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AMERICAN LEGION
POST 96
PO Box 7096
Surprise, Arizona 85374-0101
Newsletter No. 147
azalpost96.com
Commander:
George Van de Langeryt
Sr. Vice Commander: Nancie Scalercio
Jr. Vice Commander: Jerry Pontius
Finance Officer:
Tony Abate
Adjutant:
Jim Aiello
Executive Committee:
Nancie Scalercio, Jerry Pontius, Bill Libscomb
Tony Abate, George Van de Langeryt
623-547-6668
623-229-9459
623-582-6677
623-214-5613
623-546-4675
May 2015
Post Officers
Chaplain:
Bill Cherilla
623-546-1721
Sergeant-At-Arms: Joe Fletcher
623-544-4688
Judge Advocate:
Peter Pervi
623-533-3094
Service Officer:
Larry Brown
623-546-3335
Membership:
VACANT
Color Guard Captain: Tony Cauiola
623-583-9495
Newsletter:
George Van de Langeryt gvan8888@aol.com
Past Commander: Bill Lipscomb
**************************************************************************************************************************************
IMPORTANT NOTICE!
Next Post 96 Business Meeting May 21 at 1900
Election of Officers for Legion Year 2015-2016
Nominated Officers are:
Commander: Tony Cauiola
Sr. Vice Commander: Nancie Scalercio
Jr. Vice Commander: Bill Cherilla
Finance Officer: Tony Abate
Meetings are held in the Arizona Traditions Classroom.
Social Hour starting at 1800 and the business meeting starts at 1900.
17221 N Citrus Rd., Surprise 85374
Next Post 96 Officers meeting on Wednesday May 6 at 1630 at Surprise Funeral Care on Bell Road
Next American Legion Riders Meeting Saturday May 9 at 1800
Sands Chevrolet Surprise Conference Room
Bill Cherilla, Brian Racine, Tony Cauiola and Commander George man the booth
at the April 18 Surprise Swap Meet
Post 96 May Newsletter
TWO VETERANS MEMORIAL HALL EVENTS COMING UP!
Friday & Saturday, May 1-2 the Hall will hold a fundraiser at Sam’s Club Bell Rd at the 303. We will
be giving out small American Flags in hopes of a donation. We will be there from 0800 to about
1800. Please stop past and throw us a buck. Legion members are welcome to join us. Wear your
cover and shirt if you have one. Give the Commander a call if you can help.
Sunday May 17
The Hall will hold a clothing drive at Surprise Funeral Care from 0700 to 1200. Please bring clothing
and books to donate. See the flyer in the newsletter.
These funds are bringing raised so the Hall can begin to design the building and features we all will
be able to use. Designs cost money and this is our kick-off for fund raising.
PLEASE HELP!
.
COMMANDERS CORNER
I am very happy that we have a full slate of
Officers for the 2015-2016 year. Please come to
the meeting on May 21 and show your support for
these new officers. We are planning something
different for the Installation. This year, on June
18, we will hold the event at the Golden Corral on
Litchfield at Grand Ave. We will have the
Ceremony, presided by George Cushing, National
Vice Commander, at 1730 and when the meeting
is over, we will have dinner. More details to
follow.
Saturday April 18 was the City of Surprise Super
Spring Swap Meet. We shared a space with the
Marine Corps League. It was a fun day and the
weather was perfect. I thank Tony Cauiola for
arriving at 0600 and setting up the booth.
Attending were Tony Cauiola, Bill Cherilla, Brian
Racine, Joe Urshan and Tony Abate. Karen and I
arrived about 0630 with cold water and donuts for
all. We raised $321 and handed out many flyers
and applications for the Legion. I spoke with
several Legion Members who were in Post 100
about transferring to Post 96. Great event and we
will get spaces in future City Swap Meets. I
understand they are held twice a year.
City Councilman Roland Winters stops past
the booth and chats with Tony Cauiola
As Officers and Committee Chairpersons, we have
to work together and follow the by-laws and
procedures of the Post. Constant arguments and
challenging the authority of the elected officers
cannot and will not be tolerated. I apologize to the
members who attended the April meeting and
witnessed the childish behavior of a few
individuals. I have taken steps to see that is not
going to happen again.
I made some committee changes. Ed Foerster is
no longer Membership Chairman nor is Ed going
to work with the Newsletter Advertising. We are
reorganizing how these functions perform to
improve the way things are done. If you have any
questions regarding membership or the
Newsletter, please contact me.
I changed the membership of the Finance
Committee. Chairman is Finance Officer Tony
Abate.
Members are Larry Brown, Nancie
Scalercio and Tony Cauiola. This committee
oversees our financial planning and is charged
with creating the yearly budget. The committee
will have final authority over requests for funds.
We interviewed several young men at Willow
Canyon High School on March 30. Alicia
Vitacco, Guidance Counselor, organized the
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Post 96 May Newsletter
interviews. We picked three boys and one
alternate to attend Boys State. These boys are all
solid achievers both academically and socially.
They all excel in sports and extracurricular
activities.
will be a ceremony with participants to include:
The Greenway High School Navy Junior ROTC
Color Guard; The Surprise, Arizona, Boy Scouts;
Guest Speaker, Arizona House of Representatives,
Representative Rick Gray; The American Legion
Post 96 Honor Guard; The American Legion Post
96 Riders; and a Luke Air Force Base jet fly-over;
with a luncheon reception immediately following.
We will have the three who attend come to our
September meeting, with their parents, to address
the members.
I look forward to seeing all of you there, in honor
of our fallen heroes, our families, neighbors, and
friends.
We are able to send three to Boys State because
the Riders are sending cadets to ALLECA. We
don’t have that cost. I know there are some
members who say we should only focus on
veterans. Remember the four pillars of the
American Legion.




Thank you,
Nancie Scalercio, Sr. Vice Commander
623.546.8002 (Office)
623.229.9459 (Cell)
nscalercio1@yahoo.com
Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation
National Security
Americanism
Children & Youth
Special Note from Nancie:
Thank you very much for a job very well done to
Honor Guard Captain Tony Cauiola, and Post 96
Member, John Chlopek. They responded to the
call for a Flag Folding Ceremony at a US Army
Veteran's Memorial Service at Surprise Funeral
Care, last week.
We, as Legionnaires, are obligated to support
these programs as best we can.
The April meeting was not that well attended with
16 members and 1 guest. I realize some of our
summer visitors are leaving town. I wish them all
a save trip home and we look forward to their
return in the fall. We had many great raffle prizes
I met with the family on Friday to make the
arrangements, and scheduled the Service on
Sunday, due to very limited time constraints that
the Family was under. Without hesitation, when I
called Tony to ask if he would be available to
help, he said "Yes!"
I forgot to put this in the April newsletter. The
Membership Drawing, at the March meeting, was
won by Reinaldo Acevedo who unfortunately was
not present to win. The April drawing was won
by Sandra Dowling who was not present to win.
Thanks to both of you for your professionalism,
and for helping to serve the Veteran's family, they
were very pleased.
Finally, the last order with Flag & Emblem was
not filled correctly. We were shipped a white
traditional Legion polo shirt in size 2X instead of
a navy blue. The white shirt is available for $37;
first person to contact me gets it.
And I want to add..."Wow, you guys looked
sharp!"
For God and Country,
Semper Fidelis!
George Van de Langeryt, Commander.
Thank you very much,
Nancie Scalercio
Funeral Arranger
Surprise Funeral Care
FROM THE SR VICE COMMANDER
FROM THE JR VICE COMMANDER
Memorial Day is a Commemoration for our fallen
men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice
while defending our Country.
Legionnaires, the heat of the summer season is
rapidly coming on. The meeting last night
certainly showed snowbirds are in flight leaving
the valley in droves for cooler climes. Smallest
showing in quite some time, or was it to avoid
being nominated for office? It was nominations
meeting and we have four elected positions open
Please join me, and the Northwest Valley Veterans
Association, along with Dignity Memorial, at
Sunland Memorial Park, at 15826 Del Webb Blvd,
in Sun City, on Monday May 25, at 0830. There
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Post 96 May Newsletter
on to me all of Steve’s Leatherneck magazines which I
devoured cover to cover. His death changed my life
and I was committed to the Corps come hell or high
water.
with only one member up for each of the four.
Next meeting is elections and it would be nice to
see a few more members willing to step up. I
guess the plus side is we do have someone for
each slot.
I held several jobs while in school working part time
evenings with NY Telephone and tending bar/bouncing
or sand hogging on the weekends. I had always been
very active in sports playing hockey, baseball, football
and even turning basketball into a full contact sport so
I was in good shape. My dad was a NY City police
officer and he taught my younger brother and I
firearms safety and marksmanship with revolvers,
rifles and shotguns. Semi auto handguns weren’t so
popular back in the day mainly due to wheel guns
never jamming or having a mis-feed.
This is the end of my year as Jr. Vice Commander
and it has been fun and a learning process. I have
been elected in the Marine Corps League, as
Commandant so did not feel I was capable to do
that and stay immersed in the Legion.
The transition to new officers should be fun and
interesting as a ceremony is being planned along
with a dinner at Golden Corral. Our new to be
elected Commander, Tony Cauiola, brings a lot of
ambition and ideas coming from his years of
experience in the Legion.
In April of 1974, I enlisted in the Corps and reported to
MCRD Parris Island Friday, Sept 13, 1974. I weighed
in at 235 lbs and hated the runs. I was set back 2
weeks just before we went to the range for being a run
drop one too many times. An extra two weeks on PI
was devastating to my morale but I redeemed myself at
the range, shooting high man in my platoon and 2nd in
the battalion. I had been guaranteed PFC out of boot
camp because of a Regents Diploma in high school and
a year of college under my belt but shooting high man
locked up the stripe anyway.
As I am a snowbird, I will be leaving the valley
fairly soon to go north to Show Low only to return
for a few meetings etc. Be sure to attend our
events and stay involved with our charitable
endeavors. "Be the best Legion member you can
be."
Semper Fidelis,
Jerry Pontius, Jr. Vice Commander
I had wanted to enlist for 4 years and have a
guaranteed MOS of 5800 (Military Police) but Dad had
taken the recruiter aside and talked him into dropping it
to 2 years claiming that he felt I wouldn’t like the
Corps. Bye bye guaranteed MOS. My plan had been
to go into Law Enforcement after the Corps while
attending Law school at night and joining the BAR in
New York. Fast forward to graduation and MOS
assignment - 4931. The Drill Instructor had no idea
what a 4931 does and that was probably a blessing. I
reported to The Basic School at Quantico, Virginia in
January 1975 and learned that I had spent 12 miserable
weeks at Parris Island to become an Audio Visual
Equipment Librarian. Gee, thanks Dad. Twelve weeks
of having my butt handed to me daily, Drill Instructors
spitting words into my face, sand fleas having me on
their menu for every meal, 2 bouts with Motivation and
50 lbs lighter and oh joy, I’m an Audio Visual
Equipment Librarian. How am I going to explain that
to anyone let alone my future progeny? My on the job
training consisted of 16mm Bell & Howell movie
projectors, 35mm cameras, tape recorders, overhead
projectors and other extremely lame Marine Corps
issue audio visual equipment. This could not stand! I
volunteered at every opportunity to ‘play’ 0311 grunt
with the Enlisted Instructor Company whose job was to
provide an aggressor force for the 2nd lieutenants on
FROM THE ADJUTANT
I am very pleased to inform the membership we have a
Marine to fill the position of Adjutant. Jim Aiello is
new to our Post. He is a member, and Adjutant, of the
White Tank Mountain Detachment #1246 of the Marine
Corps League. He was appointed Adjutant last year
and has done a great job. I asked Jim to put together a
short bio as a way of introduction to the membership.
Here it is. When you see Jim at the meetings, be sure
and give him a big “Welcome Aboard.”
I am 60 years young and was raised in New York City
at the top of Manhattan in a blue-collar neighborhood
called Inwood. I attended parochial schools for 12
years and 1 year of college before enlisting in the
Corps at 19 in 1974. The draft had ended the year
before but I couldn’t see growing up without having
served in the armed forces. My dad had been US Navy
so I had always leaned that way until fate intervened in
1969. A young man about 8 years my senior who lived
in my apartment building had been killed in action in
Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam. We had attended the
same elementary and high schools and Steve had
always looked out for me if I got in a jam. I had a deep
and abiding respect for him which grew stronger the
day the notification team pulled up in front of our
building. Over the next few months, his mother passed
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Post 96 May Newsletter
maneuvers while training at TBS. It was fun and it
made me realize I wasn’t cut out for grunt life.
League White Tank Mountain Detachment #1246 and
the American Legion Post 96 here in Surprise. That’s
my story and I’m sticking to it.
Next stop Kaneohe Bay, MCAS, Hawaii. While at
Quantico, a billet came open for a 4931 in Hawaii.
The first question I asked myself was why can’t they
train some knucklehead in Hawaii to do what I do in
one afternoon? My brother had joined the US Navy
and was assigned to a Destroyer Escort operating out
of Pearl Harbor. I volunteered to go but I would have
to extend for another 18 months as it was a 2-year duty
station. As luck would have it another Lance Corporal
with exactly the same time in grade and time left in
service was also considered for this highly sensitive,
mission critical job opening so it came down to a coin
toss. I won! I’m going to Hawaii and Jimmy Joiner
was being stationed 5 miles from his hometown and
being trained as a Redeye gunner deep in the Alabama
backwoods. I can’t even imagine this NYC slicker in
Alabama let alone deep in the tick infested backwoods.
Thank you, Jesus!
Semper Fi!
Jim Aiello, Adjutant
FROM THE SERVICES OFFICER
Brothers and Sisters, of Post 96:
I have decided to step down as your service
officer and I wish the next person all the very
best. But before I leave I wanted to leave you
with a sure piece of advice. Fight for your
rights, don't give up the good fight. It is
important t hat you filed your claim with an
accredited Service Officer until the Post gets
one, hopefully in John Murbach. Please use the
main office for claims in the VA Regional
Building at 3333 N Central Ave, Phoenix AZ85012.
Contact Arthur Brest Jr. American
Legion DSO, at 602-627-3261.
Hawaii was outstanding. I worked in a large building
with running water and latrines in a 9-5 job with
weekends off. I had really stepped in it. My SNCOIC
was a three war Hawaiian MGySgt that was probably 8
years shy of a formal education but one helluva
Marine. The OIC was a helicopter CH-46 pilot that
was on his 3rd or 4th marriage and considered himself
quite the ladies man. The Rifle Range was having
tryouts for a rifle and pistol team they were forming so
I tried out and won a spot on the team. Life just got
even better. I would spend my mornings at the range
and afternoons at the Training Aids Library cataloging
gear and films for the Air Wing and 1st Marine
Brigade. At the time we had VMFA-232 (F4E
Phantoms), HMM-262 (CH-46) and HMH-463
(CH53E Sea Stallions) with a squadron of AV-8B
Harrier jump jets arriving from Midway just before I
rotated home. I shot competitively with National
Match grade .45, rim fire and my favorite- the M-14. I
held my own but never placed high enough to earn any
of the medals awarded above and beyond the expert
badge. My confidence was highest when I found a
could tag a moving target at 1,000 yards consistently.
Hours available are as follows:
Monday & Tuesday 0730 -1600
Wednesday 0730 - 1200
Thursday & Friday 0730 - 1600
C l o s e d Federal Holidays
Semper Fidelis,
Larry Brown, Services Officer
Note from Commander George: I cannot thank Larry
Brown enough for his great work as Post Services
Officer the last few years. He published a great
number of informative articles of interest to all
veterans. While Larry is not a certified services
officer, he has been able to help veterans by pointing
them in the right direction to find help.
I am please to say that John Murbach, who previously
has been a certified Services officer, will replace Larry
as Services Officers next month. John is working on
getting re-certified and we will keep you informed on
his status.
VA Makes Gains in Faster Disability Claims
Processing
I had an opportunity to visit Kauai, Maui, Molokai and
the Big Island while I was stationed there and really
fell in love with the islands. ---That two-year tour has
cost me tens of thousands of dollars over the
intervening years as I have returned to the islands
almost every year. I mustered out in January of 1978
and resumed work with NY Telephone eventually
rising to be an Area Operations Manager in NYC in a
Central Office environment before being retired
involuntarily after 38 years. I’ve been in Arizona since
2010 and have recently joined the Marine Corps
From a VA Press Release - The federal initiative to
provide timely decisions on disability payments to
Veterans has crossed a major milestone in its final
sprint to eliminate the backlog of Veterans' benefits
claims.
The major transformation effort to apply new
technology and process solutions has paid off at the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It reduced its
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Post 96 May Newsletter
inventory of backlogged claims from a high of 611,000
claims in March of 2013 to fewer than 200,000 this
week, while at the same time improving decision
quality.
fallen Veteran. The great feeling you get when
you look into the eyes of the next of kin as you
hand them the flag. You give a short Flag
Presentation speech, they thank you with their
teary eyes and you know you did your job as a
Color Guard / Honor Guard member. This is what
it is all about.
"Make no mistake, we're not slowing down short of the
finish line," said Under Secretary for Benefits Allison
Hickey. "Our goal is to eliminate the claims backlog
by the end of 2015.
I visited Post 62 on Monday April 20. They need
a Color Guard for a function in Goodyear on the
afternoon of Memorial Day on May 25. We are
doing the event at Radiant Church at the same
time. We don't have enough people. The
surrounding community's want Post 96 Color
Guard to perform functions. We are the only
American Legion Post with a Color Guard and a
Firing Squad in Surprise.
MEMBERSHIP
If you have any issues regarding membership, please
contact Sr. Vice Commander Nancie or the
Commander. The position of Membership Chairman is
currently open. If you are interested in serving your
Post in this position, please contact the Commander.
Any change of address, phone or email should be
reported to the Adjutant.
Recently I went to the city of Surprise Recreation
Dept to turn in the paperwork and the $20 filing
fee for the use of any Surprise facility or park for
Post 96 Color Guard practice. We are waiting for
their approval.
FROM THE CHAPLAIN
Lord, let us not dwell on our troubles but rather
help us to turn our difficulties into blessings, and
give you thanks for keeping us steadfast on the
pathways of goodness. Thank you for hearing us
and giving us renewed courage and strength for
this day. Amen.
Tony Cauiola, Color Guard Captain
REAR1STADMIRAL@q.com - 623-583-9495
Bill Cherilla, Chaplain
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
SICK CALL
Friday May 1 & 2 - Veterans Memorial Hall Fund
Raising Event. 0800-1800 Friday and Saturday
at Sam’s’ Club, Bell Rd & 303. Legion
members are invited to attend, please wear
cover and shirt.
Sandy Cauiola had shoulder surgery on 4/28 and
Tony reports she is doing fine.
Dan McNamara is in the hospital, no reports yet.
Saturday May 2 – 1000 40&8 meeting at Post 12 in
Wickenburg - Pulled pork sandwiches for $4
served from 1130 unto 1500.
Bruch Paakh is on dialysis but word is he is
flirting a lot with the nurses.
POST EVERLASTING
Wednesday May 6 – Senior Day at Fry’s and
Albertsons. 10% discount on your groceries.
Francis W. Schaefer went to Post Everlasting
during the last few months. We were not notified.
He lived in Sun City, was 90 years old and is a 16year Legion member. Francis served during
WWII.
Wednesday May 6 – 1630 Legion Officers meeting at
Surprise Funeral Care
Friday May 8 – 0815 Chamber Military Affairs
Committee meeting, 0815 Chamber Building
FROM THE COLOR GUARD CAPTAIN
Saturday May 9 – 1800 Legion Riders meeting Sands Chevrolet
We still need Color Guard members. On Saturday
4/18, I received a call from Nancie Scalercio
asking our Color Guard to do a flag folding
ceremony on Sunday at the Sunrise Funeral Home.
I explained it was very short notice but I would try
to find someone. I made a few calls but no one
was available, most had plans. I thank John
Chlopek for stepping up along with Nancie
Scalercio to help fold the flag to giving honors to a
Thursday May 14 - White Tank Mtn Detachment,
Marine Corps League Meeting, Social hour
1700 & Business meeting 1800 at Links
Restaurant in Sun Village.
Saturday May 16 – NWWVA meeting 0900 at
Sunland Memorial Park, 15826 Del Webb
Blvd., Sun City.
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Post 96 May Newsletter
Sunday May 17 – 0700-1200 Veterans Memorial Hall
Clothing Drive at Surprise Funeral Care.
My name is Diane Mendoza; I have lived in Arizona
since 1977 and have been in the insurance industry for
almost 20 years. When I started in the field, I was told
I could choose to become a personal agent, and this is
something I take seriously. To me, it is important to
have someone who knows me and is looking out for
me.
Sunday May 17 – 1400 District 11 Meeting at Post 29.
Thursday May 21 – Post 96 Legion meeting at AZ
Traditions. 1800 Happy Hour and 1900
Business Meeting.
Saturday May 23 – 0700 at the WWII Memorial by
the Library. Post 96 and the Marine Corps
League will be honoring veterans by placing a
wreath by the monument. Please join us in
cover and shirt.
The company I work for is Liberty Mutual Insurance,
we have a local office here in Surprise and we believe
that you are not just another number; you have the
opportunity to come into our office and sit with your
agent. Liberty Mutual has been around for over 100
years and I personally take care of all personal lines
insurance needs including home, auto, motorcycles,
umbrella, and life policies.
Monday May 25 – 0900 The North West Valley
Veterans Association will present a wonderful
ceremony to commemorate our veterans. Join
us in cover and shirt.
Looking forward to meeting you!
Diane Mendoza
Monday May 25 – 1500 The 3 annual Memorial Day
Ceremony will be held at Radiant Church on
Reems. This moving event is something you
don’t want to miss. Bring family and friends
for an unforgettable experience. Join us in
cover and shirt.
rd
Our second new advertiser is Post 96 Color Guard
Captain: Tony Cauiola
Our company is CAUIOLA'S TREASURES "N"
THINGS, established by Sandy and Tony Cauiola on
August 2002. The business name CAUIOLA is from
our family's last name. TREASURES was used for
any item which is made by us could become a valuable
collectable item. "N" THINGS was put in place to
license our business which allows us to make anything
from raw materials we thought would market well.
FROM THE EDITOR
We started this company while Sandy was working full
time and I was employed as a truck driver, our business
did not run full time. The money we earned was used
to operate the company, along with a small business
loan to get us the necessary machines and materials to
get production going.
The March newsletter was mailed to 38 members. It
was emailed to 21 advertisers and 240 members and
friends of the Post. If you are receiving the newsletter
by US Mail, is there some way we can email it to you?
The postage costs are rising as is our printing costs.
We purchased a Professional Embroidery Machine
with accessories so Sandy can do her side of the
business including making jewelry and mini beaded
purses. I have a workshop in my garage with an
assortment of machinery and a large selection of raw
material inventory.
George Van de Langeryt, Newsletter Editor
gvan8888@aol.com – 623-547-6668
I make Collectable Pens, Wine Bottle Stoppers,
Corkscrews and Ladies Purse Hangers from exotic
wood from around the world. I laminate my own wood
for some of the items we make. We accent some of
our Bottle Stoppers with real crystal inserts or real
stone. We use acrylics, a non-wood product for some
of our products. Look for our ad in the Post 96
Newsletter and give us a call.
We have two new advertisers this month. Diane
Mendoza with Liberty Mutual Insurance and our Color
Guard Captain Tony Cauiola.
To Members of American Legion Post 96:
Just a little note to let you know who I am, what I do
and why I want to help and assist those who have given
so much to protect us. My family has served as far
back as World War II and it is always important to me
to show respect and gratitude for all who served and
their families.
Thank you!
Tony and Sandy Cauiola
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Post 96 May Newsletter
VETERANS MEMORIAL HALL FUNDRAISER
On Sunday May 17, we are collecting old clothing, linens, towels, anything
made of cloth, no rags! Usable items will be recycled other is scrap. Bring
old books but no magazines or papers. Come get a cup of coffee and maybe a
donut if any left. Drive through service! Call George 547-6668.
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Post 96 May Newsletter
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Post 96 May Newsletter
Have you signed up a NEW member for 2015?
Post 96 – The American Legion
PO Box 7096
Surprise, Arizona 85374-0101
Forwarding Service Requested - May
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