Currently viewing the tag: "Octoberfest"

What a beautiful weekend we experienced at Octoberfest! We would like to thank everyone that supported the entire Legion Family. Whether you helped with setup, take down, baking, manning the bake sale or beer garden, or were a patron to these areas and the kitchen, we appreciate your support!

Hopefully, you signed up for the Bus Trip to the Armed Forces on November 9. The bus leaves at 7:30 a.m., so please be at the Thurmont Legion no later than 7:15 a.m. We can’t wait to hear about your trip. The trip includes Arlington Cemetery, war memorials, a wreath ceremony, and Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

On November 16, we will celebrate our Veterans by serving them a free lunch. So, bring the family out to thank our Veterans for their service. Lunch will be served from noon until 2:00 p.m.

Remember to wear your poppy during the month of November to show your support to the Veterans! Poppies are available all year at the Legion, Main Street Thurmont, Marie’s Beauty Salon, and the Thurmont Senior Center.

The Legion will be closed on November 28, Thanksgiving Day, so everyone can enjoy time with family and friends. We wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.

Are you eligible to become a Legion Member, Son of the American Legion (SAL), or Auxiliary?

To become a Legion Member — If you have served at least one day of active military duty since December 7, 1941, and were honorably discharged or you are still serving active military duty honorably, you are eligible for membership with The American Legion.

To become a Son of the American Legion (SAL) Member — All male descendants, adopted sons, and stepsons of members of The American Legion, and such male descendants of Veterans who died in service during the period of April 6, 1917, through November 11, 1918, or any time from December 7, 1941, to date, who served honorably, as set forth in Article IV, Section 1, of the National Constitution of The American Legion, or who died subsequent to their honorable discharge from such service, shall be eligible for membership in the Sons of The American Legion.

Membership in The American Legion Auxiliary shall be limited to the:

(1) Grandmothers, mothers, sisters, spouses, and direct and adopted female descendants of members of The American Legion;

(2) Grandmothers, mothers, sisters, spouses, and direct and adopted female descendants of all men and women who served in either of the following periods: April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918, and any time after December 7, 1941, who, being a citizen of the United States at the time of their entry therein served on active duty in the Armed Forces of any of the governments associated with the United States during either eligibility periods and died in the line of duty or after honorable discharge;

 (3) Grandmothers, mothers, sisters, spouses, and direct and adopted female descendants of all men and women who were in the Armed Forces of the United States during either of the following periods: April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918, and any time after December 7, 1941, who served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States during either eligibility periods and died in the line of duty or after honorable discharge; and

(4) To those women who of their own right are eligible for membership in The American Legion. A woman who is eligible for American Legion membership is eligible to join the American Legion Auxiliary regardless of whether or not she is a member of The American Legion.

However, eligibility of her female relatives (sister, mother, direct descendants) and/or spouse depends upon her membership in The American Legion.

(Hey guys, if your wife was a Veteran, but you are not, you can join the ALA as a spouse.)

Mark your calendar for Breakfast with Santa and the last two Pop-Up Shops of the year! Be sure to follow up on Facebook.

American Legion Post 168, Thurmont

The Membership Picnic will be held on Sunday, September 8, starting at 1:00 p.m. Doors open at noon. Tickets are $25.00 each and are available at the bar. To purchase a ticket and attend the picnic, your 2024 dues need to be paid and you must be 21 years old. The deadline to purchase your ticket is Sunday, September 1. You MUST show your 2024 membership card at the gate entrance to attend.  We are looking forward to a good time and want to thank all the volunteers in advance for all they do for the picnic. This is also a good time to pay your 2025 dues.

Platoon 22 was presented with a check for $7,000 from the 3rd Annual Golf Tournament (shown above). Pictured from left are Allen Middendorff; Alex Uphold, State Farm Thurmont Office; Niki Falzone, Executive Director of Platoon22; Rick Hall; Debra Middendorff; and Carie Stafford.

Octoberfest is quickly approaching, and volunteers are always needed. Please check in with your Officers to see where you can be useful. The Auxiliary is always looking for baked goods. Cookies are a hit, so if you can bake a few dozen, that would be great.

Remember to follow us on Facebook (The American Legion Post 168)for weekly and upcoming events like Pop-up Shops, Veterans Luncheon, and Breakfast with Santa.

“The Patriot’s Pen” Essay Contest

Each year, the VFW Post 6658 Auxiliary in Emmitsburg sponsors a contest, titled “The Patriot’s Pen,” which is open to students in grades 6 through 8.

Students are required to do a typed essay of 300-400 words based on the theme: “My Voice in America’s Democracy.” Monetary prizes are given to the winners on local, state, and national levels. Judging is based on knowledge of theme, theme development, and clarity of ideas.

If interested, please contact Annette Wivell at 240-675-0356 for an entry form. Entry deadline to VFW Post 6658, Emmitsburg, is October 31, 2024.

“Voice of Democracy” Contest

Each year, the VFW Post 6658 in Emmitsburg sponsors a contest, titled “Voice of Democracy,” which is open to students in grades 9 through 12. Students are required to record a 3-5 minute audio essay based on the theme: “Is America Today Our Forefathers’ Vision?” 

Monetary prizes are given to the winners on local, state, and national levels. Judging is based on originality, content, and delivery.

If interested, please contact Eric Wivell at 240-675-0346 for an entry form. Entry deadline to VFW Post 6658, Emmitsburg, is October 31, 2024.

Thurmont American Legion Post 168

Ed Gravatt, Past Commander

Just in case any of you haven’t noticed, the Town of Thurmont did an excellent job in cleaning up after Colorfest, and wasn’t it a beautiful weekend. I want to send out a big “Thank You” to several members of our Sons of the American Legion for their tireless efforts getting our Octoberfest set up and cleaned up. Without their assistance, it wouldn’t have come off so effortlessly. Now we can start planning for next year.

In the past couple of months, we have had to do some extensive repairs, and there will be a handicap restroom in the near future. All of this required some patience, both on our part and from members who had to contend with our construction mess and inconveniences.

There is some really good entertainment here at the Legion this month. On Saturday, November 4, 5 1/2 Men will be here again; pretty soon, they might have to change their name to 5 3/4 Men. They are a very good band, playing a variety of music from country to Rock to Pop. On November 11, we have the honor to have the Catoctin High School Safe & Sane Dance here again this year. This is an excellent event, raising funds to help keep our Kids SAFE, and out of trouble. On November 17, we will have TC Beats in our party room.

Please remember that our kitchen is open on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Doreen and Christi do a wonderful job; we are lucky to have them.  The soups and specials from our kitchen are made from scratch and could compare to any of the finest restaurants around. Come on out for a good meal. Join us for the Ace of Hearts drawing on Wednesdays or for Bingo on Thursdays, along with  some great entertainment on most Fridays.

We, here at the Edwin C Creeger American Legion Post 168, would like to wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving. For any of you who may be venturing into the wilderness this month in search of the elusive White Tail Deer, please have a safe and successful hunt.

Buck Reed

Oktoberfest

Fall brings us a number of festivals, but few are as food-centric as a popular one started in Munich and carried on for 205 years: Oktoberfest. Started as a celebration for the king’s wedding, it now boasts being the world’s largest folk festival.

This year, they are expecting 7.5 million visitors to the weeklong celebration—last year, about that many liters of beer were consumed, making it the biggest beer-drinking event of the year. But food is as big a part of this festival as the beer, as each tent has a full kitchen attached and almost all of them have a specialty dish. In all, 500,000 chickens will be grilled or roasted and over 100 oxen will be consumed, along with 50,000 pig knuckles, 200,000 pairs of various sausages (Weisswurst being the most popular), and 80,000 liters of wine and 30,000 bottles of champagne. It should be noted that modern mathematics has no apparent way of counting how many warm, salty pretzels are consumed at this event, but a gazillion has been thrown out there.

Frederick has two notable festivals. The first one, sponsored by the Rotary, is on the first weekend of October at the fairgrounds; and the second one is Oktoberfest at Schifferstadt on October 17-18. Both have great music, great beers, and some authentic German food.

However, if you want to cook your own little Bavarian feast, there are more than a few options to go with. First off, there is German grilled chicken, of which every tent has a version. Roast beef with a red wine sauce and vegetables is another great choice. Don’t forget the sausages, which can be purchased at Wegman’s. I like the traditional weisswurst, but, of course, bratwurst is also a great go-to as well.

Now let’s talk sauerkraut. If you don’t like your family, cuisine in general, or the world as a whole, then by all means take the sauerkraut out of the can, heat it up, and serve it. But if you want to turn that mess into something divine, then follow these quick instructions: (1) Pour contents into a colander; (2) Rinse contents with beer or cider; (3) Place in cooking vessel; (4) Add something to it: chopped pimentos, finely chopped onions, caraway seeds (my favorite), mustard…..just add something for sauerkraut sake; and (4) Cook as desired (I prefer with bratwurst, covered and roasted).

The following are also some great choices for German sausages: Weisswurst (traditional Bavarian sausage made from veal and fresh pork bacon); Bratwurst (means “farmers’ sausage,” made primarily from pork and can be fresh or smoked); Blutwurst (blood sausages—worst public relations guy ever—come in many varieties, served both hot and cold; Frankfurter (these are hot dogs made only with pork or beef and love. The natural casing gives this sausage that distinct crisp snap); Knockwurst (these thick smoked sausages are made of pork and veal and have a strong garlic flavor); Bierwurst (originally from Bavaria, with a heavy garlic flavor and dark red color, heavily seasoned with spices and brotherhood).