Spring is upon us. The Passover and Easter holidays have come and gone, which means there are new beginnings ahead. As things get back to somewhat normal, we're happy to announce that plans are being laid for at least two special events.

The first is the 75th Annual Tree Planting Ceremony honoring our Past Commander Thomas Vetter.  This will be an in-person event to be held at the Star Post Memorial Wall at the Pitchess Detention Center.  We'll announce more information once we have a better understanding of the public health guidelines which will be in place, but for now, we ask you to save the date -

May 21 at 10:00 AM.

Our second major event is our Veterans Day Ball scheduled for November 6, 2021. We have confirmed that our Guest Speaker will be Medal of Honor Recipient, Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry, US Army. Tickets are on sale now! Click on the flyer below to be taken to our website where you can purchase your tickets.

On May 29, our friends at Ronald Reagan Palisades Post 283 will host an American Legion Range Day from 9 AM to 1 PM at the Oak Tree Gun Club in Newhall. They will provide a space to all veterans wanting to participate; however, you must bring your own firearm and ammo. A light lunch will be provided. Visit https://fb.me/e/SQ0rQ66i for more information.

CALL TO ORDER

Our next virtual Post meeting will be held on Saturday, April 17 at 10:30 AM. Click on this Zoom link to access the meeting. 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7290671694

At the meeting, we will have the first round of nominations for Post Officers for the Legion year 2021-2022, discuss our details for the upcoming Tree Planting Ceremony and the Veterans Day Ball.

Our 75th Annual Tree Planting Ceremony has been scheduled for May 21, 2021, at 10:00 AM at the Star Post 309 Memorial Wall located at the Pitchess Detention Center. This will be an in-person event; however, it is still not known the number of people who can be in attendance.  The good news is the event will be outdoors, which means we do have some flexibility on what we can do.

For precautionary reasons, we will not have a luncheon following the ceremony. Aside from Ranch Classroom/Dining Room and food services facilities being closed, we also want to limit any indoor activity associated with the event.

For American Legion family and non-LASD members, email us at info@starpost309.com if you would like to attend. In the subject line, please include "Tree Planting."

After the ceremony, we will have our Installation of Post Officers. These will be the new officers of Star Post 309 for the Legion year 2021-2022.

Spotlight on our Veterans

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICAN LEGION - 102 Years of Service to our Service Members, our Veterans, and their Families.

The American Legion continues its legacy of service by providing numerous benefits, resources, and services to our veterans and their families. One such program is The American Legion Legacy Scholarship

To qualify and apply for The American Legion Legacy Scholarship, you must be able to answer YES to the following 3 questions.

1. Are you currently a high school senior and/or accepted at or attending an institution of higher education?
2. Is your institution of higher education a nonprofit and regionally accredited institution? (If you are unsure, contact your institution's admission office. Regional accreditation applies to the whole school, not a program.)
3. Does at least one of the following statements apply to you?
   1. A legal parent of mine died while serving on active duty, U.S. military service on or after September 11, 2001. (Does not have to be a death out-of-country or in combat.)
   2. A legal parent of mine is a Post-9/11 veteran of the U.S. military, who has been given a disability rating of 50% or higher by the Veterans Administration.

If you can answer YES to the previous 3 questions, you may fill out this online application.

If you have already created an account on the Legion.org website, please SIGN IN now. If you have not created an account on the Legion.org website, please click on the SIGN IN link and get started. For more info, visit https://www.legion.org/legacy-scholarship-application/eligibility

Thanks to the Glendale Elks Lodge #1289 for hosting a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Luncheon on March 29.

Vietnam Veterans Day commemorates the sacrifices of Vietnam veterans and their families as part of a national effort to recognize the men and women who were denied a proper welcome after returning from the war.  The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act, signed into law in 2017, designates March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day.

Our Star Post 309 Sergeant at Arms Robert Lee, who chairs the veteran affairs for the Glendale Elks Lodge, was the MC for the event. Also in attendance was retired LASD and Star Post member Bill Hutton, another Vietnam combat veteran. 

Bill enlisted and served in the US Marine Corps from 1965-69 and was assigned to the Third Battalion, Fourth Marines, Third Marine Division during his tour of duty.  While serving in Vietnam, he was wounded three times with the last occurring in 1966 while leading his company up Hill 400, which was well fortified with North Vietnamese machine gun bunkers and had held off the Marine company for two days.  For his actions, Bill was awarded the Silver Star, Purple Heart medal with second star, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.  One of Bill's passions is volunteering with The Greatest Generations Foundation. In the video below, he had the honor of escorting a WWII veteran and D-Day hero during a D-Day commemoration.

Also in attendance at the luncheon were Star Post Commander Ernie Bille, retired LASD Ermelinda Bendy (veteran supporter), retired LASD Captain Dave Silversparre (Elks Member), and several LAPD retirees many of whom were also Vietnam veterans.

Gone But Never Forgotten

Ames Randolph "Casey" Jones was among 70 Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department members who founded Star Post 309 on December 6, 1927.  Casey Jones served as a First Lieutenant in the US Army during World War I.

Jones was the first Post Commander of Star Post 309 between the time the Post received its temporary charter to October 29, 1928, when the permanent charter was issued.

​

Deputy Sheriff Jones succumbed to complications of a gunshot wound sustained on January 21, 1929, inside the Hall of Justice building in Los Angeles. He and another deputy were escorting two state convicts back to jail on the upper floors of the building following a court appearance. As the elevator passed the ninth floor one of the prisoners produced a handgun and a shootout ensued inside of the elevator. The elevator operator was able to grab the prisoner's arm as he shot, but one of the shots struck Deputy Jones in the throat.

​

Despite his wounds, Deputy Jones and the other deputy shot and killed the subject. The second prisoner was also wounded. Deputy Jones' condition continued to worsen and he had to medically retire on December 5, 1937. He passed away from complications of the gunshot wound on March 31, 1948.

Deputy Arthur Pelino was shot and killed by a mentally deranged suspect. Deputy Pelino was a Resident Deputy in Gorman, which is located in a rural section of Los Angeles County. He had arrested a mentally deranged suspect that was known to have been violent. Deputy Pelino canceled Deputies who were responding to back him up stating he had the situation under control. Deputy Pelino took the suspect back to his office to start the booking process.

During the booking process, the suspect started to struggle and was able to get Deputy Pelino's service weapon. The suspect shot and killed Deputy Pelino and sat down in the office. Two of Deputy Pelino's children found him and the suspect and ran to get help. Deputy Pelino's wife was able to get the suspect into a cell and call for assistance.

Deputy Pelino enlisted in the US Army on March 30, 1944, and was honorably discharged on May 22, 1946.  Deputy Pelino had been with the LASD for 21 years and was survived by his wife, three sons, and three daughters.

Congratulations

to our longtime Star Post 309 member, our Post Chaplain and Judge Advocate, Hugh E. Crooks, Jr. on his reappointment to the California Veterans Board. Cal Vet Secretary Dr. Vito Imbasciani, a fellow American Legion member, was on hand to swear in Hugh at the historic Bob Hope Patriotic Hall.

As the Chair of the Cal Vet Board, Hugh will ensure the Board fulfills its mission to advocate for veterans and working to ensure their rights are respected and their needs are met.

Resources and Information

Although a sensitive topic, it's important to know there are services available to those who may have lost a loved one during the pandemic. In early April, FEMA will begin providing financial assistance for funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020, for deaths related to coronavirus (COVID-19) to help ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the pandemic. 

Through this program FEMA is reimbursing up to $9,000.00 per funeral and a maximum of $35,000 per application. You may qualify if: 

1.     You are a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who paid for funeral expenses after January 20, 2020, and

2.     The funeral expenses were for an individual whose death in the United States, territories or the District of Columbia, may have been caused by or was likely the result of COVID-19. 

For more information about this assistance, visit https://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance

A reminder that the COVID vaccine is now available to ALL veterans regardless of age.

On March 24, President Biden signed the SAVE LIVES Act which authorizes the VA to provide the COVID vaccine to veterans who are not enrolled in VA health care, veterans on the Foreign Medical Program, some registered veteran caregivers, recipients of Civilian Health and Medical Programs, and veteran spouses as well.

The American Legion has launched its new website mylegion.org. This is a newly revamped site where members can access their membership information and profile, print a replacement membership card, and access the Flag and Emblem American Legion store. Veterans can also find valuable resources, links to discounts, and locate veteran service officers in their area, all in one manageable site.

American Legion Basic Training

Learn more about the American Legion by taking the online Basic Training course. This is the Legion's official training course intended for all members, especially those who would like to be part of the leadership team for Star Post 309.

For the benefit of our newer members, we have on our Star Post 309 website numerous resources for your benefit. We also encourage all of our members to read our Star Post 309 Member Handbook which includes our governing bylaws.

Follow us on our social media pages:

Star Post 309 Facebook

American Legion Riders Chapter 309

American Legion Auxiliary Star Unit 309

Instagram @starpost309