American Legion Greer Post #11 held its monthly meeting on April 18th, 2024 with 31 members in attendance. We had three guests, Ernie and Martin Rezac, and Dan Horner. Commander Rados thanked the cooks for the delicious meal. Chaplain Don Kotab then gave the invocation which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The Preamble to the Constitution of the American Legion was recited by all members. Commander Rados then called the meeting to order.

Minutes – Adjutant Dave Isebrands read the minutes of our last meeting. Minutes were approved as read.

Treasurer’s Report – Treasurer Dan Gruenewald gave the treasurer’s report. The treasurer’s report was approved as presented.

Americanism – Americanism Officer Don Kotab stated he is still hopeful for some applicants to Boys State. He has two prospective attendees. The Legion will have four scholarships this year with the winners being selected following our meeting.

Service Officer – Service Officer Merle Stone gave his report.

Baseball – Matt Slaba does a tremendous job coaching the Legion team and has already submitted an application and fees for which he will be re-imbursed. He felt there should be plenty of members for a team. Sam Metzger will again coach the Teeners. He and Matt will assist each other coaching.

Legion Riders- There will be a 605 Ride this year beginning in Pierre on June 7th. The 605 Ride is a fund raiser for the South Dakota American Legion Foundation. This year the ride will benefit veterans in need or the Children and Youth programs. They will travel around the state. The riders will be in Wagner on June 10th for an early lunch. The Post will donate $250.00 and the Legion Riders will match that amount. The schedule at this point is only tentative.

Bingo – We will continue our Sunday Bingo program for two more Sundays. Bingo has been successful. We need workers for April 21st and 28th. Dave and Clayton will work the 21st. John Crisman and John Fuchs will work the 28th.

.Veterans Service Officer – Veterans Service Officer Report: All veterans exposed to toxins may be eligible for VA Health Care. Any veteran exposed to toxins that they believe caused a health condition, while training or on active duty abroad or in the US, may be eligible. Exposures include chemicals, pesticides, lead, asbestos, certain paints, nuclear weapons, x-rays, and more. National Guard soldiers exposed during ADT or IADT are also included.

Agent Orange presumptive benefits have been expanded to include 12 states and 129 new locations in those states. A full list can be found on the VA website.

VA Home Health Care provides skilled services such as medication set-up, health monitoring, wound care, lab collection, etc. and nonskilled care which includes personal hygiene assistance such as bathing, dressing, range of motion exercises and light housekeeping. They can visit veterans in Assisted Living facilities, homes, apartments, etc.

Spring Midwest Honor Flights are scheduled for May 7 and 21 and June 5, 2024. Three more flights are scheduled for fall. The current wait list has nearly 1,100 veterans so it may be 2+ years before you are scheduled for an Honor Flight. To apply go to the Midwest Honor Flight website.

The 2023 State Legislature approved an increase in reimbursement for military markers or headstones set after July 1, 2023. The setting fee has increased to $200.

Veterans enrolled in VA Health Care are issued a VA Health Care identification card. Those cards have an expiration date. To get your card renewed or replaced, you can stop at the Wagner VA Clinic. Taylor Krcil will help fill out the application and submit it to the Sioux Falls VA. You will receive your new or updated card by mail.

Jerry also stated that Best Western and Ramkota hotels in South Dakota will give veterans a 20% discount on room rates supplanting their normal 10% discount.

Old Business – Dennis Clemens requested use of the Post for the annual VFW/Legion pancake feed for Friday May 3rd. Proceeds will go to support the Honor Flights. Dennis also thanked the Post for monthly use for the VFW.

The District 8th meeting in Yankton was well attended by Post #11. John Crisman was selected to represent District 8 as Legionnaire of the Year at the State Convention to be held in Pierre on June 20th-23rd at the Ramkota Inn.

State Commander Courtney Steffen was present at the meeting. She stated she would like to visit the various communities to speak with various groups, both youth and adults, to bring more awareness of the American Legion to help improve membership of both the Legion and SOL.

She stated there were already 170 boys signed up for Boys State and stressed to those in attendance to continue to promote and hopefully sign up more young men to attend. She stated that the State of South Dakota ranks third in the nation in per capita membership in both the Legion and SOL.

Lavern Andersh was presented with his 70 years of continuous membership by Commander Clayton as Lavern was present during the Auxiliary annual soup and sandwich fund raiser held recently.

New Business – Clayton stated there will be a flag retirement ceremony at the school yet this year sometime in the next three weeks before school is out of session. He also read a Thank You from the Gary Beeson family for the military honors provided for Gary at his burial ceremony. The Beeson family also make a donation to the Post for their efforts.

A bid will be sought for the floor upstairs to be sanded and refinished. Joel Kotab will be asked to provide the Post for a bid to complete this effort. The dehumidifier is working in the basement. A hose was purchased and attached to the dehumidifier with the dehumidifier moved to the drain so that constant monitoring is not needed.

The VA has a new Hospice Center along the side of the new Mental Health Center in Sioux Falls. There will also be a Viet Nam veterans program this Saturday in Mitchell.

Election of Officers was also held. New Officers are Clayton Rados Post Commander, John Crisman Vice Commander, Dave Isebrands Adjutant and Dannie Gruenewald Treasurer. The following are the appointees by Commander Rados; Athletic Officer Jerry Seiner, Service Officer Merle Stone, Americanism Officer Ben Holzbauer, Chaplain Don Kotab, Veterans Service Officer Jerry Seiner, Sergeant at Arms Melvin Horner and Judge Advocate Greg Geiman.

Mark Wiechmann was the monthly drawing winner with the winnings donated back to the Post. Chaplain Don Kotab gave the final blessing and we closed in due form.