Travis Post 76 Newsletters 2007

Our Christmas social went well and as always we appreciate Charlene Trochta for playing the piano and providing the song sheets. The noise was loud and helped drown out the feeble attempt of yours truly and Gene Volcik to lead the singing. Hey! No guts, no glory, right? Any volunteers for next year? All in all we had fun as usual celebrating the holiday time together. We will be meeting on the 15th this month even though it is a holiday. It is Chili Cook-Off time so bring your favorite for the contest. Yes, ladies, you can do the cooking if you will admit it.
It was suggested and decided to have a standing Executive Committee meeting each month on the second Saturday of each month. The first one will be February 10th at 9:00 a.m. at the Post. Please try and come because the topic of conversation will center around new proposed activities proposed for the Post. Occasionally, we will participate in a work day after the standing meeting to address routine maintenance at the Post.
As the new year starts, we look for an exciting program of fellowship, service and dedication to helping those who have honored our Country with their service. Come and be a part of our activities. We are happy to have new members fresh from the Middle East and full of enthusiasm. See you at the Post!

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! As we enter the new year we are looking for more active member participation. Keep in mind all are welcome at the business meetings held the first Monday of each month and, of course, the Dinner meetings, held the third Monday of the month, with guest speakers, are also open to all, including your spouses. We are always looking for new ideas on what your Legion can or should be doing. So, y'all come on out and participate.
For the January Dinner Meeting (Monday, January 15, 2007) we will have our annual Chili Cook-Off. Hot and Spicy or Mild, or somewhere in-between, bring your favorite and share. We will have prizes, yet to be determined. If you do not wish to bring a Chili dish, we can always use a dessert or two, a salad, bread, etc. Our speaker will be our own George Ruiz who will discuss with us the available Veterans Benefits, what's new,what's not so new, and what's on the horizon. It will be a good meeting!
For February, I am looking at getting someone from the Social Security area to come and talk to us. More on that in the next newsletter. In the Spring, April maybe, we are looking at having our Second Annual Reunion, complete with a cookout, drinks and good fellowship/conversation. Keep that in mind.

I am pleased to welcome the following new members to Travis Post 76: Clayton Braswell (Army) . New Legion Member Michael Hopper (Army) Trns. from Dept of Texas I know we all look forward to visiting with our newest members soon at the Post. I would like to start off the New Year by updating our Post member email address list. My resolution for this year is to provide Post members with more information in a timely manner by email. This would include receiving the Post newsletter and the Minutes from our monthly business meetings by email. Also, you can receive information about upcoming events during the month, without having to wait on the printed newsletter to arrive by mail. If you already communicate by email, I hope you’ll consider sending me your email address. I promise to send only Post 76-related information, no junk emails. Wishing all of you the very best in the New Year.

As we bring in a New Year be thankful...

For the FREEDOM that men and women fought and died for so that we may cherish it day after day.
But unlike the beauty of a fresh picked flower We can never allow FREEDOM to just fade away.
For the LOVE of GOD and Country that each and everyone of us should enjoy.
The LIBERTIES and choices that we have that has cost us dearly in lives, others would like to destroy.
For ALLEGIANCE to AMERICA and family values that we can teach our children so that we can hand them a better place to live.
We have to work to clean up our environment and uphold the laws of our land, think less about taking and more about what we ALL can give.
For OLD GLORY as we display it with unshakable pride, as it waves in the gentle breeze, it does look so GRAND.
As a nation under GOD we must try to love and help each other and try to go forth hand in hand.

May this year bring you many blessings!

We certainly hope everyone fared well in the January ice storm. Sorry we had to cancel our monthly social. However, the Chili cook off is on for February. Come eat chili and listen to one of our own members, George Ruiz, talk about Veteran Benefits etc.
Saturday the 10th of February will be the first of hopefully our monthly Executive Committee breakfast meetings to discuss program changes and conduct occasional work sessions at the Post. Every member is invited to participate. We will start the breakfast at 9:00 AM and finish around noon. These meetings should provide additional social, business and work opportunities to the membership. We will meet the second Saturday of each month.
Our Historian, Cyndi Miller, has requested that if anyone has pictures for our scrap book to contact her or the officers of the Post as soon as possible. She would like to enter the book in the Department competition that is just around the corner.
As always, join us at the Post for any and all activities. Please keep those in harms way and their families in your prayers. SEE YOU AT THE POST!

Well, the first time in a long time (from what I remember anyway) we had to cancel a dinner meeting! Thanks to Mother Nature and her ice, the January Dinner Meeting did not happen. So, we will push everything out a month. Except for our Commander, no one else came for the meeting. Once here, he got stuck in Austin for 3 days but, from what he said, at least he didn't go hungry. He had his chili! It was okay the first 2 days but after that he couldn't vouch for it! Y'all have to ask him about it at this months meeting.
For the February Dinner Meeting (Monday, February 19, 2007) we will have our annual Chili Cook Off. (Yes, our Commander will again make his famous brand of Chili and enter the contest.) Hot and spicy or mild, or somewhere in-between, bring your favorite and share. We will have prizes, yet to be determined. If you do not wish to bring a Chili dish, we can always use a dessert or two, a salad, bread, etc. Our speaker will be our own George Ruiz who will discuss with us the available Veterans Benefits, what's new, what's not so new, and what's on the horizon.
It will be a good meeting! For March, I am looking at getting someone from the Social Security office to come and talk to us. More on that in the next newsletter. For the March Dinner Meeting we are proposing to do a fish fry. Y'all up for that????? Our own Joe Cook will be doing the honors and he is always looking for volunteers to help. So come on out early to help out.

A convoy of three ships and three escorting Coast Guard cutters passed through "torpedo alley" some 100 miles off the coast of Greenland at about 1:00 a.m. on February 3, 1943. The submarine U-223 fired three torpedoes, one of which hit the midsection of the Dorchester, a U.S. Army troopship with more than 900 men on board. Ammonia and oil were everywhere in the fast-sinking vessel and upon the freezing sea.
The four Chaplains on board, two Protestant pastors, a Catholic priest and a Jewish rabbi, were among the first on deck, calming the men and handing out life jackets. When they ran out, they took off their own and placed them on waiting soldiers without regard to faith or race. Approximately 18 minutes from the explosion, the ship went down. They were the last to be seen by witnesses; they were standing arm-in-arm on the hull of the ship, each praying in his own way for the care of the men. Almost 700 died, making it the third largest loss at sea of its kind for the United States during World War II. The Coast Guard Cutter Tampa was able to escort the other freighters to Greenland. Meanwhile the cutters Comanche and Escanaba, disobeying orders to continue the seach for the German U-Boat, stopped to rescue 230 men from the frigid waters that night.
The four Chaplains were Father John Washington (Catholic), Reverend Clark Poling (Dutch Reformed), Rabbi Alexander Goode (Jewish) and Rev. George Fox (Methodist). These four Chaplains were later honored by the Congress and Presidents. They were recognized for their selfless acts of courage, compassion and faith. According to the First Sergeant on the ship, "They were always together, they carried their faith together." They demonstrated throughout the voyage and in their last moments, interfaith compassion in their relationship with the men and with each other. In 1960 Congress created a special Congressional Medal of Valor, never to be repeated again, and gave it to the next of kin of the "Immortal Chaplains"
This year marked the sixty-fourth year when America lost four brave men at sea. I would like to ask that you take some time out in prayer to reflect on a few words that were said during that time at sea...
Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arms hath bound the restless waves...
Who bids mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep
To hear us when we cry to thee
For those in peril on the sea.
With arms linked in friendship and heads bowed in prayer, I offer you my service as your Chaplain. Let us link arms together in prayer for your personal needs and concerns.

I am pleased to welcome Leo Prichard (Army) to Travis Post 76. Leo comes to us from Post 447 and is currently in an activated unit. I know we all look forward to visiting with Leo as soon as he is back in Austin. It is with sadness that I report the death of Post Member William E. Russell II. Please remember his family in your prayers. Our Post 76 Oratorical Contestant won the 3rd Division Oratorical Contest on Sunday, January 28th, 2007. Aysha Bagchi, a Senior at McCallum High School, will be one of four competitors at the State Oratorical Contest in San Angelo on February 19th at 9:00 a.m. By winning the District 10 and the 3rd Division Contests, Aysha is eligible for $750 in scholarships. Additional scholarships awarded at the State Contest range from $500 to $2,000. Please check the Department web site for more Oratorical Contest information. I had the privilege recently of speaking to a group of Cub Scouts about the history of the American flag, flag etiquette, and the free form of government that our flag represents. I was fortunate to have at my disposal several printed publications available from The American Legion, including two comic books – Our Country’s Flag and I Pledge Allegiance, that the boys found interesting and informative. If you ever need information on proper flag etiquette, or plan to speak to a youth group about the flag, please contact me about the products available from The American Legion, including printed materials and a DVD.

Many thanks go out to George Ruiz for bringing us up to date on Veteran's benefits and affairs while speaking at our February dinner social. It seems that there are positive changes in the wind especially with the national attention being drawn to the Health and Benefit programs now in existence. We certainly endorse scrutiny over the medical care of our returning Vets from the Middle East.
Speaking of changes, we have initiated a few in our standing meetings. There will be a happy hour before each business meeting and will end 15 minutes prior to the start of the meeting. Also, we will have card games, etc., during our social meeting happy hours. Come and join in on the fun as we play cards and board games while enjoying refreshments prior to our main meal and program.
Our annual reunion is coming up on April 15th and don't be surprised if an active member calls you to remind you of the event. We have a dual mission of updating our records of changes in your personal data like phone numbers, addresses and other contact information. We are using the internet and email addresses more and more in our communication with members. Look out for our new web site that will be introduced soon.
As always, we ask for prayers for those in harm's way and their families. Look forward to seeing new faces at the Post. If we can be of assistance in providing travel aids let us know. God Bless!

I am pleased to welcome Leo Prichard (Army) to Travis Post 76. Leo comes to us from Post 447 and is currently in an activated unit. I know we all look forward to visiting with Leo as soon as he is back in Austin.
It is with sadness that I report the death of Post Member William E. Russell II. Please remember his family in your prayers.
Our Post 76 Oratorical Contestant won the 3rd Division Oratorical Contest on Sunday, January 28th, 2007. Aysha Bagchi, a Senior at McCallum High School, will be one of four competitors at the State Oratorical Contest in San Angelo on February 19th at 9:00 a.m. By winning the District 10 and the 3rd Division Contests, Aysha is eligible for $750 in scholarships. Additional scholarships awarded at the State Contest range from $500 to $2,000. Please check the Department web site for more Oratorical Contest information. I had the privilege recently of speaking to a group of Cub Scouts about the history of the American flag, flag etiquette, and the free form of government that our flag represents. I was fortunate to have at my disposal several printed publications available from The American Legion, including two comic books – Our Country’s Flag and I Pledge Allegiance, that the boys found interesting and informative. If you ever need information on proper flag etiquette, or plan to speak to a youth group about the flag, please contact me about the products available from The American Legion, including printed materials and a DVD.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY! We are planning to celebrate St. Patrick's Day at our dinner meeting on Monday, March 19. So, show your Irish side and wear green, or at least have something green on you. If you know any Irish songs, we can always use a leader to lead us in a sing along. Let's be prepared to have some good ole fashion Irish fun. We will have a fish fry so please bring along side dishes that go along with the fish fry; salad (green of course), cole slaw, rolls, bread and anything else you can think of. The Post will provide the fish to fry, potatoes and hush puppies. We can use help in the kitchen, so come early. Don't forget the desserts! Irish desserts, or at least green frosting on the cookies and cakes.
Along with the Irish theme, our guest speaker will be Barry Conlon who is from Ireland (yes, he speaks with a brogue) and served in the Irish Defense Forces, Special Operations, Army Ranger Wing. He trained with anti-terrorist units abroad and also worked with the United Nations in the Middle East and Africa. My special thanks to Jason for suggesting him. Talk about an interesting perspective on the military and insight into another country's military! This will be a "cannot miss" meeting.
For our April Dinner Meeting we will have our own Stan Juba who works in the county property tax area and will discuss the in's and out's and how to's of protesting your property tax assessment.

Heroes in the Battle or Hometown Heroes ! Did you know Daniel was thrown in a pit with man-eating lions yet he didn't get eaten? The lions growled at Daniel but they couldn't open their mouths. God kept Daniel safe. (Read Daniel:6 to find out why)
! David fought a giant named Goliath. Even though Goliath had a sword and spear, David won the fight by throwing a small pebble at the giant's head and knocking him down. (Read more in 1 Samuel:17)
! Noah was the only good man left on earth, so God asked him to take two of every kind of animal and put them on a big boat called an ark. Then the earth was flooded. Noah kept the animals and his family safe until the water left the earth. (Read Genesis:6 to learn more)
! Did you know Samson was strong because of his hair? At first, he did not use his strength wisely until God taught him a lesson. (Read Judges:13 to find out what the lesson was)
! Did you know there was a man called Paul who was thrown in jail just because he was a Christian? He wasn't sad though, because he knew God would look after him. (You can read Acts:16 to learn more)

SO I ASK WHO MAY BE YOUR HERO?
"Heroes to Hometowns"
Welcoming home severely injured service members
"Heroes to Hometowns" is a transition program for severely injured service members returning home from OEF/OIF. The "Heroes to Hometowns" establishes a support network and coordinates resources for severely injured service members returning home.
Heroes to Hometowns can provide:
A Welcome Home Celebration
Housing Assistance
Home and Vehicle Adaptation
Government Claims Assistance
Transportation to Hospital Visits
Entertainment Options
Childcare • Counseling • Family Support
If you are a service member or a veteran, or family member of a service member or a veteran who has been severely injured, please contact me at 512.767.8644 or jason@thealtar.info for further information.

REUNION!!!!!! SUNDAY, APRIL 15, 2:00 P.M.. TO 5:00 P.M. JUST COME ON TO THE POST! POST WILL SUPPLY IT ALL!
In lieu of a dinner meeting this month, we will have a reunion on Sunday, April 15, starting at 2:00 p.m. and going to around 5:00 p.m., at the Post. We will have hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, chips, soda, maybe some beer, ice tea, cake with ice cream, everything for a real nice get together. All you need to bring is yourselves, family and friends as you would like. (You can, if you like, bring some extra dessert - can never have too much dessert!) Those of you who attended the last reunion can attest to the fact it was a success and everyone seemed to have a good time. We have no reason to believe this year will not be even better with more attendees, more talking/reminiscing, more food, more games - inside and out, real nice weather, etc., etc. A real nice gathering of comrades, family and friends at the Post! So, come on out, enjoy a great social event at the Post and bring your appetite! (Remember, since we will have the reunion on Sunday, there will be NO dinner meeting on Monday, April 16th!) Hope to see you all at the reunion on Sunday, April 15th!
The Vietnam Wall replica will be in Austin on June 1-3, 2007. We are pursuing providing volunteers to help out. Look for more information in the May newsletter. For our May Dinner Meeting we will have our own Stan Juba who works in the county property tax area and will discuss the in's and out's and how to's of protesting your property tax assessment..

Presently, Paul Barker, James Crabtree and myself are interviewing Junior high school boys for American Legion Boys State, a citizenship program, held on the University of Texas Austin campus, June 2 - 8, 2007. American Legion Boys State, began in 1935, is an activity of high educational value, born out of a need for youth training in practical citizenship. It is a leadership action program in which highly qualified male high school juniors develop a working knowledge of the structure of government. They learn by doing. Post 76 recruits boys from eleven area high schools. The application fee is $275 per student. The Northwest Kiwanis Club contributes $1100 [four boys] and Lago Vista Lions Club $275 [one boy]. Some school activity funds provide some assistance. You or your organization can also sponsor a boy.

Quiet Time
This time of the year is the quietest...
...we have come to sit in the presence of one who was fully who God created him to be every day of his life--who loved God with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his strength, and with all his mind-- and who loved his friends so much that he stepped into the oncoming traffic of death in order to push them out of the way. He furthermore did it all with no more than the basic human equipment--a beating heart, two good hands, a holy vision, and some companions who could see it too--thereby showing the rest of us humans that such a life is not beyond our reach.
...If God answered his prayer from the cross, which we should fervently hope God did--if we have indeed been forgiven, then that is the end of it--the end of all the blaming, all the scape-goating, all the getting-even, all the revenge. He died to put an end to all of that. He volunteered to be the last victim, so that his followers would never make victims out of anyone else again. He even gave us a prayer to pray if we should ever find our own hands hammered down: "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."

It is my pleasure to report that our second annual reunion was a success. Yours truly had the pleasure of cooking the burgers with Joe Cook and others. The taste reports were favorable. Thanks also goes to Dallas Calhoun for offering his private stash of cigars for our enjoyment.
During my attempts at calling my list of members prior to the event, I had the opportunity to visit with some interesting Veterans. One of those that I talked to was Charles Spangler. I promised him I would lift up the Marine Museum at Camp Mabry. Charles volunteers at the Museum and wanted to encourage our members to visit the next time anyone was in the area. His description of the facility was very informative and hopefully everyone will have an opportunity to visit the display in near future. Thanks Charles.
I am sorry to say that we decided for logistical reasons not to have the Memorial Day ceremony that was planned. We felt that there was not enough time to properly organize the event since the purpose was to open the event to the public. We definitely will have it next year and promise advanced planning. Please support the closest ceremony near you as there will be many events across the City on the 28th of May.
We continue to have new members join after returning from the Middle East and they are a welcome sight and blessing. Youthful enthusiasm is just what the doctor ordered. Please as always keep these fine men and women that are in harms way in your prayers and especially their families.

I thought our reunion went very well. We had a good turn out, everybody got their fill of hamburgers and hot dogs and there were lots of conversations going on. The weather was beautiful, couldn't ask for a nicer day. I know I had a good time. If you missed it, the reunion is an annual event at the Post and we all hope you can make it next year.
For our dinner meeting in May we have our own Stan Juba who works in the county property tax area and will discuss the property tax assessment process and the in's, out's and how to's of protesting your property tax assessment. The topic is very timely as by now we all have gotten our latest assessment from the county and if you are like me, are suffering from "sticker shock" after seeing the proposed increase. The Post will have Chicken Fried Steak as the entree with mashed potatoes and gravy. If you would like to bring a salad, some bread, rolls, or vegetables such as string beans, corn, or anything that goes along with the Chicken Fried Steak, that would be great! Of course don't forget about the desserts!
About the replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. I had hoped to have detailed information by press time. But, no luck. I found out that it will be in Pflugerville at Cook Walden/Capital Parks, 14501 N Interstate 35, June 1-3. They have not gotten back to me on exactly what they need and when. But they did say they needed volunteers. If, however, anyone is interested in helping out, please contact me. (Home # 372-8507 or Cell # 636-8987) I will continue my effort to contact them and get what information I can. In June, we will have Retired Colonel Ladd Pattillo (Post 76 member) talk to us about his experiences in Iraq. He was called to active duty in 2005 and served in Operation Iraqi Freedom as the Deputy Commanding Officer of the 18th Airborne Corps' Task Force Dragon, in Baghdad. A lot of you members know him and I am sure agree with me that he is very interesting, a great speaker and it should be a super meeting. So, mark June 18, 2007 on your calendar!

POST 76 ENTERS THE AUSTIN FILM WORLD
The Post 76 building entrance hall and the Tejas room were transformed into an early 30’s environment. The closing scene of the “Kings of the Evening” movie was filmed Saturday night and Sunday. Supposedly, this was the closing scene of the movie. The film will not be released for at least one year. Will let you know when it is available for viewing.
AFROTC AWARDS
On behalf of Post 76, awards were presented to six University of Texas AFROTC students. These future Air Force officers are highly motivated to enter active duty.
BOYS STATE
Post 76 will host 17 boys to the 2007 American Legion Boys State program. This citizenship program will be conducted on the University of Texas campus from June 2 - 8, 2007.
TREE DAMAGE
The April 13th [Friday] thunderstorm proved to be disastrous for our prize tree where several larger limbs were broken. Tree Masters, our tree service, attended to the broken limbs and sealed the breaks. Also, following the stressful 2006 year due to the drought conditions, all trees were fertilized. They are looking good.
WINDOW SCREENS
The new copper window screens and newly painted window frames are installed and look great.

Talking About Others A young mother was riding the bus with her four-yearold boy when he suddenly blurted out so that everyone in the bus could hear: "Look, Mom, see that man's nose? It looks soooo funny!" The mother was quite embarrassed and scolded her son. Then she whispered to him that if he wanted to say something about someone, then he had to wait until they got home or at least where nobody could hear them, so that nobody would be sad. A moment later, the boy blurted out in the same loud voice: "Look, Mom, we've got to talk about that big fat lady when we get home!" In this month we have Mother’s Day and at the end of the month we have Memorial Day. Each day we have someone that we remember. For some of us it might be our Mom, Dad, or it just might be a friend we lost or still have with us. Take some time to remember a loved one. Call a fellow Legionnaire, write a solider.

Well another year has passed and we just elected a new slate of Officers and Directors for the 07'-08' year. Congratulations to Al Banzer who will be the new Commander. Al has done an exceptional job as 1st Vice Commander and I am sure he will continue to serve in the same manner as the leader of our Post. I encourage everyone to support him as you have so aptly done for me. Thanks Al for stepping up to the plate.
You will be hearing about the opportunity to come and use the grounds on the 4th of July in order to observe the fireworks. One request is that you call the Post and let Dallas know who and how many folks will be coming. We will need to let the Police know so you can get into the parking lot.
We have had a good year at the Post. Our membership has grown and especially with the younger veterans. Our youth programs are strong which includes Baseball, Oratorical and Boys and Girls State. Our dinner meetings have had exceptional speakers and attendance. Major improvements and repairs to our historical building have taken place. i.e. new air conditioners, exterior screens and refinishing our ball room wood floor.
Our 10th District Conventions have been well attended and we have two members serving as officers for the District. Lastly, we have held our second annual reunion and it was a success. These are just a few of the many activities that take place at the Post and I hope that each of you can find the time to come and enjoy the fellowship.
It has been an honor to serve again as Commander. You always receive more than you give when you actively get involved at our Post. Please keep our troops, their families and our leaders in your prayers. Thanks for all of your support this year.
SEE YOU AT THE POST!!

Our speaker for the June Dinner Meeting will be Retired Colonel Ladd Pattillo (Post 76 member) who will talk to us about his experiences in Iraq. He was called to active duty in 2005 and served in Operation Iraqi Freedom as the Deputy Commanding Officer of the 18th Airborne Corps' Task Force Dragon, in Baghdad. A lot of you members know him and I am sure agree with me that he is very interesting, a great speaker and it should be a super meeting. So, see a lot of you at the June 18 Dinner Meeting. We will have fried chicken; so please bring a side dish that goes with that.
To plan ahead a little, we will open the Post on the 4th of July and have the grill set up for you to use. The Post makes a great place to see the fireworks, and the parking is free. Plan to come out early, bring what ever you would like to cook, bring a blanket to spread out on the lawn (or we will have chairs available if you prefer), talk with fellow Post members and get ready to watch the fireworks as put on by the City of Austin. We did this last year and although it rained, those that came enjoyed it. No rain this year!
The August Dinner Meeting will be the installation of new officers. Hard to believe a year has gone by already.

As we close in on the changing of Command, I would like to invite those that can to attend our annual installation dinner on August 20th. Our District 10 Commander, Mr. Dan Musgrove, will do the honors of installing our newly elected officers. I recently had the opportunity to pinch hit for Dan at Post 447 in Round Rock during their banquet. As First Vice Commander of the District, I was excited to perform my first ceremony of installing new officers at one of our neighboring Posts. It is always good to see and observe fellow Post members and their methods conducting the business of the American Legion. It reminded me of how strong our National Organization really is.
Yours truly was a statistic during the recent flooding throughout the State. In particular my property on Lake LBJ had substantial damage from the 100 to 500 year storm. We had 18 inches in just 6 hours and major flooding occurred in Burnet County. There were many families including veterans in the area that are still suffering the consequences of the unusual event. I ask for your prayers for those who have been put through financial, physical and emotional trauma and are having to deal with the ongoing repairs of the damage to homes and property. We will have an executive meeting and work day on July 14th. We start at 9:00 a.m. with a breakfast and end about noon. Any one can attend and I hope to see you around the Post.

At our July Dinner Meeting I thought all of you would enjoy hearing about the Legion's and the Post's involvement with Oratorical activities. As many of you know, our entrant this past year came in second in the State of Texas competition. That is no small feat! Our Oratorical Committee members, Will Ivey and Cyndi Miller, "volunteered" to discuss with the Post members and guests what all is involved, the objectives, how the oratorical contest works, the involvement of the local high schools, how the Post gets involved, the local, state and national contests, etc. I don't know much about it and I thought there may be others who are in the same boat and we would find it both informative and interesting. In addition, once you hear what Will and Cyndi have to say about it, you may want to get involved! It would be a great opportunity to get involved with the youth of our communities. For the entree, keeping with a 4th of July - cook out sort of flavor - we will have hamburgers and fries. If you would like to bring something that would be great. Bring anything that goes with burgers and fries, e.g., salads, baked beans, corn, other veggies, lettuce, tomatoes and onions (to go with the burgers), watermelon, and of course, desserts of any kind. It will be a fun evening - picnic style!
We plan to have our Executive Meeting on Saturday, July 14th, starting at 9:00 a.m. I will bring some Rudy's Tacos for breakfast. After a short meeting, we will do a project or two around the Post and be out by noon. All are welcome to help out and wear your old clothes.
The August Dinner Meeting, August 20th, will be the installation of new officers. Hard to believe a year has gone by already. We will have make your own BBQ sandwiches. Make sure you come on out to meet your new officers, enjoy the BBQ, share what ideas you may have for the Post and generally be prepared to have a good evening.
And, on September 17th we will have our Boys State and Girls State Banquet. Mark that on your calendar too!

Another year has come and gone. As we look back over this past year, we can feel grateful that the majority of our goals have been accomplished. These goals included having more social interaction, expanding our programs and increasing our membership to include more younger veterans. From a pure business stand point our Post rental income has been sufficient to offset major repairs to the air conditioning system, furniture repair and floor renovations.
It order to increase the interaction and fellowship with our active members, we have established happy hours before Post meetings and held several social events like the Second Annual Reunion and a spontaneous July 4th picnic on the front lawn. The Post has enjoyed an influx of new and younger veterans who have served recently in the Middle East. Most have become active and the Post is benefitting from their enthusiasm and energy. This is allowing us to put more emphasis on existing youth and member programs. Boys State, American Legion Baseball and Oratorical programs continue to improve in participation by local youth and our membership. Veteran's Day, Executive Committee and Work Day activities have all been well attended.
I know that as Al Banzer takes over as our new Commander, he will have the same generous support that all of you have afforded me. We encourage you to come and be a part of our annual Officer Installation Banquet on the 20th of this month at the Post. We look forward to Al's leadership as he directs our new officers in programming the future of our Post.
We continue to lift up our troops and their families along with the leaders of our nation and pray for the successful accomplishment of their mission and well being. I would like to thank all those who have supported me this last year by acting in various capacities or just participating in Post events and activities. It has been my pleasure to serve as the Commander once again.
I hope to see you around the Post.
For God and Country.

I want to thank our Oratorical Committee members, Will Ivie and Cyndi Miller, who "volunteered" to discuss with the Post members and guests at our July Dinner Meeting all that is involved with the American Legion Oratorical program. I learned a lot and I suspect those in attendance did also.
The August Dinner Meeting, August 20th, will be the installation of new officers. Hard to believe a year has gone by already. I am sure you all will agree with me that Larry has done an outstanding job of leading the Post this past year. Y'all come on out and let him know you appreciate all he has done. Larry leaves a big pair of shoes to fill and I will do my best to fill them this coming year as your Commander. For dinner, we will have beef BBQ with potato salad provided by the Post. Please bring side dishes that go with BBQ. e.g., beans, salads always welcome, bread; and anything else you can think of. As always, don't forget about the desserts! Make sure you come on out to meet your new officers, enjoy the BBQ, share what ideas you may have for the Post and generally be prepared to have a good evening.
The first Monday in September is Labor Day. We will move our September Business Meeting to the next Monday, September 10th. Please mark that on your calendar. On September 17th we will have our Boys State and Girls State Banquet. Mark that on your calendar too! The social hour will start at 6:00 p.m. We are planning on having fried chicken and the dinner will be held upstairs. We will be the first ones to enjoy the upstairs banquet room after the new paint job. Reminder, the second Saturday of each month, starting at 9:00 a.m., we have our Executive meeting. This month our Executive Meeting was on Saturday, August 11th, starting at 9:00 a.m. We had juice, donuts and coffee. After a short meeting, we did a project or two around the Post and was out by noon. All are welcome to help out and remember to wear your old clothes. Last month we worked on the outside storage shed putting up shelves. Thanks to Will Ivie for getting the materials and drawing up the plans. Also a big thank you to Frank for all his help in the construction of the shelves. Couldn't have done it without him! For September we are looking at moving the Executive Meeting to the 3rd Saturday, September 15th (due to the Business Meeting being moved up one week because of Labor Day).

The American Legion Post 76 repairs and renovations for the facilities in preparation for the 150th anniversary celebration are continuing. Painting of the Hall of Fame, the upstairs ballroom, will begin on August 27th. Following the painting, draperies for the windows will further enhance the appearance and atmosphere of the room in keeping with the many formal events held in our Post home. Does your family ever have family reunions, special anniversaries or birthday parties? Have you considered renting the Post 76 hall for your special occasions? When the redecoration upgrades are completed, it would make for a memorable event in a “historic facility”. Call Dallas, the Rental Manager, at 472-3344 for rental reservations and arrangements. Surely not too early to plan an office, company or family holiday event.
We have many lawn events, especially weddings. Recently, the Midnight Margarita Run party was a large event enjoyed by a few hundred people. Time to plan your event!!!

If the week started with Thursday...
Freedom from the Past
We physically function in the present, but we aren’t restricted to the “now” in our thought life. Some people live in the future, always thinking about what’s coming next. Others live in the present and constantly process today’s events. And some regularly live in the past, which has its own share of problems. It’s easy to get stuck in days gone by and dwell on old hurts and feelings of guilt. Sometimes it seems almost impossible to let go of a past mistake or error in judgment. When that’s the case, feelings of regret wrap around our minds like chains. They prevent us from moving forward and anchor us to feelings of condemnation. Is this how God wants you to live? Of course not! God hasn’t trapped you in your past. He came to deliver a life of freedom. And He wants to set you free to embrace a glorious future He’s prepared. So how can you get there? First, you must face your sin. Don’t lie to yourself. Don’t deny it. Admit your guilt to the Father. He already knows about it anyway. Second, you must be willing to accept His forgiveness. Otherwise, you’ll never really surrender your burden. He wants to carry your load, but you have to agree to let Him. The third thing you must do to be free is to believe you have a future with God. You’ll never experience that rich life if you continue to drag around your old mistakes. Are you haunted by your past? Lay down the chains of regret, and experience the freedom of complete forgiveness.

We had a great installation banquet last month and a special thanks to Dan Musgrove, Past District Commander for his participation and to Charles Matheson for developing the program. My person thanks to all those who volunteered to serve this year. I believe we have a great slate of officers and I look forward to serving with them. Larry did a great job this past year and I plan to continue in his footsteps and try and fill his shoes. This month we highlight the Boys and Girls State programs and honor those who attended as a result of your Post's support and sponsorship. The dinner meeting is on Monday, September 22nd and I hope many of you can attend and by attending, show your support.
The Boys and Girls State programs are great Legion programs that support our youth in the local communities. It will be upstairs and we will be the first to use the facilities after they have been painted. It's a job to run the Post and to accomplish that task we will be setting up a number of committees. The more participation we have the better. Remember, this is your Post so be active, we can use your help. We will be setting up the Committees during the October Business meeting so please all plan on attending. There is plenty of work to go around so don't be shy! There is a list of the current Committees on our web site if you are interested. To that list we will add a Communications and Building and Grounds committee. In November, mark it down, Veterans Day on Sunday, November 11. We will have a breakfast at the Post honoring all past officers of the Post and leave for the parade. Like last year, we have arranged to ride in the antique military vehicles thanks to our friends at the Texas Association of Vietnam Veterans. More information will follow in the October newsletter.
See y'all at the Post!

At the September dinner meeting we will be hosting this year's Boys and Girls State participants. This is a great American Legion Program that is a fine example of your Post being involved with the youth of our community. We usually ask the students attending the dinner to say a few words about their Boys/Girls State experiences and how they benefitted from it. Please be sure to attend this dinner to show our support to these fine young people. Due to the expected turnout, the dinner will be held upstairs. The menu will include fried chicken and mashed potatoes (provided by the Post). Please bring appropriate side dishes (vegetables, salads, bread, etc.) and desserts.
I look forward to serving as your 1st Vice Commander. My goal is to continue to provide the enlightening and interesting speakers for our monthly dinner meetings that we've grown accustomed to. If you know of a speaker who you think would be a good match for Travis Post 76, please don't hesitate to let me know about them.

The American Legion Post 76 repairs and renovations are advancing for our 150th celebration next year. The Hall of Fame room [upstairs] and front door painting will be completed in time for the Monday, September 17th Boys and Girls State dinner. Only two things will remain unfinished, curtain valances for the windows and ceramic tiles on the fireplace facings.
The American Legion Post 76 sponsors many graduating boys and girls outstanding junior students to the 2007 Programs. These students are now seniors at their respective schools. Come to the Monday, September 17th dinner and get acquainted with these young people as they share their experiences by attending these citizenship programs.
Two reasons to attend the September 17th dinner meeting: view the new paint job and acknowledge these boys and girls accomplishments.

The Boy's State/Girl's State Banquet on Monday, September 17th, was very impressive. We had a very good turn out and all who came from the Post thought the program was wonderful and the newly painted room looked great. If you didn't make it you missed a really good program. After talking to the young men and women who attended the banquet it really reinforces ones faith in the youth of this great country. It seems all the bad apples get the press while the good ones, which I firmly believe to be the majority, seem to be forgotten in our media. All those who attended the Boys State/Girls State legion program that I talked to at the banquet had nothing to say but praise for the program, that it was a tremendous learning experience and they were glad they did it. It was not all fun and games but well worth it.
My thanks to Joe Trochta, Paul Barker, Jason Denny and Pat Ivie for all their work. Also, my thanks to Charles Matheson for doing the program. At the Business Meeting we set up the Committees for the coming year. Below is a list of the Committees and the Chairperson. If you would like to serve on one of the committees please contact any officer of the Post or the Chairperson of the committee you are interested in.
Building & Grounds Joe Trochta
Boys State Paul Barker
Girls State Pat Ivie
Dinner Clay Griffis
Finance Larry Miller
Baseball Larry Miller
Communications Cynthia Miller
Service & Veterans Affairs George Ruiz
Legislative Guy Davis
Oratorical Cynthia Miller
Shooting Program Will Ivie
Membership Clay Griffis
Honor Guard Steve Dawson
150-Year Anniversary - 2008 . . .Executive Committee
Saturday, November 3, we will participate in the 2007 Stand Down at the Pam Am Rec. Center, 2100 E. 3rd St. and can use volunteers. Please contact George Ruiz (443-7232) or any Post Officer if you would like to help out.
Saturday, November 10, our Honor Guard will have its first public outing at the Veterans Day Tree Planting Ceremony at the Rock Gardens, Zilker Park, starting at 9:00 a.m. (We will not have a Executive Committee meeting that Saturday.) We would like as many members as possible to come on out and show those in attendance just what American Legion Post 76 is all about!
Sunday, November 11, is Veterans Day! We will have a breakfast at the Post and honor all past Officers. Those wishing to help cook, we start at 5:45-6:00 a.m., start eating around 7:00-7:30 a.m., and will leave for the parade around 8:30 a.m. We will be riding in the reconditioned WW II vehicles complements of the Military Vehicle Assoc. Our thanks to Danny Kaiser of the Texas Assoc. of Vietnam Veterans for arranging this again this year. Let's have a good showing for this as well.
See y'all at the Post!

Our guest speaker at the October dinner meeting will be author and Travis Post 76 member Jack Lawler, who will discuss his latest book, “Odyssey of a Hero”. Jack brings his experience in the Marine Corps and many years as editor of Texas State Trooper publications to this gripping novel about WWII Marines, early DPS highway patrolmen, Texas Rangers and other officers. Set in the 1940s and 1950s, the story follows the adventures of a depression-era youth, who joins the Marines after Pearl Harbor, battles the Japanese, is wounded and decorated for bravery, then faces new dangers and adventures as a Texas state trooper.
The menu for this month’s dinner will include spiral-cut ham and sweet potatoes. Please bring appropriate side dishes (vegetables, salads, bread, etc.) and desserts. Our dinner meeting this month will be at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, October 15th, at the Post. Please be sure to come early to visit and bring a friend or family member to hear the inspiring story of “Odyssey of a Hero”.
October 13 – 10th District Convention at Post 48 in Brenham, TX (those attending can car pool from the Post) Nov 10 – Veterans Day tree planting ceremony at Zilker Park with Travis Post 76 Honor Guard at 9:00 a.m.
Nov 11 - Veterans Day
7:30 a.m. - Past Commanders/Officers Breakfast at Post
8:30 a.m. – Veterans Day parade beginning on Congress Ave. Bridge. Travis Post 76 members will be riding again this year with the Lone Star Military Vehicle Preservation Association. We will car pool from the Post to the bridge.

Fellow Legionnaires of Travis Post 76,
We are pleased to announce the re-activation of Travis Post 76 Honor Guard! The Honor Guard will be multipurpose to include but not limited to: Color Guard, Marching and Firing Detail, and Funeral Honors Team. Please go to www.travispost76.org and then to the Honor Guard page on the Post website for more information.
Also I would like for you to know that I post an encouraging message on the Post website www.travispost76.org every Thursday in the Chaplains page, just look for "What if the Week Started with Thursday..."If you have any questions, please contact Jason Denny, chaplain@travispost76.org 512-767-8644 or Steve Dawson, txmnymngr@sbcglobal.net 512-261-1776.
Blessings!
Chaplain Denny

The October Dinner Meeting was great. We had a really good turn out too. Our own Jack Lawler talked about his book, "Odyssey o f a Hero" and did an outstanding job. I bought one, as d id others at the meeting, and just about finished it. It needs to be on the best selle r list! My thanks to Jack for being our guest speaker in October. The ham was very good as were all the goodies members and their spouses b rought in. If you are missing the meetings, you are mis s ing some good times, some good fellowship and some good food. Remember, those of you who haven't attended a meeting in a while, you are always welcome, so don't be a stranger. This is your Post, come on out!
My thanks to Jason Denny for his participation and representing the Post at the City of Austin Proclamation ceremony for the Veteran's Day T ree Pla nting and Dedication Day. Unfortunately I had to be out of town on business and could not attend. Thanks to Jason we got the signed Proclamation (by Mayor Will Wynn) and we will be having it framed to hang for all to see at the Post. Thank you Jason! George Ruiz, Will Brown and I participated in the 2007 Stand Down on Saturday, November 3 at the Pam Am Recreation Center. While our table was focused on provid ing information on what is available to help the homeless vets during their time of need, a number of other tables were there providing the homeless with info rmation. In addition, donations of clothing, shoes, backpacks and other useful items were made available for those in need.
November is always a busy month. Veteran's Day; to support and honor our veterans and Thanksgiving to give thanks for this great country o f ours and for a ll we have been blessed with over the past year. The Post will take a very active role in the Veteran's Day activities that will include participation in the Metz Elementary School Program and the Rotary lunch at Grace Lutheran Church on Friday, the City of Austin's Veteran's Day Tree Planting ceremony (with our very own Honor Guard) on Saturday morning followed by “Veteran's Day of Thanks ” at the Activity Center on Robert Martinez Blvd., and on Sunday, our breakfast at the Post, followed by the Veteran's Day Parade (with our Honor Guard leading the Post members down Congress Ave.), followed by the Wreath Ceremony at the Capital. Busy!
We have a really great program set for the November Dinner Meeting to celebra te Thanksgiving. Food will be good, as always, so come on out, meet,greet and mingle with your comrades and enjoy the food and the program. Remember, the price is right!
Next month is Christmas. Put it down on your calendar, Dinner Meeting will be December 17th. Come on out!
See y'all at the Post.

Our guest speaker at the November 19th dinner meeting will be Mr. Doug DuBois, Jr. Doug is an Area Coordinator for the Texas Youth Hunting Program (TYHP). The TYHP is supported by a partnership between the Texas Wildlife Association and the Texas Parks & Wild life Department, with a mission to increase the number of youth participating in wildlife and hunting activities and to promote the hunting heritage in Texas. TYHP is based on the principles of hunte r education, teaching safe, legal and ethical decision making when out in the field.
Please be sure to come early and bring a friend or family member to learn about how the Texas Youth Hunting Program is providing great hunting opportunities to young people in Texas while teaching them about safe and ethical hunting practices that can be passed on to future generations.
This month’s dinner theme combines both Thanksgiving and Veterans Day, so wear your red, white and blue , or a pilgrim hat! The entrée for this month’s dinner will be turkey, dressing and mashed potatoes. Members are asked to bring side dishes, including vegetables, salads, bread, and desserts.
Our dinner meeting will be at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 19th at the Post.

Thanksgiving
Come, let's shout praises to God,
raise the roof for the Rock who saved us!
Let's march into his presence singing praises,
lifting the rafters with our hymns!
And why? Because God is the best,
High King over all the gods.
In one hand he holds deep caves and caverns,
in the o ther hand g rasps the high mountains.
He made the Oceans—he owns them!
His hands sculpted Earth!
Whenever we come into God's presence, we must come with thanksgiving. The Lord is to be praised; we do not want matter, it was well if we did not want a heart. How great is that God, whose the whole earth is, and the fullness thereof; who directs and disposes of all! The Lord, whom we are here taught to praise, is a great God; the mighty God is one of his titles, and God over all, blessed for evermore. To him all power is given, both in heaven and earth. He is our God, and we should praise him. He is our Savior, and the Author of our blessedness. The gospel church is his flock, The Lord is the great and good Shepherd of believers; he sought them when lost, and brought them to his fold.
May you have a full Thanksgiving!

I’d like to wish the entire Travis Post 76 family a very Merry Christmas (or Hanukkah) and a Happy New Year! At our upcoming dinner meeting on December 17, we will enjoy fellowship, singing and some good food. There’s no guest speaker this month, just come sing carols and catch up with old friends. We will have song sheets available. The Post will provide cold cuts, cheeses, etc. Please bring your favorite finger foods as well as salads, deviled eggs, and desserts. Be sure to invite a friend or family member, you never know who’ll show up at the Post this time of year, maybe even the guy in the red suit himself!
In January, we will be having our annual Chili Cookoff, so start dusting off your secret recipes now. Hot or mild, we’re accepting all entries, even Yankee-style (with beans). I hope to have Austin City Council Member Mike Martinez come speak to us and give an update regarding naming the lot in front of our Post “Veterans Park”.
Coming up in March, we will have our first “ROTC Appreciation Dinner & Formal Retreat” at the Post. We will be inviting local ROTC units and their color guards. More details will come later, but for now please mark this on your calendars so we’ll have a good turnout to show our appreciation for these student warriors. Seeing our own Spirit of 76 color guard and the ROTC color guards in action should really be impressive.

Special Dates
December 17 . . . . . . Post holiday party @ 7:00 p.m.
December 21 . . . . . . Car Pool (from Post) to Temple VA hospital @ 7:00 a.m.
January 21 . . . . . . annual Chili Cook-off @ 7:00 p.m.
March 17 . . . . . . . ROTC Appreciation Dinner & Formal Retreat @ 6:30 p.m.

Merry Christmas!
Luke 1:26-35
In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin's name, Mary. Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her:
Good morning!
You're beautiful with God's beauty,
Beautiful inside and out!
God be with you.
She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, "Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.
He will be great,
be called 'Son of the Highest.'
The Lord God will give him
the throne of his father David;
He will rule Jacob's house forever -
no end, ever, to his kingdom."
Mary said to the angel, "But how? I've never slept with a man."
The angel answered,
The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
the power of the Highest hover over you;
Therefore, the child you bring to birth
will be called Holy, Son of God.