Country,

Submitted by

Don McDonough

Vice Commander

SENIOR VICE COMMANDERS MESSAGE Sept/Oct 2007

   Summer is soon over and Post 372 meetings will resume this month. The Ladies Auxiliary meets on the first Monday, SAL members on the third Wednesday and General Members on the fourth Tuesday of each month and all meetings begin at 7:30PM. I mention this with the fervent wish that those of you who do not attend meetings will begin to do so.

  It will soon be one year (11/20/06) since we lost our beloved Commander Tom Goldy. In the Memorial issue of the Scoop published December 2006, I asked for increased participation from our members. I am pleased to report that attendance at our meetings has improved and our General Membership totals remain above four hundred with Ladies and SAL membership remaining strong. Over fifty members attended the meeting for election of officers and we had almost perfect attendance at Executive Board meetings. In three executive board meetings since the election, attendance was 16, 17 and 18 of possible19 officers.

  I have come to realize that many of our members, as well as the public, are unaware of the contributions American Legion Post 372 makes to our community and our country. We have many programs, such as our American Legion Baseball program, Boys State, Girls State, Oratorical Contest, Poster and Essay contests, ROTC scholarships in the amount of $5000.00, public flag collection and retirement , flagging of some 2,000 veteran graves at Locustwood Cemetery, flagging of Chapel Avenue during Cherry Blossom season , Erlton and Wildwood parades, Memorial Day services with Cherry Hill Township, and so forth. All of these functions take time, effort, money and countless hours of volunteer help. Much of the work around the Post is done with the labor and efforts of our combined membership. God Bless the Ladies and SALs for all that they do. As for the Ladies, I must also mention the work and compassion shown for the veterans at the Vineland Home. Our Ladies make their holidays brighter. They also take care of our troops overseas with packages of necessities throughout the year. Can we as an organization do better? Absolutely, but we need your help.

For God and Country,

Ernest G. Brosh

Sr. Vice Commander

COMMANDERS MESSAGE JUNE/JULY 2007

 Although you will be receiving this copy of the Scoop after Memorial Day, I would like to reflect on the meaning of this great day. Memorial Day is a time when we remember the hundreds of thousands who served this country and have gone to the "Final Command".
We also remember the veterans that are still on this good earth as well as the military personnel that are on active duty and currently defending this great nation.
On May 20, Post 372 members (40 plus strong) placed, over 2,000 flags on the graves of veterans at Locustwood Cemetery in Cherry Hill. If you have a chance, take a ride through the cemetery and see how wonderful it looks.
Post 372 held Memorial Day services at the Post and at Locustwood Cemetery, followed by a Memorial Day Tribute at the Municipal Complex which included active and retired military personnel, local dignitaries and students. The keynote address was given by the Honorable Rob Andrews, N.J. Representative (D-NJ).
After the ceremony a full lunch was sponsored by ShopRite stores.
On June 3, Legion members from all over the state were present for the Memorial service that was held at Locustwood, which included a parade and several prominent speakers. After the service a buffet was held at the Post for all who attended the day’s events.
As a last note, we will be celebrating the 4th of July at the Post and, as usual, we reserve all parking for members only for the township fireworks display.
Hope to see you at the Post.
For God and Country,
CHARLES MACUKEWICZ

COMMANDERS MESSAGE MARCH / APRIL 2007

I hope that everyone had a great holiday season and Santa was good to you and your family.
2006 was a good year and a sad one. The sadness, obviously, was the death of Thomas Goldy Sr., who had Commanded Post #372 for the past eight years; and also, the death of Thomas Viguers, a past Commander of the SALS’s. These men were dedicated to Post #372. They shall not be forgotten.
On the good side, we had an exceptional year! The Women’s Auxiliary continued its great support of the troops in Iraq by sending numerous packages of items for their personal use. A large shipment is being sent in the near future of sports equipment such as footballs, basketballs and baseball equipment.
Also, the Auxiliary will be donating a great deal of personal items to the Vineland Veterans Home. Carol Doyle, President of the Auxiliary, and her fellow members deserve a great round of applause.
The SALs also were very successful in 2006, which included a wonderful Family Day Picnic, a superb St. Pat’s Party, and a fabulous Christmas Party (Over 100 attendees). Commander Brian Fitzgerald and his crew have also made sure we have enough firewood to keep the old hearth going every cold day this winter.
As for Post 372 , the canteen was restructured with all new equipment including draft beer taps. Tables and stools were purchased for the game room, a wide screen TV was installed, and a large shed with heat, lights and exhaust fan was erected in the back parking lost for those of us that still have the smoking habit.
The last item I would like to mention is that Post 372 gave $32,000.00 in charitable donations in 2006. I believe that we all should be very proud of these contributions..
In closing, please say a prayer for our troops who are fighting for our country, and for all who have fought in the past.
May 2007 be a year of prosperity, good health, and success for us all.

For God and Country,
Respectfully,
Commander
Charles Macukewicz