The American Legion UNIT 694 Newsletter

Monterey Cypress Unit 694
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2008
Unit will start meeting at 7PM

President Sherryl Panek 394-8180 1st Vice Emily Tafoya 663-1306
2nd Vice Mary Estrada 384-0152 Secretary Lis Billingsley 384-9038
Rec. Secretary Connie Raya 594-0226 Treasurer Carol Feliciano 372-6265
Chaplain Eleanor Bray 384-7264 Historian Jackie Gonzales 384-3361
Parlimentarian Ruby Kapsalis 394-4514 Sgt of Arms Rosie Eskridge 384-0131
Marshall Pamela Chavez 277-7491 Exec Board Renee Nichols 384-5117
Exec Board Barbara Ferguson 384-6598 Exec Board Elsa Thielen 449-3814
Musician Renee Nichols 384-5117 Jr. Past Michelle Soares 886-6212
Return to Post 694 click on name for picture of new officers

CHAPLAIN'S CORNER Eleanor Bray, Unit Chaplain
Please keep the following in your thoughts and prayers. Maria Knight, Ethel Milburn and Gail Strandberg who are recuperating from surgery, Erika Johnson on the loss of her husband, Don, Rosie Eskridge whose cousin passed away and all our men & women in uniform.. Please contact me at 384-7264 if you know one of our members is not feeling well, is ill or hospitalized Welcome to our Newest Members
Renee Bailey, Kelly Bayless, Angela Lippert, Amanda Nash and Vera Wesley MESSAGE FROM UNIT PRESIDENT SHERRYL PANEK
I would like to thank Lis and Bob Billingsley and their crew for their hard work at the Fireworks booth this year. It was a very tough year but we thank them for their work and dedication. Thanks to all of you who supported us during this tough year! I also want to thank the ladies and Legionnaires for supporting Bingo. If any of our members can help during Pay the Taxes BBQ on Saturday, September 27th send me an email at czecp@redshift.com or call me 394-8180.
2008 NATIONAL CREATIVE ARTS FESTIVAL will be hosted by California and held at the Riverside Convention Center on 20-26 October 2008. As Host, California must supply and keep a snack room open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily and needs lots of cases of water, soda, juice, individual wrapped cookies, crackers, chips, cereal, etc as well as fruits. Nationwide, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities use the creative arts as one form of rehabilitative treatment to help veterans recover from and cope with physical and emotional disabilities. Across the country each year, veterans treated at VA medical centers compete in a local creative arts contest. A national selection committee chooses first, second and third place winners among all of the entries and 130 of the medal-winning veterans are invited to attend the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival each year. Last year, 2,849 veterans participated in this program from 104 VA facilities nationwide, with 130 of the medal-winning veterans earning an invitation to participate in the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival. This year's Festival will culminate on Sunday, October 26, 2008, with an art exhibit featuring all first-place art entries followed by a gala stage show performance at 2:00 p.m. The stage show is professionally directed with live orchestral accompaniment generously provided by the Music Performance Fund. Tickets are free and actively distributed to assure a full house for the veterans' performance. The National Veterans Creative Arts Festival is co-sponsored annually by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Help Hospitalized Veterans, and the American Legion Auxiliary.
On Thursday, September 11th, 2008, fly an American flag on this seventh anniversary of one our country's worst tragedies. We do this honor of those who lost their lives on 9/11, their families, friends and loved ones who continue to endure the pain, and those who today are fighting at home and abroad to preserve our cherished freedoms. Our American flag is the fabric of our country and together we can prevail over terrorism of all kinds. Fly an American flag of any size on 9/11. Honestly, Americans should fly the flag year-round, but if you don't, then at least make it a priority on this day.
Thank you for your participation. God Bless You and God Bless America!
DATES/THINGS TO REMEMBER
Sep 13-14 -Department Workshop, Bakersfield
Sep 21st at 9 a.m. - District 28 Meeting, hosted by Salinas Unit 31

Lap Robes 4'x4' & 4'x 6' needed by Dec 12th for Spinal Cord Ward at Palo Alto VA for their annual Christmas party

President	Sherryl Panek	394-8180	1st Vice	Emily Tafoya	663-1306
2nd Vice	Mary Estrada	384-0152	Secretary	Lis Billingsley	384-9038
Rec. Secretary	Connie Raya	594-0226	Treasurer	Carol Feliciano	372-6265
Chaplain	Eleanor Bray	384-7264	Historian	Jackie Gonzales	384-3361
Parlimentarian	Ruby Kapsalis	394-4514	Sgt of Arms	Rosie Eskridge	384-0131
Marshall	Pamela Chavez	277-7491	Exec Board	Renee Nichols	384-5117
Exec Board	Barbara Ferguson	384-6598	Exec Board	Elsa Thielen	449-3814
Musician	Renee Nichols	384-5117	Jr. Past	Michelle Soares	886-6212
Return to	Post 694		click on name for picture of new officers

CHAPLAIN'S CORNER Eleanor Bray, Unit Chaplain Please keep the following in your thoughts and prayers. Maria Knight, Ethel Milburn and Gail Strandberg who are recuperating from surgery, Erika Johnson on the loss of her husband, Don, Rosie Eskridge whose cousin passed away and all our men & women in uniform.. Please contact me at 384-7264 if you know one of our members is not feeling well, is ill or hospitalized	Welcome to our Newest Members Renee Bailey, Kelly Bayless, Angela Lippert, Amanda Nash and Vera Wesley	MESSAGE FROM UNIT PRESIDENT SHERRYL PANEK I would like to thank Lis and Bob Billingsley and their crew for their hard work at the Fireworks booth this year. It was a very tough year but we thank them for their work and dedication. Thanks to all of you who supported us during this tough year! I also want to thank the ladies and Legionnaires for supporting Bingo. If any of our members can help during Pay the Taxes BBQ on Saturday, September 27th send me an email at czecp@redshift.com or call me 394-8180.
2008 NATIONAL CREATIVE ARTS FESTIVAL will be hosted by California and held at the Riverside Convention Center on 20-26 October 2008. As Host, California must supply and keep a snack room open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily and needs lots of cases of water, soda, juice, individual wrapped cookies, crackers, chips, cereal, etc as well as fruits. Nationwide, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities use the creative arts as one form of rehabilitative treatment to help veterans recover from and cope with physical and emotional disabilities. Across the country each year, veterans treated at VA medical centers compete in a local creative arts contest. A national selection committee chooses first, second and third place winners among all of the entries and 130 of the medal-winning veterans are invited to attend the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival each year. Last year, 2,849 veterans participated in this program from 104 VA facilities nationwide, with 130 of the medal-winning veterans earning an invitation to participate in the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival. This year's Festival will culminate on Sunday, October 26, 2008, with an art exhibit featuring all first-place art entries followed by a gala stage show performance at 2:00 p.m. The stage show is professionally directed with live orchestral accompaniment generously provided by the Music Performance Fund. Tickets are free and actively distributed to assure a full house for the veterans' performance. The National Veterans Creative Arts Festival is co-sponsored annually by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Help Hospitalized Veterans, and the American Legion Auxiliary.
On Thursday, September 11th, 2008, fly an American flag on this seventh anniversary of one our country's worst tragedies. We do this honor of those who lost their lives on 9/11, their families, friends and loved ones who continue to endure the pain, and those who today are fighting at home and abroad to preserve our cherished freedoms. Our American flag is the fabric of our country and together we can prevail over terrorism of all kinds. Fly an American flag of any size on 9/11. Honestly, Americans should fly the flag year-round, but if you don't, then at least make it a priority on this day. Thank you for your participation. God Bless You and God Bless America!