Post 229 Members Highlighted Events - Sep-Oct 2021
Trail of Tears Ride. Post 229 volunteers (0800-1200) participated on 18 Sep 2021 in support the Trail of Tears event at the Redstone Harley Davidson Dealer, located at: 15100 State Hwy 20, W, Madison, AL 35756 (road parallel to Route 565). Due to rain, the event did not attract a large number of riders compared to last year. Post 229 volunteers again helped sell T-shirts, patches, water and other items and the post efforts were rewarded with a cut of the profits for future Legion charitable activities. - American Legion Veteran's Yard Sale. Legion conducted its 1st veterans Yard Sale on 25 Sep 21 at Bob Jones High School's North Parking Lot. Bob Jones High School's JROTC also participated and generated profits for their cadet activities. (Post 229 veteran, Mr. Tom Scripture, surfaced the idea this summer and it proved to be beneficial as another resource for fund raising for the post and may become a bi-annual post event.)
- Flag Retirement Ceremony, 26 September 2021. The Post 229 Auxiliary hosted another flag retirement ceremony at Post 229's Memorial Park in downtown Madison. (Note: A Troop 926 girl scout, Aunyae Johnson, completed refurbishment of three previous newpaper boxes to accommodate public disposal of unserviceable national flags.) These boxes are located at Firestation #1 on Hughes Rd., Firestation #2 on Hughes Rd., and Firestation #3 on Countyline Rd. Ceremony held at Madison City Council Meeting on 10/25/2021, solidified this gold star project with fire chief present and the "uncovering" of the final box headed to Firestation #2.
- Honor Guard Participation. Bob Kirby continues coordinating available Post 229 Honor Guard members to honor numerous veteran burials each month. (Volunteers are welcomed to meet increased demands by deceased veteran's families.) Randall Gray reported that team provided military honors for 22 funerals in 32 days in Oct!
- 16 Oct - Boy Scouts ICW Post 229 built a trailer float on Dave's Trailer for the Veterans Day parade in Nov and for a Christmas Parade in Dec.
- 23 Oct - Legion Post 52 Revitalization with State Representative (Membership Cold Calls) at Hartzell Post 52.
- 23 Oct - Railyard BBQ Fest, Lanier Rd, Post 229 members provided a Safety Detail, ~1000 - 2100.
- 25 Oct - Girl Scout Gold Award Project presentation by Aunyae Johnson at Madison City Council Meeting, 6 PM. (See Girl Scout's page for photo...)
- 26 Oct - Madison County Commanders and Adjutants Meeting (at Post 237) 6 PM.
- 28 Oct - Veteran Breakfast at Little Libby's Catfish, 234 Lime Quarry Rd, Madison, AL.
- 2 Nov - Honored Legacy 10:30 A.M. meeting at Hope Church, 1661 Balch Rd, Madison. Open lunch afterwards at Sunny Side Cafe for those interested.
- 5 Nov - Veterans Prayer Breakfast, Hogan YMCA, Madison. (Post 229 reserved 3 tables with events@ymcahuntsville.org or call 256-428-9622, ext: 3008. Note: Coffee reception was included in the Atrium at 6:45 a.m.; program began at 7:30 a.m.
- 6 Nov - Gravesite flags were placed at 4 Madison Cemeteries. Assembled at 1000; Assisted Post 237 at Huntsville Memory Gardens, Rt. 72 at 1200.
- 6 Nov - Vet's Gravestone Cleaning at 1100 at 2 old burial sites on Mill Rd., Madison. Girl Scouts and Auxiliary cleaned various head stones.
- 6 Nov - Albama A&M Military Appreciation ICW Game, 1300. (Legion District 12)
- 6 Nov - Veterans over 60 visited Huntsville Senior Center on Drake for a gift box via a drive thru at scheduled pick-up times.
- 8-9 Nov - Affinity Hospice (540 Hughes Rd, Madison, AL) - Post 229 visited numerous elderly veterans under Hospice Care at their homes. (9 Army, 9 Navy, 2 Natn'l Guards, 1 Marine, 1 Air Force.) Bill McGahey, Andy Caudle, Dan Marr, Thomas Scripture, John Hutchins and Larry participated. Senior Veterans and their families appreciated Post 229's member visits.
- 9 Nov - Monrovia Middle School Vet's Breakfast and Ceremony - at 1216 Jeff Road, Huntsville, AL 35806. (256)-520-1133.
- 9 Nov - Sparkman HS (Teen for Troops) had an assembly. Arrival at 0915. Note: Post 229 member, John Hutchins, delivered a speech.
- 9 Nov - Took flag boxes to Veterans at Heritage Assisted Living on County Line Road at noon. (Jean Downs and Larry Vannoy participated.)
- 10 Nov - Buckhorn HS Veterans B'fast at 0900 - program followed at 1000. POC: Col. Steward, Army JROTC (256) 851-3300.
- 10 Nov - Columbia Elementary School Drive Thru Parade, 667 Balch Rd, 0900-0930. 229/Boy Scout trailer was used. We were honored to have Madison City School Members, Alice Lessman, LTC (R) and Travis Cummings ride along in our float! Numerous cars, vans and the local Police and Fire department participated.
- 10 Nov - Auxiliary hosted Arm Chair Travel and Dropping Vets Day Cards and Posters at Tut Fann at 1400. (Larry, Jean, Stacy, and one other?) participated.
- 10 Nov 2021 - NAVFOC Veterans Recognition Dinner at Summit, Redstone Arsenal (1730). Jean Downs honored as:
NAVFOC Veteran of the Year 2021! 
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- 11 Nov - Veterans Day Parade, Huntsville - started around 1000. (Two (2) Trailers: Post 229 Cdr with Honor Guards + Post 229 members/guests And Boy Scouts Troop 201 in trailer); Also participating with Post 229 were Boys Nation, Girls Nation and Auxiliary/Girl Scout Troop 926.
- 11 Nov - Post 237 hosted a free lunch at their location after the parade - opened to veterans. 237 Auxiliary providing dinner with BBQ Ribs to vets.
- 11 Nov - Veterans Appreciation Night held at Black Patch Distillery, 500 Lanier Rd, Madison courtesy Auxiliary 1800-2100. Event included food, DJ and door prizes.
- 13 Nov - Memory Garden Gravesite Flag Retrieval at 1200.
- 16 Nov - Redstone RSAMCC Honoring Veterans, Past, Present and Future Dinner 1800. Cocktails, dinner and program at 1800. Cost $18. RSVP by 12 Nov (noon) Bring a toy for 'Toys for Tots'.
- 16 Nov - Bob Jones Basketball Booster Clob honors Veterans and Active Duty at 1720 at Bob Jones HS Gymnasium (Send in Bios of participants.)
- 18 Nov - Regular monthly Post 229 meeting at 1900 meeting time. Location: Lunar Lodge.
20 Nov - Gravesites flag retrievals at Madison cemeteries; (Flag retrieval with Post 237 on 13 Nov for Huntsville Memory Gardens.)
- 16 Nov - 2 Dec Auxiliary and Volunteers build Christmas tree - theme: "Poppies" for Madison City displays.
December 2021
- 1-4 Dec - Department American Legion in Montgomery sponsoring membership drive with National Legion representatives. Cdr Post 229 attending...
- 2 Dec - Madison Station Polar Express Christmas Tree Trail lighting in downtown Madison City at 1800.
- 3 Dec - PFC Major Wooten receives French Legion Of Honor at Mount Zion Baptist Church, 228 Mount Zion Rd. Huntsville at 4 PM. Post 229 invite regrets or RSVP to: Holly Wooten Mcdonald at (256) 990-1004. Event limited to 100 persons.
- 9 Dec - Monthly Post 229 Social at 0830 and Monthly Meeting at 1900. Pot Luck Dinner and drop off for Toys for Tots.
- 11 Dec - Madison City Christmas parade, stage at Hughes Rd. and Plaza (near Madison Library) with trailer. Parade hrs: 1530-2000.
- 15 Dec - Division Meeting at Post 15 in Decatur.
- 16 Dec - Post 229 member(s) deliver over 5 boxes of bedding, coats, sweaters, blankets and other items to Post 237, as they prepare a delivery from District 12, in support of a committment from Alabama's American Legion to support the Kentucky hurricane relief effort.
- 19 Dec - Note: Due to overnight rain and muddy grass conditions, the Christmas Wreaths laying activity scheduled for three (3) Madison City cemeteries for veteran burial sites was delayed from 18 December at 10 AM until 19 Dec at 1 PM (1300). Thanks to all who braved the cold weather to honor local veterans.