I am proud to announce that our Commander, Thomas J Visintainer Sr. has been selected as Kenosha’s Hometown Hero for the 4th Quarter, 2021. The Commander will be presented with the award on Monday, Dec 20th, 2021 at the beginning of the Common Council Meeting in Room 300 of City Hall at 7:00pm. Stop by and show your support for “Woody” and wear your Legion Cover to show support for The American Legion.

Commander Karl Stuvengen forward an invitation from TAL State Administrative Manager/Event Planner Angela Chappell. This a great opportunity for members to meet people from all over the state and share ideas.

Please contact us if you are interested.

Attachments:

OPPORTUNITY #1 MIDWINTER CONFERENCE:

If you haven’t heard, Midwinter is right around the corner. Since we know you have a yearning for learning, you do not want to miss this conference. We have attached the training brochure for this year’s event, along with the registration and housing forms. You can find all of this information, schedules and more at https://bit.ly/2022MW. We would love to see you January 13-16, 2022 at Ho-Chunk for the 2022 Midwinter Conference. Oh and did we mention Elvis is coming Saturday night 😉

OPPORTUNITY #2 STANDING COMMITTEES:

We love that you took the time to attend Legion College courses to learn more about the organization, now you have the opportunity to put that knowledge to use. Each year the Department Commander has seats to fill on the Department Standing Committees. We challenge you to think about your strengths, education, vocation and passion to see where you could best serve. There are 14 Department Committees; to learn more about these opportunities go to wilegion.org, click ‘Get Connected’ and then ‘Committees & Commissions’ and click on the ones that interest you to learn more about that committee/commission. If you are interested in serving, fill out the attached Fillable Standing Committee Application and give it to your District Commander for submission to the Department.

On the evening of December 7th, Mayor John Antaramian, Post 21 Commander Thomas Visintainer, and American Legion Auxiliary President Donna Lewens, dedicated 58th Street from Sheridan Road, East as Post 21’s namesake and Son of Kenosha Paul Herrick.

Herrick was killed on December 7th, 1941 aboard the USS Arizona (BB-39) during the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor. He is believed to have been at his General Quarters station on the forward part of the ship at the time of, or shortly after, the attack started. His body was never recovered and he is permenently entombed aboard the ship with many of his shipmates.

You can read more about Paul in his page on this website under the history menu.

Department Commander Greg Eirich, First District Commander Karl Stuvengen, and Post Commander Tom Visintainer at the dedication ceremony. Photo: Carl Bogar

Post 21 will open it’s doors to all citizens of Kenosha, and to our brothers and sisters from all veteran groups, on December 4th, 2021 from 10 am to 3pm, and on Sunday December 5th from 12pm to 4pm.

Current Exhibits

  • A Museum quality World War II / Military exhibit presented by Historic Military Impressions.
  • Essay Contest Finalists entries display.
  • A display honoring 74 of the Marines who perished aboard the USS Arizona along with Paul Herrick.
  • Saturday Dec 4th at Noon – Steven Tindall will give an oral presentation on the Arizona Marines
  • Saturday December 4th at 1:00 pm- Carl Bogar will give oral presentation providing context for his museum display.

Award Presentation & Memorial Service

Our Remembrance Ceremony will take place on December 7th:

  • 5:00 – 5:30 pm Paul Herrick Blvd. Dedication
  • 6:00 – 7:00 pm General gathering open to the public.
  • 7:00 – 8:00 pm Ceremony and essay winners announced.

We are proud to announce that Mayor John Antaramian and Post 21 Commander Thomas J. Visintainer Sr. will be dedicating 58th Street between the lake and the Sheridan Road as “Paul E. Herrick Blvd”. During the ceremony later that evening, they will be presenting the Essay Contest Awards.

What: American Legion Family – Veterans Day Celebration

When: Nov. 11, 9:30 a.m. to Noon. 

  • 10:15 Flanders Field Ceremony.  
  • Rendering of Honors at 11:00 sharp.  
  • Coffee and Donuts before the ceremony, and a light lunch starting at 11:15

Where: 504 58th St., Kenosha – Paul Herrick Post 21 

The first Post 21 Production Line (non) meeting was a success last night.

If you didn’t get the email, we are having an informal meeting each Tuesday evening from 6:00 pm to 8:pm to talk about post improvement, our goals or just some sea/war stories. If we’re talked out, there are some old fashioned games or we can watch a movie. Anything goes.

Hope to see you next week.

IMPORTANT: If you are a member and youvdidn’t get the email, contact me and I’ll get you on the list.

Sticky

Randolph Granger joined Post 21 forty years ago to help a friend work Kenosha’s 4th of July fireworks display which was performed by Post 21 at the time.  He remembers those days fondly.  He had been at the post previously, “as a kid” when the Post hosted teen dances.

Randy Granger with his latest donation

At our August member meeting Randy presented the post with the pictured artwork which is a signed pen and ink drawing of the USS Arizona (BB-39) Underway.  The work was created on the 40th Anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor. In the past, he also donated other items, such as another framed picture of the Arizona Memorial, a picture of a funeral caisson, and a Legion Police Badge.   The Grangers have a long legacy in the Legion as Randy’s

father used to write articles for The American Legion Magazine.Randy and his wife Lori, a US Army veteran herself, are currently downsizing and thought that Post 21 was the right place for it. Randy assured us he will come down from time to time to visit us and have a look at a favorite old picture. Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Granger!