COMMANDER'S CORNER October 2025

Hello, Post 108 Family,

Well, we survived another Arizona summer and hopefully, the unseasonal rains this past few weeks. I hope this finds everyone well and dry.

Thanks to everyone who came out on 11 SEP (Patriot Day), and Friday, 19 SEP (POW/MIA) Day to help with the flags. It is always good to see so many of you willing to help. Our final flag days this year will be Tuesday,11 NOV for Veterans Day, and Sunday, 7 DEC for Pearl Harbor Day (Remember the USS Arizona).

Did you see they have reopened the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor to visitors after it being closed for a while for needed repairs?

The USS Arizona Memorial, at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii, marks the resting place of 1,102 of the 1,177 sailors and Marines killed on USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and commemorates the events of that day. The attack on Pearl Harbor led to the United States' involvement in World War II.

Pacific Historic Parks announced Pearl Harbor National Memorial, home of the USS Arizona Memorial, remains open with authorization from the National Park Service. The Battleship Missouri Memorial, Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, and Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum (USS Bowfin Submarine) are also open and operating at normal hours during the government shutdown.

I hope the government shutdown is not affecting you in any way and it ends soon.

Speaking of Veterans Day, I submitted our application for the Veterans Day Parade in Prescott on Tuesday, 11 NOV. We won’t know our position number until early NOV. The Post also voted to move the November Meetings to the 1st Tuesday (4 NOV) due to all the other events and activities going on for Veterans Day.

We had a good turnout at the District 8 picnic from the 108 Family. Thanks to those who helped with the cooking duties, selling 50/50 and picnic tickets and other duties. It is very much appreciated. Since we were the host post this year. next year is a bye year for us so we have no assigned duties or tasks.

Unfortunately, our annual Horseshoe Tournament on 11 October had to be cancelled at the last minute due to the unseasonal rains this week. We are working with the Horseshoe Club on another date.

On 21 OCT, we have our quarterly Bingo at the VA DOM. This is always a lot of fun so please come out, help, and meet the Vets there.

The Riders will have a booth set up at Ace Hardware in PV on 24 and 25 OCT accepting donations for the Riders Program. Stop by, say hi and leave a donation.

The Auxiliary is sponsoring an Octoberfest fundraiser dinner on Saturday, 25 OCT at the Prescott Valley VFW Post 11227, 2375 N.5th Street in PV (by Fain Park/Lake). Tickets are $20 each. The doors will open at 1600 and meals will be served from 1700 to 1800. Music will be played from 1600-1900 and they will have a lot of door prizes. Only 50 tickets will be sold. Contact Cindy Arrigoni or Trish Aljets for tickets.

We have another fund raiser at the Texas Roadhouse on Tuesday, 28 OCT. I will send the flyer soon out as it needed to get our percentage of food sales.

We are doing very well just 3 months into the 2026 membership renewal period. Our 2026 goal for the post is 98 members. As of today, we have 87 members who have already renewed for 2026 for 88.8%. That is a great start for the year! As a reminder, there is still the 3-year option out there, if interested. To renew on-line, go to www.legion.org, then click on the red renew button on the top right of the screen. Enter your last name and member ID #. The next screen will show you what our post dues are ($45.00), your 1-year renewal amount (also $45.00), the 3-year renewal amount ($45.00 x 3 or $135.00), or, if interested, what your Paid Up For Life (PUFL) amount would be. Select the one you want and follow the prompts to pay. Or you can send a check to the Post’s Post Office Box (PV Post 108, POB 26239, Prescott Valley, AZ 86312) or save a stamp and just bring it to our next meeting. We would love to see you at a meeting!

The next District 8 meeting will be held at Post 25 in Cottonwood on 1 November. The E-Committee meets before lunch, lunch will be at 1200 and the general membership meeting begins at 1300. Please come and support your post so we can continue to bring home the traveling plaques.

Don’t forget, the Post has taken over the adoption of the American Legion Park on Bob Drive. Members will be at the park on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays each month at around 1145 to tidy things up. Please head over and give a hand.

Don’t forget to record your Post and Community/Veterans hours for the month. (You can put them in the logbook at each meeting or email them to Ron at: ronarrigoni@gmail.com

Something new we are instituting at the post meeting is a member/guest sign in sheet, so we know who is at each meeting. Please take a moment to sign in when you arrive. This is only for the Post meetings, not the Riders or Auxiliary, unless they decide to do so, as well.

Attached to this newsletter is the latest finance report, and the minutes of the September meeting.

I hope to see you at our meetings on the 14th. Until then, stay healthy and safe!

Gary Taylor,

Your Humbled Post CommanderHello, Post, 108 Family,