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September - October 2026 Newsletter

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Greetings to all of the Members of Post 112.


Does everyone think (like me) that summer is moving along to fast?  So many projects and not enough time.  I am reminded that everyone needs to have time to relax and enjoy life and family.  The word is Sabbath and everyone deserves it.


A shout out to all of the Volunteers that helped make the Sherburne County Fair event a success again.  The weather and the number of customers is always a challenge more or less.  Our Post benefits and everyone has fun.


Congratulations to the Elk River Legion Baseball Team.  They made it to state quarterfinals.  Way to go guys.


The Big Cup Golf Tournament is September 12th.  It’s always a good time and we appreciate what they do for the Post, Thanks Guys.


Our Annual Veteran Benefit Review is September 24th Thursday 9:00am- 4:00pm.  Veterans can find out what benefits, are available to them.  Bring your DD214 if you haven’t been here before.           

 

Together we can

Vaughn Smith, 

Commander Post 112



1st Vice Commander

Let me introduce myself, my name is Larry Collins. I am a Navy Veteran having served from 1973 to 1979 as a Data Systems Technician. Post BEEP, A, and C schooling, I was stationed first at FCDSTCP (Fleet Combat Directional Systems Training Center

Pacific) on Point Loma, CA. From there I received orders to the USS England (CG-22) stationed at 32nd street in San Diego where I made my first WESPAC (Western Pacific) Cruise. Upon returning from that cruise, I was hot decked to the USS Towers (DDG-9) for another WESPAC cruise. Before shipping out for the 3 rd cruise I took an early out

and went to work for Sperry Univac in St Paul. After 3 months I was sent back to California to work at China Lake, a Naval Base in the Mojave Desert where I worked on the computers in Range Control facilities.


I then transitioned to a government job as a civilian working for the department of the Navy at NAWCWD (Naval Air Weapons Center Warfare Division), China Lake, California. I spent the next 40 years working in the RCC (Range Control Center) supporting weapons testing for the warfighter. After retirement in 2020 my wife and I moved to Elk River to be closer to our son and daughter-in-law. We soon became Grandparents of two rambunctious boys and we enjoy spending time with them at every opportunity.


I joined the American Legion this past spring, and because I wanted to be involved in helping veterans. After attending a meeting, I asked what I could do to help, and the Fish Fry was my first opportunity. I must have been a good warm body, and then I was

asked to join the Honor Guard. From there I was asked to consider accepting the position of 1st Vice for Post 112. After being elected to that position, I’m still trying to find which way is up.


I’ve completed the Legions Basic Training Course (I highly recommend it) It is and excellent online source to learn more about the history of the American Legion and the efforts that are underway to support Veterans.


I look forward to meeting each of you in the coming year.

Larry Collins

1st Vice Commander.



Adjutant

Again, I’m rushing to write this article to beat the deadline. I can’t believe how fast this summer has gone by. By the time you read this we will have watched Robert Kophler raise the flag at the Twins game and eaten our fill of sweet corn. We are patiently waiting for the new Gambling booth to replace the temporary one we have been using since the VFW took over our gambling operation. The new Bingo program is going over great. Our first payment under the new relationship netted us double what we used to receive. And we really need it in light of some recent repairs to our facility The repairs never seem to end.


The riders are growing and have participated is several benefit rides this summer.

They also have been occupied with the Riders traveling trophy. We have had it three

times this summer and it really gets some of our members motivated.


Thank you to everyone that helped at the fair. I was on my annual trip to the airshow in Oshkosh, WI. And they tell me it was as hot and smoky here as it was there.


We are working with several new honor guard members, and our color guard missions at sporting events is right around the corner.


We continue to have a good turnout for our donuts with the commanders on Saturday mornings at 8:30. It’s a good way to meet people and see what’s going on. A group of us also get together for supper and the meat raffle on Friday nights.


Everyone is welcome There are lots of things going on at the post so keep watching our ads on Facebook and check out the new website for details. https://www.elkriverlegion112.com/

 

Stop on by the post to say hello and sign the book.

Gregory Crow (G2)

Post Adjutant




Post Chaplain

The following is the 9 JUN to 8 AUG 2026 summary of Post Chaplain duties performed:

198 Personal Visits, Assisted Living

60 Messaging, Text, Phone

52 Chaplain Support AL Events, Spiritual Counseling

1 Letter of Condolences


American Legion Chaplain’s Calendar: TAL National Convention AUG, V-J Day 2 SEP, Labor Day 7 SEP, Citizenship Day/Constitution Day 17 SEP, POW/MIA Day 20 SEP, Department Chaplain Conference OCT, and Columbus Day 12 OCT Continuing weekly and monthly vet visits and Sunday Worship services at the Roger’s Wellstead Assisted Living Centers. Continuing, weekly and monthly vet visits to five local Guardian

Angels Campuses, the BeeHive, Elk River, and CentraCare, Monticello. Continuing weekly Chaplain Office Hours Magnus Veterans Foundation (1300-1500 WED). Currently have 85 total vets to visit at least monthly at these four Independent Senior and Assisted Living Centers.


Provided pastor care support and “Last Respects” with 5 veteran families during end-of-life hospice treatment during this period. 5 veterans passed during this period.

Conducted Celebration “250” US Birthday Worship, Message, Invocation, Benediction, Veterans Recognition, and Post 112 Honor Guard Presentation of Colors at Guardian Angels Riverview


Landing Campus Assisted Living 3 JUL. Conducted Celebration “250” US Birthday Worship, Message, Invocation, Benediction, Veterans Recognition, and Post 112 Honor Guard presence at The Wellstead of Rogers Assisted Living 5 JUL.


Please pray for Marilyn and Al Kuiper: Al is recovering at home after 27 days in the hospital and Roberta and Jerry Takle: Jerry is recovering at home after a series of hospitalizations during this period.

God gets the glory!

Paul Deneson, Chaplain



Legion Riders

The Post 112 Riders have had a hot and busy Summer. We have participated in very successful Coordinated rides to raise money for Veterans.


The annual Magnus ride beginning at the Anoka Post has become a well-attended and well-coordinated event that the Post 112 Riders look forward to every year. Another well-coordinated ride was out of the Zimmerman Legion that traveled to the Milaca Legion Post, the Foley Post, the Palmer house in Palmer and back to the Zimmerman Post. The Elk River Riders also assisted with being Road Guards to ensure safe passage through difficult intersections. The Zimmerman Riders always have great safe rides and raise thousands for veterans with breakfast, dinner and entertainment. We were honored to host a stop for the Haven for Heroes ride from Anoka.


The largest ride was on August 1st with the Clearwater Legion Post. Over 200 bikes including ten from our Post helped raise over $125,000 for homeless vets on that day. Cheers to the Clearwater Post for running a great day that began with breakfast, the ride, dinner, auction and a band to end the day.


The Riders have added a few younger members and they have made it a mission to obtain the traveling trophy that can be "stolen" from the various Legions in District 10 after five days at the new Post. Our Riders just completed a trip to the Morris MN Post and the trophy is again posted in our legion. It may have been stolen again prior to this newsletter mailing.


As always, the Riders also volunteer for the many other events held with the Post from the fish fry, pancake breakfasts and the Fair beer garden.


The Rider's upcoming events include a Veterans Ride and dinner from our Post on Sept. 12th. There will be posters up in the Post soon. Our Annual Rib Fest will be on October 3rd. We are also trying to coordinate a pancake breakfast with the Elk River Quarterback club in October, another Breakfast/Bingo with the Elk River Trap Team and the Legion Baseball Team. 

Todd Jagodzinski

Riders Director 



2nd Vice Commander

Greetings fellow Legion members,

 

I hope things are going well for all of you.

The weeds around the building were plentiful, tall, and thick, because it had not been mowed for several weeks.  Weeds always seem to thrive when it is hot and dry, and they can grow in cracks in blacktop.   August 4th, I went around the building and parking lot weed whipping all the green stuff.  I won't call it grass.  Glen brought his mower and mowed.  It now looks better.

 

I have gone around the building and in the parking lot, spraying weed and grass killer.  Things are turning brown, so I think the weed killer is working.  I also hauled away many fallen branches that were in the NE corner of the property by the shed.

 

Weeds in the front of the building are persistent.  I have pulled, hoed, and sprayed the weeds by the flagpole.  It is an ongoing battle.

 

Plumbing problems corrected: the men's bathroom by Commander Hall involved drain cleaning for a urinal, and the men's bathroom by the pull tab both involved drain cleaning as well.  Dusty's drain cleaning took care of the problems.

 

Unfortunately, the compressor for the walk-in cooler at the bar had to be replaced recently.  That was a costly project.

 

It seems to me that one thing at the Legion gets fixed, and then there are two more things that surface that need correction.  

 

Keith Quammen 

2nd Vice Commander


S.A.L.


Hello Everyone,  We have a few more SAL members always looking for more to help our Veterans out.  We had a Corn and Pork Chop feed on Aug 15th.  Working with the Riders on their breaks fasts coming up and other Post events.

 

Glen

SAL Commander

Submitted by mas



Auxiliary

Hello Auxiliary Members. 

Just wanted to apologize for the duplicate of pages on the last newsletter which took my report and Diane’s out, so here it what that said. “Auxiliary 


Hello Auxiliary Members. My reign has ended as your Auxiliary President, we will do the installation at the September meeting, with all the officers. I want to thank you all for your membership and faith in me as your President. It was my honor. Let me know if you need anything and I will try to continue to help.


Michele Smith

President Unit 112


Membership

Have a great summer! We currently have 128 members paid. We have met our goal with the state. I have mailed out the craft sale application forms to the crafters from last year. I will be leaving some forms with Lisa at the Legion. Appreciate all of you, Diane Telfer Membership”

We have our Membership dinner on Sept 13th. “

 

Michele Smith

Past President Unit 112





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