Honoring Those Who Served - Thanksgiving - Seminole, FL

This Thanksgiving my family and I decided that we were going to volunteer with The American Legion Family at Post 252 in Seminole to serve Thanksgiving Dinner to the patients from the Bay Pines VA Medical Center. This will be our first year that we did not cook dinner at home for our family.

We arrived on Wednesday evening to meet with Detachment Commander Bill Kelly, Department Commander Fletcher Williams and Department President Diane Rousseau and many more members of The Florida American Legion Family. Ron Van Wie of Squadron 252 made it a point to introduce me to some of the Squadron members. Most of the work was done by time we arrived, but it gave us a chance to get checked into our hotel before heading out to dinner.

Dinner was awesome - We ate at good seafood restaurant in Reddington Beach called the Conch Restaurant with Detachment Commander Bill and his girlfriend Barbara, Department President Diane and her husband Chuck.

Thanksgiving Day we arrived at Post 252 to begin our day. About 1130 or so the buses from the Bay Pines VAMC started showing up. Department Commander Fletcher, Detachment Commander Bill and I along with other Legion Family members greeted them as they arrived. I swear there were about 275+ veterans that came. My daughters along with several young SAL members were serving soft drinks and water to them all. Dinner was served buffet style and for those who couldn't go through the line, dinner was brought to them.

I had an opportunity to visit with each table of veterans to speak with them, thank them for all they have done for us and make sure they had everything they needed. I had some great conversations with our veterans.

My thanks to The American Legion Family of Post 252 in Seminole for the invitation to come over and be a part of this event. I hope that I will get the opportunity to get the invitation to return next year.

This was the experience of a lifetime for me being able to serve those who served our country. It was a great day being your National Commander.

Thanksgiving Message to Membership

Earlier this month we all participated in Veterans Day, where we remember and give honor all of the men and women who served in our Nations Armed Forces around the world.

Now we are gathering with our friends and families to reflect and be thankful for all of life’s blessings. I personally want to say thanks to all of those who are serving in our Nation’s Armed Forces, our veterans and their families. We owe a great debt to you for your service and sacrifices. THANK YOU!!! This will be the first time that I will not be doing Thanksgiving at home. My family and I have decided to participate with The American Legion Family of Post 252 in Seminole, FL and serve Thanksgiving Dinner to the veterans from the Bay Pines VA Hospital. We are looking forward to honoring, thanking them personally for their service and being a part of their family for the holiday.

It is with my hope that we all take time to give thanks to our veterans in your own way this holiday.

From my family to yours we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and my thanks to you all for everything that you do for The American Legion Family.

Jim Roberts
National Commander
Sons of The American Legion

Detachment of Florida Fall Conference - Orlando - November 18-20, 2011

This visit was to my home Detachment for the Fall Conference. I arrived on Friday afternoon in time to see the National Commander of The American Legion Fang Wong (NY) do his Q&A session for the Department. Lots of good questions for the commander. From thier it was off to speak to the Florida American Legion Riders. The riders had a large turnout. I was so glad to have the opportunity to speak to them as I am grateful for all of the hard work they do for The American Legion Family.

After the meetings were over it was time to go out to dinner and we had Japanese for dinner (one of my favorites) and then back to the hotel to get ready for the meetings on Saturday.

I have to say this was a working meeting for me as am I not only the National Commander, but I am also a Detachment Assistant Adjutant so I was running the A/V equipment for our meeting. We had the best meeting in a long while. NEC John, Commander Bill and Sgt-At-Arms Mike visited both The American Legion and THe American Legion Auxiliary meetings and the Auxiliary was having a workshop like no other meeting I have been to in 20 years. I had a great time, and I know they were having a great time. That evening we had the Commander's and President's banquet - the entertainment was fabulous with a female impersonator singing and dancing.

Sunday wrapped up with The Legion Family Joint Memorial Service and then the ride home.

Thanks to my Florida Legion Family for a great weekend.

Detachment of Virginia Fall Conference - Williamsburg - November 4-6, 2011

What an awesome trip this was. I arrived at the Newport News airport at about 10:00am and was met by the Detachment NEC Jeff Evans who made sure that I go to the hotel and checked in. The ride was beautiful to see the changing colors of the leaves, but it was a little chilly.

Once we got checked in to the hotel, NEC Jeff, NECA Steve Gower and I went down and visited Colonial Williamsburg. What a nice place steeped in history and tradition. The people were dressed in clothes from the period (18th Century). Learned that the first call for the continental congress happened in a local tavern. We had visited the church grounds and the capitol. Good couple of hours spent walking around looking at the old buildings and learning a few things about the creation of the colonies.

From there we went back to the hotel to get a little down time before the Detachment Executive Committee Meeting. The Executive Committee Meeting was well attended by the officers. A few questions of me during the meeting that were answered. Lots of really good discussion about the future plans within the Detachment.

After the meeting we headed out to dinner. Dinner was at the Aberdeen Barn - what a nice restaurant and they served a great meal, which included a Delmonico steak & baked potato. On the over to the restaurant we saw a pancake house about every 20 feet (or it seemed that way). If you ever want breakfast you should come to Virginia :)

Saturday was a busy day as we had opportunities to attend The American Legion Auxiliary Meeting. they had a packed house. It was a bit tight for all of the speakers from the Legion and the Sons on the stage but we had some fun with it. I gave my remarks and thanks the Virginia American Legion Auxiliary for all of their support for the Sons. After attending the Auxiliary meeting we attended the Department Public Relations Committee where social media was a topic of discussion. I learned a couple of things relating to creating a strategy for the use of social media before launching. Will help you to identify things you want to do with your social media site(s).

The Sons of The American Legion had a very well attended meeting with 23 Squadron represented. They had many things that happened during their session to including donations over $5000 to programs of The American Legion Family. I was also surprised to accept a check for the National Emergency Fund in the name of my father James Roberts Jr. who passed before the convention. Very emotional for me. THANKS TO YOU ALL!!! Congratulations to Past Detachment Commander Nolan Warnick who was recognized by the Detachment for his dedication to the organization over the years. I was proud to present him with a plaque and a diamond Past Detachment Commander's Pin on behalf of the Detachment of Virginia. I have known Nolan for some time and know of his dedication and this was a well deserved recognition.

I cant forget the drill team that came in and performed for the Sons during their meeting. Made up of both males and females from 5 to 18. They did a wonderful job and I took some video which I will post soon.

I also had an opportunity to speak to The American Legion and I was a little nervous, but I made it though my remarks about this years program for the SAL and promoted the Detachment too as they are doing good things to support The American Legion Family. When I asked about how many were dual members a large amount of legionnaires raised their hands. I could only remember what PNC Jimmie Foster used to say "If you are not dual, you are not cool!" so I thanked them for being cool.

Last meeting was the American Legion Riders - another great turnout. I thanked them all for what they do for The American Legion Family and presented the Director with one of my pins for the year.

The last event for the day was the reception and banquet to honor Candidate for National Legion Commander Daniel Dellinger and National Vice President of The American Legion Auxiliary Peggy Thomas who is a candidate for National President. Peggy wasn't able to make but she was on assignment for National. Dinner was good and the entertainment that followed was good.

I would like to thank Detachment Commander Leonard Smith, Department Commander Doug Ramos, Department President Diane Cabot and Legion Riders Director Chuck Talley for everything. My special thanks to the Virginia Sons for making my trip a memorable one and to NEC Jeff Evans and NECA Steve Gower for being my guides during the weekend.