Commander's Message, November 2023

Fellow Legionnaires,

First, I want to thank all members who have already renewed their American Legion membership for 2024. Your continued commitment to supporting veterans is commendable. If you have not yet renewed for 2024, please consider doing so at your earliest opportunity.

November is a month that has some important dates that we should all be aware of:

Election Day: Election Day is Tuesday, November 7th. As a general rule, veterans consistently vote at higher rates than their civilian counterparts. We need to maintain that status for which we not only earned the right to do, but for the service we gave to our Nation to maintain our right to vote! Shortly after The American Legion was formed, it went on record urging all American Legion men and women to become qualified voters. Since then, the organization has passed countless similar resolutions advocating Legionnaires to not only exercise their constitutional responsibility to vote, but to also encourage others to do the same. Elections are important to our republic. As citizens of this great nation, it is our duty and responsibility to exercise this right by casting our ballots on Election Day and to encourage others to do so as well. Remember to vote.

Veterans Day: Saturday, November 11th is Veterans Day and posts across our great nation will be participating in local observances. Post 3 is no different, We will be participating in, and conducting a number of events in the days leading up to, and even after, Veterans Day. It is important for all of us to take the time to step back and reflect on the positives in our families, communities, and world. Today, Veteran’s Day in the U.S provides one of those great reasons to pause, reflect, and recognize. On that day, be sure to thank a fellow veteran for his or her service.

In 1954, when November 11th was officially named Veterans Day, United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower called upon all citizens to join to “solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom.” Today, our troops continue to serve, with dedication and honor, all around the world. We recognize the commitment, and sacrifices of our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Space Force Guardians, Coast Guardsmen, and Merchant Mariners – and their families.

Veterans Parade: On Sunday, November 12th the Lincoln Veterans Parade Group is holding the 2023 Veterans Parade. It will be held along K Street on Sunday November 12th at 2:00pm. The parade will start at 21st and K Street. Parade participants will walk west on K Street toward a reviewing stand in front of the Capitol where the parade will end. Come and join us!

Thanksgiving Day: Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 23rd, is traditionally a time when we gather as families to reflect on our blessings and focus on our gratitude for them. Because of that focus on family, Thanksgivings spent separated from loved ones is often tough for military members and their families. As you gather with your family to reflect on your blessings, take a moment to reflect on what this day is truly about. To appreciate and recognize those who serve today and did so in the past. Remember the sacrifices, the service with honor, and the dedication of those who serve. Take the extra time to extend your thanks to those who have served, or are serving, their country. It is because of them, and their families, that we can enjoy the freedoms that we, as Americans, often take for granted.

I strongly encourage you to visit our meeting, held the 2nd Tuesday of the month, 7pm, at the Elks Lodge, 5910 S 58th Street.  We will have a guest speaker, Bob Ruyle, who is a Post 3 member and is on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Atomic & Nuclear Veterans (NAAV). Bob will give us a short presentation on the NAAV, which is a nonprofit veterans service corporation dedicated to assisting an estimated one million U.S. veterans, from all service branches, who were first hand participants in nuclear weapons test detonations, from July 16, 1945 to Nov. 23 1992. The NAAV is an advocate for those veterans who were exposed to ionized radiation particles which has caused severe health anomalies in many of these participants and, in many cases of genetic mutations, to their children.

Please keep all veterans and their families in your prayers. And please pray for all currently serving members of our Armed Forces, and their families, wherever they may be dispersed. 

For God and Country,
Bruce Gubser
Post 3 Commander