There are many reasons to honor our fathers, including their critical role in society, their influence on children, and their desire to pass on positive traits to future (military) generations.
American Legion Post 44 (“Best Damn Post in the West”) celebrated Father’s Day (June 16) with a brunch buffet and live entertainment for members and guests. The buffet was hosted by our food service partner – United Catering. Never failing to impress, the food and drinks were expertly prepared and enjoyed by all. The music was also a perfect addition to this wonderful Sunday celebration.
Braving the summer heat, American Legion Post 44 (“Best Damn Post in the West”) hosted a community event on Flag Day (June 14) to honor members who have passed.
Flag Day is celebrated in the United States every year on June 14 to commemorate the day the first flag resolution was passed. On Flag Day, several American Legion posts retire flags that are no longer serviceable. Burning an old warn out flag is one method of flag retirement, which is what the American Legion Post 44 did last Friday.
“We must always honor and respect the United States flag. It’s not just for all the good things that has happened with our nation that our flag represents,” said Ron Smith, Post 44 Commander. “It’s also those things that we might not be so proud of. It’s still our flag. It’s our history. Honorably retiring a flag is showing respect to those that came before us.”
Smith also added that any civilian who may have an old warn out flag and don’t know how to get rid of it, feel free to drop it off at Post 44 to be disposed of properly and honorably.
The Post 44 Color Guard provided much of the pageantry leading those in attendance through the flag retirement ceremony.
Over 80 people braved the Scottsdale heat to celebrate Memorial Day 2024 with members of the American Legion Post 44. The celebration took place at Scottsdale’s “Memorial for the Fallen.” The memorial is dedicated to the sixty-six Scottsdale residents (to include the native American community) who gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/veterans/scottsdale-memorial-for-the-fallen
Post 44 Outgoing Commander (Randy Amos) was the ceremony’s host with our Incoming Commander (Ron Smith) reading the general orders issued in 1868 by John Logan, commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. A group of Union Army veterans, designating May 30 of that year a day for “strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land.”
Participants were fortunate to have remarks and reflections shared by Congressman David Schweikert and Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega.
The Legion Color Guard posted the American and Arizona flags and performed a Gun Salute. In addition, we had a bagpipe player lead us through a solemn Amazing Grace.
During the ceremony, the Legion Auxiliary President (Kandy Wagenbach) also placed a wreath and red, white and blue flowers at the base of the memorial.
“We have joined together here for many years, as you know, to honor our fallen veterans and we appreciate your patriotism in joining us,” said American Legion Post 44 Commander Randy Amos.
As we reflect upon the service and sacrifice of millions of Americans who served in our nation’s armed forces, we can stand with pride and respect. For without their sacrifice, we might not have the opportunity to gather as we have today to honor them. It is such a small gesture to place a flag or a flower on the resting place of these fallen heroes, but it is a major statement of our appreciation and dedication that not only will we not forget, but we will retain the lessons learned during these wars. They were only with us for a short time. We remain forever grateful. May God’s light shine upon you. We will never forget.
At the close of the ceremony, Commander Randy Amos invited participates (members or not) to join us at American Legion Post 44 for food, drinks and live music.
