AMVETS meeting report         

[DEC. 11, 2006]  At the recent meeting of Lincoln AMVETS Post 71, John Sutton was present. Sutton is very well-known around Lincoln and surrounding areas for his many talented feats of community service and his great assistance to this post. He constructed and erected both signs in All Veterans Park and consistently maintains them. A plaque was presented to him in grateful appreciation.

Reports were given on all service programs and membership. The post needs only two more members to reach 100 percent renewed membership status.

The total evaluation of all the service reports amounted to $6,959.40, for this period only. Some of the projects were flying flags, participating in military funerals, attending and participating in the annual Veterans Day ceremony as well as the Christian Nursing Home ceremony, visiting veterans in nursing homes and hospitals, donating food to a veteran's funeral meal, attending veterans' funerals, and the continuing work with the Veterans Honor Roll.

The bricks now laid to honor veterans total 2,085, with seven on hand. The most recent laying of bricks was Nov. 10, and it is unknown just when the next laying will be. The project will be kept open until either the space is filled or the orders stop. If you wish to order a brick, please do so by picking up your order forms from the little yellow container near the directory at the park, or call 217-732-8829 and they will be mailed to you immediately.

Please visit the park and the bricks. The park is not in the cemetery mode; it is a place to go and confer with your loved ones or just sit quietly and reflect. You will also be pleasantly surprised at just how many of the veterans you will know or be related to.

The next AMVETS meetings will be May 20, June 16 and Sept. 17, 2007. The November meeting will be discussed later.

Commander Haak reported on the attendance and participation of the AMVETS at the veterans ceremony at the courthouse and how sparse the crowd was. He further informed the members of the AMVETS performance at the Christian Nursing Home's Veterans Day ceremony.

Dec. 18 was the date picked for the distribution of Christmas gifts for veterans residing in three nursing homes. Members will meet at the Haak residence, 1417 N. Logan St., at 1:30 p.m. Anyone wishing to assist, please meet the group there.

Those ill or hospitalized were remembered with signed cards.

[Lincoln AMVETS Post 71 news release]