National Oratory Finalist

Rachel Schartz is shown here after she

won the American Legion Oratory contest

in Oacoma. State Commander Byron Callies is

on the left and State Americanism Chairman

Fred Nelson is on the right.

Humboldt teenager places third in 
National American Legion Oratorical Contest

by Elizabeth "Sam" Grosz

West Central High School sophomore Rachel Schartz placed third in the National American Legion Oratorical Contest finals held April 21 in Indianapolis, Ind.
Schartz, daughter of Frank and Ann Schartz, Humboldt, is sponsored by William H. Crippen American Legion Post 62, Humboldt. Since last fall, she has advanced from two local contests, a district competition and the state event, culminating in the national event. Her oration was entitled, “Sewing Freedom,” and used references to Betsy Ross stitching the nation’s first flag.
In Indianapolis, her third place award garnered $14,000 in scholarship funds and had received an additional $3,000 in getting to the finals. This was her first year of competition.
“We are very happy for her and congratulate her on this accomplishment,” commented Humboldt Post Adjutant Fred Lee, Sioux Falls.
 The national winner is Agnes Rieger, Kansas City, Mo. Her winning oration, “Let’s Talk About Pennsylvania,” gave her an $18,000 scholarship. Second place, and a $16,000 scholarship, went to Elizabeth Scannell, Goose Creek, S.C., for her oration, “The Constitution: An American Position Description.”
The finalists each presented their eight-to-10-minute oration in front of a large crowd. They also presented a three-to-five-minute speech on an assigned topic, which was a phase of the Constitution drawn by American Legion National Commander James E. Koutz and made known to the contestant five minutes before the time of delivery.
This year’s assigned topic was Article 2, Section 1, Paragraph 5: “No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of president, neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States.”
 For more information, consult www.legion.org/oratorical.

Minutes - April, 2013

Legion Report

by Fred Lee (fotofred4u@q.com)

The William H Crippen Post 62 held their regular meeting on Monday, April 1, with fourteen members present. We had the salute to the Flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. Minutes and treasurer’s report from the previous meeting were read and approved. Our Service Officer was not present, and no one was reported on sick call.

Commander Jerry Corey welcomed our guest and new member, Robert Moore. We also had another new member, Robert Schulte, but he was not present at the meeting.

Fred Lee reported on the County meeting held in Colton this past month. He told everyone that it was a short meeting, and a new County Commander would be elected at the upcoming District Spring meeting in Humboldt on April 7th. The next County meeting would be in Dell Rapids on April 30th.

Americanism Officer Charles Dubbe told everyone present that the Boys Staters had been picked, but he didn’t have any names yet. He also stated that he had not completed his research regarding a raffle and would be giving us a report in the next few months. Patrick Ordal volunteered to help him with this.

There was discussion regarding paying Bob Kueter something for mowing our north side memorial and this was done.

Dave Froke wanted to get a POW flag for our clubrooms and a motion was made to get this done.

There was a motion to give the Schartz family money for travel expenses when they accompany Rachel to the National Oratory contest in Indianapolis in April.

We also discussed the possibility of digging more flag pole holes in the local cemeteries.

Before the meeting ended, Past Commander Francis Sieverding installed the officers for the new Legion year.

After these discussions, the meeting was adjourned.
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Auxiliary Report

by Donna Beck

The William H Crippen American Legion Auxiliary Unit 62 held their regular meeting Monday, April 4th. The meeting was called to order by President Connie Meyer with ten members present. Peggy Begeman was our guest. We said the Pledge of Allegiance, sang our National Anthem and recited the Preamble of our Constitution. The secretary and treasurer’s reports were given.

A donation will be given to Children’s Care Hospital and School. Money will be given to Fred Lee for newsletter expenses and to the Frank Schartz family for expenses for their trip to the National Legion Oratory contest in Indianapolis.

We will sponsor two girls to Girls State. They are Jenna Mammenga and Alanna Schmeichel. The District 7 Girls State tea will be April 14 in Sioux Falls.

Plans for the District 7 Spring meeting which we are hosting were finalized. Several members offered to bring bars. A gift of cash will be given to the District President and State President. We will set up at 12:30 on Sunday.

The Mother’s Tea will be Thursday, May 9, in the Community Center.
Barb Bassett, Agnes Even, and Ann Schartz are on the Memorial Day committee. Six Auxiliary grave markers will be ordered.

The meeting was adjourned. Arlis Hentges won the door prize. Lunch was served by Peggy Begeman, Arlis Hentges and Wanda Artz.

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