Welcome to the Smith-Pletcher Post 779 Website
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Updated May 20, 2012
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May Menu is posted in the Dining Section of the left of this screen.
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Attention all Post members! Nominations for officers, Home Association, and Club Boards will be held at the Post meeting on MAY 21st! (The monthly meeting was moved up because of Memorial Day weekend). Elections will be held at the June 25th Post meeting. (Post meetings are held at 7 p.m.)
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The Auxilary will also meet on May 19th at 7:00 p.m. at the Post Home!
Please attend your organization's meetings, voice your opinion, and VOTE
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Attention all Veterans, Officers of the Auxilary and Sons! Commander Larry Young is inviting you to a special Commander's Dinner on Friday May 25. There is no charge for this event.
Please click on "Special Events" on the menu on left for more information. All veterans are welcome and you do not have to be a first class member of the Post to attend.
Reservations required!
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Please plan on attending our Memorial Day Service: 3:00 p.m.
May 28th, at the Lutheran Reform Cemetary, Church St., Centre Hall.
Special Guest Speaker: Hobart Kistler, U.S. Naval Academy
Refreshments will be served after the service at the Post.
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On Sunday, June 3 Post 779 will hold "Ride for Children"
to benefit The Abused and Orphaned Children.
Sponsored by Keller Williams Advantage Reality for Hope for Kids.
Please click on "Special Events" menu on left of screen for details!
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Mesothelioma
Approximately 30% of all patients in the US diagnosed with this lethal form of cancer served in the military at some point. However, this site, www.MesotheliomaSymptoms.com, is an excellent resource to learn about Asbestos in the military and the various treatment options for Mesothelioma. It is sponsored by a law office that represents Mesothelioma patinets.
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View our latest newsletter by clicking the link below
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The next Blood Drive will be at our Post on June 7th, 2012.
Thursday hours 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
You're continued support of this worthwhile event would be appreciated!
If you need a ride to the blood drive, please call Laura Merritt 814-933-6547.
Please give blood so the RED CROSS can help others LIVE!
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Pennsylvania American Legion Keystone Boys State is a unique week long summertime educational program that does not emphasize classroom lectures and textbook learning. Instead, it focuses on participation and personal experience in a model state, complete with governing bodies and elected public officials. It is designed to mirror the structure and operation of its respective state government.
The Post is now accepting applications for sponsorship to Keystone Boys State. Applications are due in the Post by May 20th.
For information click this link
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Dean Ripka Memorial Scholarship
The Smith-Pletcher American Legion Post 779 provides a $2,000 scholarship to a deserving PENNS VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR
DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE THAT IS ELIGIBLE?
Applications for the Dean Ripka Memorial Scholorship are due in the Post May 15
Each year the Post awards a $2,000 scholarship to a Penns Valley High School student to use to further their education. The scholarship is paid in four installments.
PRIORITY NO 1: Recipients must be children of Legionaries of Post 779. Parent name and membership number required for verification.
PRIORITY NO 2: Recipients must be grandchildren of Legionaries of Post 779. Grandparent name and membership number required for verification.
PRIORITY NO 3: In the absence of either of the above, the Smith-Pletcher Post will select worthy recipient(s) with the approval of the membership of the American Legion Post 779.
Eligible Penn's Valley Seniors should apply with a well written letter to the Post Commander explaining their high school accomplishments and their plans for the future. Applicants will be judged by their priority status first and by the quality of their letter second. The students ability to understand these instructions and prepare a letter to the Post Commander will be a part of our decision making process. Letters should follow the standard format for business letters. The Commanders name and the Post address are contained elswhere in this website. For more information contact Dave Putnam: djputnam@statecollege.com
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State Police Youth Week
Program overview:
Cadets participate in a wide variety of instructional sessions with Local, State Police and Federal Law Enforcement Agencies. You will learn how to work as a team and be taught self-esteem, as you will be the future Leaders of our state and nation. There will be classes in Pennsylvania Vehicle and Crime Codes, forensic sciences, radar, riot control, tactical drug operation through the use of specially trained dogs, weapon firing, and other police related skills. Recreational activities will be scheduled as time permits. This is a six-day camp used to introduce students in all procedures of law enforcement. Cadets march to their classes in platoon formation and have drill competition. You should be physically fit and have a good academic record to be able to participate. This is not a recreational camp.
Applications for the State Police Week closed May 1
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DEAN RIPKA
1912 - 2012
CHARTER MEMBER DEAN B. RIPKA PASSED AWAY JANUARY 19TH AT THE AGE OF 99
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We were privileged to have Dean's family for a luncheon at our Legion Post after the ceremonies honoring Dean had concluded.
We are very grateful for the members of our Post, as well as the Club staff for their efforts in hosting the Ripka family's luncheon.
It was an honor to have Dean as charter member, an officer, and an active member of our Post for over 66 years. We will all miss Dean very much.
*******************************An album of photos of Dean has been placed on our Facebook Page.
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Our post email address is:
Drop us a test message to get your email address on our new list.
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Questions about membership, dues, and any other questions about our Post, please click on "Contact Us" on the left side of this Home Page
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Attention all Event Coordinators!
Please make a list of all the volunteers that gave their time in putting on your event. Post 779 will post the names of all volunteers on this website so we can recognize their effort!
Please EMAIL your list of names, the event, and date of the event to:
Mike Tarone at Miket156@juno.com
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Veterans Van Officially Launched
With significant assistance from the Smith-Pletcher Post, the Veterans Van for Centre County has become a reality. The Post Donated $1,000, the Sons of the American Legion donated $1,000, and the Auxiliary donated $500. Other individuals from our Legion donated funds to this project too.
Commissioners Steve Dershem and Jon Eich both gave brief addresses to the people that attended the event and thanked the organizations and individuals that donated funds to make this 5-year project a reality. Holly Serface deserves a huge "Thank You" for all her efforts coordinating Federal, State, and Local governments, Veterans Service and Community Volunteer Organizations, as well as individuals that donated funds. Holly has already signed up 10 Volunteer drivers for the Veterans Van and will probably be adding more as time goes on.
Disabled Veterans or Veterans that have no means of transportation to the VA Hospital in Altoona need to call the Community Help Centre at 800-494-2500 or 237-5855 to set up an appointment. You will receive a phone call from the RSVP (Retired & Senior Volunteer Program) office to verify your appointment date and to gather more information about your appointment. If you do not hear from the RSVP office within 4 days, you need to call them at 355-6816 to have your appointment scheduled. You must schedule your reservation at least 2 weeks before your appointment at the VA Hospital.
http://www.co.centre.pa.us/veteran /veterans_van_transportation.pdf
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Mike Tarone is now editing and adding content. Send any information you would like posted on this website to Mike at miket156@juno.com.
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Facebook users can Click on the Like Button below to receive updates.
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Lowes Discounts to Veterans
The note below is from Holly Serface, Director of the Centre County Veterans Affairs Office
I just called Lowes yesterday because many veterans have been calling me
in reference to this. Some of the cashiers are confusing picture ID
cards with military ID cards. You need to be on active duty or a 20
year military retiree or medically retired (100% service connected) with
a military ID card in order to get the 10% at Lowes. Apparently,
recently some of the cashiers were accepting the veteran's discharge or
DD 214 for the 10%. Many veterans have been calling me to find out how
they could get the ID card. Again, you have to be active duty, military
retiree or 100% service connected medically retired in order to get the
10%. I know that some of our veterans are getting the 10% with their VA
Medical ID card, but, again, I guess it depends on which cashier's line
you get into.
I am not sure what they are talking about for the Legion card, but I can
guarantee you, the Legion card, will not suffice. I know this because
this has been going on in Florida for a long time at all the Lowes
stores. Once this store trains all the cashiers in what to look for,
they will not get the 10% unless they meet the above categories. They
have finally stopped those people using their DD 214 or military
discharge for the 10%.
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American Legion Newsletters can be viewed on line
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New Feature
Check out the postings in our new tab
We will put new patriotic and military related postings received from the web here. Send in one if you have a good one.
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POST 779 VETS HONORED FOR THEIR SERVICE IN VIETNAM
Nate Summers, Gary Way, Denny Royer, and Marshall Brooks pose with Representative Kerry Benninghoff after the ceremony.
Vietnam War veterans were honored at a ceremony at the
Representative Benninghoff has been a strong supporter of Veteran's Interests.
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If you have photos to add to the gallery or our Facebook Page, email them to the webmaster.
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Newsletters
We have posted three newsletters from the Centre County Veteran's office in the newsletter section. There is a wealth of good information in them. Please take the time to look them over.
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Free Membership
The Post has voted to pay the dues for all of our WWII veterans. If you are a WWII vet and receive a dues notice, just return it with the note WWII Vet and we will process your card. We also pay the dues for all 50 year members and all of our members who are on active duty. If you are in one of these groups, please return your dues notice with a note to the Post and we will take care of your membership.
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If you are interested in becoming a paid up for life member click here for more information and an application.
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William Harold Smith - Age 21
Chester Pletcher Age - 20
These are the hero's that the Post honors with it's name.
Never forget their sacrifice
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The Post erected a plaque and placed it in the entrance hall to our Post in the memory of Donald Lucas who was killed in the Vietnam War at age 20.
Never forget the Americans who served with honor and those that paid the ultimate price for our freedom!
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We have added a paragraph on obtaining military discharge records in the E-newsletter and in the "GET RECORDS" sections of this website.
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The Smith-Pletcher American Legion Post 779
Since our charter in 1946, The Smith-Pletcher American Legion Post has been welcoming VETERANS from all branches of our Armed Forces. Today, we continue to welcome all military personnel serving our country. Joining our Post enables you to continue serving your God, Country and Community Our mission is to implement the goals, aspirations, dreams, peace and blessings for our country, friends and families embodied in our preamble below.
Smith-Pletcher American Legion Post 779 has three primary entities, the American Legion Members, The American Legion Auxiliary Members and the Sons of the American Legion Detachment Members.
