Commanders Corner
February 2026
Commander’s Corner
Greetings Fellow Legionnaires,
I hope that everyone had a good New Year’s Eve celebration and continuing January. We do have some good news from the VA which is in the Service Officer Section of the Newsletter like a COLA increase for VA pension and disability payments, My HealtheVet info on phone app, copay rates for 2026 and free Flu shots along with other good VA benefits and Cal Legion information. The VA did do a shout out the American Legion in their latest newsletter as well. For the younger Vets, there is job and entrepreneur assistance. There is also Buddy Check information on the VA links. We also have Cancer, Heart awareness months along with The Four Chaplains Day, The Marine landing on the shores of Tripoli and the USS Jupiter, the first US aircraft carrier that was originally a collier, that was sunk in the Battle of the Java Sea in WWII all in the History Officer Section.
All are invited to our Post meeting which is on February 2nd where we have a social hour prior to the meeting with meals served, so please plan on attending. There are also the usual District-wide events like Monday chess at Post 858, Vet to Vet Café at Post 419 on Thursdays. Post 419 is also hosts a First Sunday Breakfast on the 1st. Check the District 13 Calendar for information. On February 7th we have the Four Chaplains Ceremony at 1000-hour in St. Frances Cabrini Church.
Remember that we generally meet at the Odd Fellows Lodge #70 on Homestead Road on the first Monday of the Month at 1800 for socializing and a light meal and refreshments then check out the meeting at 1900.
We really want to get more people attending the Post meetings and events and to be more social, so let us know your ideas by coming to our meetings. I would like the current attending members/officers to use the roster to call and invite members to our meeting which is also a form of Buddy Check. Newly attending members do give us a heads-up, so that we can requisition extra rations versus our regular contingent. The next person on the meals roster (on the Adjutant’s Corner)will take the cooler with drinks, etc for the next meeting. If additional drinks are required, it will be reimbursed above the normal meal amount. I have the cooler and will bring it to the meeting for the meal.
We need a Finance Officer to step up as our long time Finance Officer Mike O’Meara needs to step down for personal reasons. If you have questions about the position, please reach out to Mike O’Meara at (408) 691-8277 or momeara47@yahoo.com. In our Post ByLaws Section 5. Duties of the Finance Officer. The Finance Officer shall be charged with custody of the funds of the Post. He shall keep its accounts and report thereon at regular meeting of the Post. They shall receive all funds of the Post and pay all bills approved by the Post. The office of Finance Officer and any other officers and/or positions charged by the Post Constitution and/or Bylaws, with the responsibility of handling Post funds, should be bonded and must pass a credit check. This position is very important for maintaining the Post Charter and eligibility in the District.
Please remember that if you have Post or Veterans events that you would like on the calendar get them to Arturo. Please include pertinent information like event information, contacts, address, where to meet, etc. https://www.americanlegionpost642.com/site/eventscalendar.php?y=2023&m=3
If you know of deceased members during the past few months either bring their name and share with our District Chaplain, (currently vacant) so contact the Adjutant at wheimsoth@aol.com with information or if you would like to volunteer for the District 13 Chaplain position.
To Comradeship!
Vincent Guinnane, MSME, P.E.
CW4, 881A2, USAR (Retired)
Cell: +1 (408) 219-0191