Currently viewing the tag: "American Legion Post 168"

It looks like spring is finally here! The flowers are all starting to bloom. The children will start their outdoor sports, and life will get busy. Remember to always check in on our Veterans.

April 5th is Gold Star Spouses Day. This is a day that honors spouses who lost their military significant other due to their Military service.

Poppy Posters are due to the Legion by April 15. If you have any questions, please email thurmontlegionaux168@gmail.com.

The Legion, SAL, and the Auxiliary are always looking for ways to help our Veterans and the community. Over the next several months, we have lots going on, so please follow us on Facebook and check the Community Calendar in this issue for event dates and times. And mark your calendars now for exciting upcoming Legion events, including getting your dancing shoes on for Dinner and Line Dancing for St. Jude on April 5, a Poppy Wreath Fundraiser on April 7, the 2nd Annual Car Show on June 15, and the 3rd Annual Legion Golf Tournament at Maple Run to benefit Platoon 22 and other Veteran programs on June 21.

American Legion Post 168, Thurmont

Wow, things sure have slowed down a bit. We hope everyone had a happy and safe New Year! Thank goodness the first snowfall of the year was not as bad as they were calling for, but the wind was something else! Hopefully, you were able to join us for Candy Bingo. It is always a great time, and to watch the excitement in the kiddos’ faces, is always fun. Join us on February 24 for the next Candy Bingo.

The month of February has some interesting days.

February 1st is National Freedom Day; while it is not a national holiday, it is an observance to commemorate the historic signing of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution by President Abraham Lincoln. This amendment outlawed slavery, representing a major step toward equality for all Americans.

February 4th is USO Day; again, it’s not a national holiday, but a birthday celebration of the American nonprofit charitable corporation. USO provides live entertainment, care packages, and much more. The USO is the bridge connecting overseas soldiers to their friends, families, and homes. They are partnered with the Department of Defense to serve everyone in military life. The troops fighting in WW2 were the first to benefit from this organization’s efforts, and now almost 4.9 million members are impacted by the USO. To learn more about the USO and how you can benefit or help, visit the website at uso.org.

February 14th is Valentine’s Day–Celebrate You! For years, even decades, Valentine’s Day has been a religious celebration, an ancient ritual day, and a commercial holiday. All that change means the meaning of Valentine’s Day is truly whatever you want it to be: You can skip the celebrations completely, buy yourself some chocolate or flowers, or express your love and appreciation for the people in your life, whether they are co-workers, romantic partners, friends, or family members.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook to keep up with weekly specials, events, and happenings: Kitchen Specials, Yoga, Queen of Hearts, Corn Hole Tournament, Bingo, Line Dancing, and Meat Pack Raffles. Check out the Community Calendar in this issue for weekly event dates and times.

Wreaths Across America is an annual collaborative that honors our nation’s veterans around the holidays by placing wreaths on their graves.

Several organizations went to work to transport, deliver, unload, and distribute wreaths in the Thurmont area on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. A Sheetz truck delivered 72 boxes containing 12 wreaths per box for a total of 864 wreaths to volunteers representing the Thurmont Lions Club, the Sons of the American Legion, the American Legion Auxiliary, the American Legion Post 168, the Town of Thurmont, Cub Scout Troop 279, and Pack 270. The wreaths were unloaded, prepared for distribution, and delivered to local cemeteries.

Pictured left to right are: April Fordham, Alex Dankanich (American Legion), Mark Resch (Pack 270), Jimmy Best with Parker Best (Troop 270) and Aubrey Best (Pack 270), Allen Middendorff (Thurmont Lions Club), Jim Robbin’s, Brian Glass, Buz Mackley, and John Byrne (American Legion).

Photo by Deb Abraham Spalding

The annual Toys for Tots drive, hosted by Cub Scout Pack 270 and Venturing Crew 270, is getting underway. 

Donation boxes can be found at Mountain Gate Restaurant, ACE Hardware, the American Legion Post 168, and Thurmont Conservation and Sportsman’s Club (other locations will be added). 

The Drive will end on December 3, and the USMC will attend the Cub Scout Pack 270 pack meeting on December 4 to pick up the donations. 

Please consider helping the children in Frederick County by donating a new, unwrapped toy to make their Christmas special.

The American Legion Post 168 held its annual Memorial Day Ceremony on May 30, featuring special music, speakers, and the laying of the wreaths to remember the conflicts/wars where so many men and women gave their lives to ensure the freedoms we live with every day. 

The ceremony featured local BSA Scouts T270B & G, Venturing Crew 270, Cub Scout Pack 270, and Girl Scouts with the opening flag ceremony; the American Legion Post 168 and AMVETS Post 7 honor guard with 21-gun salute and taps; while Chewy from 40/8 Voiture Locale 155 sounded the cannon to honor our Veterans.

The American legion Post 168 and BSA Scout Matthew Place and prospective Eagle Scout of Troop 270B collaborated on a project that has been needed in the Thurmont community. Many people contact the American Legion to ask what they should do with their worn/damaged American flags. The answer is that they should be retired in a solemn, dignified way such as a ceremony. The American Legion Post 168 holds such a ceremony once a year, with the assistance of local Scout troops.

Where can you drop off your worn/damaged American Flag? This question now has an accessible answer. The Thurmont community can now drop off worn/damaged flags around town, thanks to Matthew Place. Matthew, a prospective Eagle Scout, took on the challenge of designing, obtaining materials, and leading the building, painting, and detailing of four American flag drop boxes that will be placed at Hobbs Hardware, ACE Hardware, Gateway Candyland, and the Thurmont Police Department for community members to drop off their worn/damaged flags.

On behalf of the American Legion Post 168, “Thank you to BSA Scout Matthew Place, BSA Scout Troop members 270B & G, the Best Family, the Young Family, the Resch Family, ACE Hardware, Hobbs Hardware, the Whetzel Family, and the Place Family for helping this desired project come to fruition.”

Pictured from left are Nicolas Middendorf, 1st Vice Commander;  Allen Middendorf, Sargent at Arms; Matthew Place, BSA Troop 270;  David Place, BSA Troop 270; Carie Stafford, BSA Troop 270 & 2nd Vice Commander; Gary Spegal, Treasure; Debra Middendorf, 3rd Vice Commander

Cub Scout Pack 270 held their annual Pinewood Derby on February 26 at the American Legion Post 168 in Thurmont. Cub Scouts are given a derby kit, and they are encouraged to build and design their own derby car any way they would like, within the established guidelines. Scouts raced and competed to be the winners in their prospective age brackets. The top three in each age bracket will move on to the Super Derby on April 9 in Frederick.

Windsor Racing participated this year, bringing one of their full-size race cars, which was parked out front of the legion during the Pinewood Derby.  Cub Scouts were able to ask questions and get pictures taken with a genuine 1999 Mazda MRX race car. It was one of the highlights of the day.

Congratulations and best of luck to the 18 boys and girls of Cub Scout Pack 270 who will move onto the Super Derby on April 9.  Thank you to Windsor Racing and all the adults who volunteered their time to ensure an exciting and safe Pinewood Derby.

The Town of Thurmont and the Town of Emmitsburg alternate years on hosting a flag retirement ceremony.

This year, the ceremony was held at Memorial Park in Thurmont, hosted by The American Legion Post 168. After folding hundreds of flags, to include a large Criswell flag (pictured), the Scouts lined up to properly retire our nations colors with honor.

Scouts BSA Troop 1011, 270B & G, Cub Scout Pack 270, Venturing Crew 270, and Girl Scout Troop 81178.

Scouting troops in Thurmont honored our fallen military this past Memorial Day by placing flags on their gravesites and participating in The American Legion Post 168 annual wreath-laying ceremony on Memorial Day.

Thank you to Scouts BSA Troop 270B & G, Cub Scout Pack 270, Venturing Crew 270, and Girl Scout Troop 81178 for honoring our military so that they are not forgotten.

Boy Scout Troop 270; Venturing Crew 270; Cub Scout Pack 270; Girl Scout Troops 81759, 81178, 81200; and Boy Scout Troop 1011 worked together to place flags on graves of Veterans in preparation for Memorial Day. 

They also participated in the wreath-laying ceremony on Memorial Day, hosted by The American Legion Post 168 at Memorial Park in Thurmont. The Scouts took turns laying wreaths in memory of our fallen military members in past wars.

On June 14, 2019, the Scouts also participated in a Flag Day flag retirement ceremony at Memorial Park with The American Legion Post 168 and the Town of Thurmont. The Scouts folded flags for retirement and, along with attending members at the ceremony, retired the flags in the proper manner befitting the American flag.

The Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show will be held at Catoctin High School, 14745 Sabillasville Road in Thurmont, on September 6-8, 2019. 

Entry of exhibits will take place on Thursday evening, September 5, from 6:00-9:00 p.m., and on Friday, September 6, from 8:30-11:30 a.m., in the new gymnasium and in the agriculture department area. The show will open to the public at 6:00 p.m. 

On Friday night at 7:00 p.m., the 2019-2020 Catoctin FFA Chapter Ambassador will be announced. This year’s program will honor the 100th anniversary of the Edwin C. Creeger, Jr. American Legion Post 168 of Thurmont and Francis X. Elder American Legion Post 121 of Emmitsburg, and also the 50th anniversary of the Seton Center in Emmitsburg. 

The American Legion organization was founded in 1919 by veterans returning from Europe after World War I, and was later chartered as an official American patriotic society to carry on the tradition to support veterans, families, and community. The Legion continues to volunteer in patriotic service of mutual help to our veterans and has touched virtually every facet of American life; and, to this day, they carry on the objective to serve the community, state, and nation.  There will be six persons from the American and Emmitsburg Legion honored during the Friday night program.

The Seton Center provides emergency assistance with rent and utilities; financial literacy education; job search and support; case management; information and referrals; access to dental health care; life skills workshops; and Getting Ahead in a Just-Getting-By World program, which teaches people self-sufficiency, finance and budgeting, and how to create a sustainable way out of poverty. The Seton Family Store is very popular, with a selection of quality items; the support of the Family Store helps the outreach programs operate. Seton Center relies on the generosity of donors and funds from the store to continue helping its neighbors in need. There will be three persons honored from the Seton Center during the Friday night program.

The Linda Elower Studio of Dance will also be honored for its 50th anniversary during its program on Saturday afternoon.

The baked goods auction will begin immediately following the program and the grand champion cake, pie, and bread will be sold at 9:00 p.m. 

On Saturday, September 7, the show opens at 9:00 a.m. Activities include a Market Goat, Beef, Sheep and Swine Fitting & Showing Contest, from 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., at the Ag Center at the school. The Pet Show will be held at 10:30 a.m. outside the front of the school. The petting zoo, farm animals, and pony rides will also be held on Saturday and Sunday. The Thurmont Grange will serve its roast turkey and country ham dinner in the school cafeteria, from 3:00-7:00 p.m. on Saturday night. Prices are $14.00 for adults and $15.00 for carryout.

The Linda Elower Studio of Dance will feature entertainment on Saturday, beginning at 1:00 p.m. The Thurmont Gateway Spires Brass Ensemble will perform in the auditorium at 7:00 p.m., and Richard Lee Troxell will perform at 8:00 p.m. in the auditorium. There will be no admission charged for the entertainment.

The 45th Annual Catoctin FFA Alumni Beef, Sheep & Swine Sale will begin at 6:30 p.m. for exhibitor awards and the sale will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Ag Center area on Saturday night. 

Activities begin on Sunday, September 8, at 9:00 a.m. with the Goat Show, followed by the Dairy Show. The Decorated Animal Contest will begin at noon. 

At noon, the Catoctin FFA Alumni Chicken Bar-B-Que will be held in the cafeteria. Prices are $10.00 for adults and $11.00 for carryout.

The Log Sawing Contest will begin at 12:30 p.m., under the show tent in the Ag Center area, with categories consisting of women’s team, men’s team, men and women’s team, and a children’s division.

          A Peddle Tractor Contest for kids will be held on Sunday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. in the Ag Center area; the 40th Annual Robert Kaas Horseshoe Pitching Contest will begin at 1:00 p.m. The Catoctin Mountain Boys will provide free musical entertainment from 1:00-3:00 p.m. in the auditorium.

Exhibits must be removed on September 8, from 3:00-6:00 p.m. Visit the website for updated information at www.thurmontemmitsburgcommunityshow.webs.com. The Community Show is sponsored by the Thurmont Grange, Catoctin FFA Chapter, Catoctin FFA Alumni, the Maryland State Grange and the Maryland State Agricultural Fair Board.

For the third consecutive year, the Thurmont Top Shots, representing the Thurmont Conservation & Sportsman’s Cub (TCSC) and American Legion Post 168, were awarded the American Legion Champion Squad in the singles trapshooting event at the 2018 AIM Grand National Championship. The championship was held at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, Illinois, from July 27 through July 30. Team members participating in the event included Will Sears, Blake Seonarain, Neall Kemp, Stephanie Kennedy, Josh Runion, Nathaniel Neuland, and Kyle Snowden (missing Shane Biser).

For information on how to join the TCSC Top Shots shooting program, contact Coach Dan Neuland at danneuland@verizon.net.