Commander: On Top Gun, Legislature and Testimonial

Happy 2025 everyone. My 2024 ended on a great note. On Christmas eve, I drove to our post to meet a young naval officer, Briana Polhocky, from Zimmerman. Not only is she a F18 pilot, she is also the first female Top Gun instructor. Very impressive!

Not only did I have the privilege of signing her up as a new Legion member; our Post awarded her an honorary life membership.

Hopefully you will able to read more about her in the next Legionnaire.

The district mid-winter conferences will soon be over and the ones that Peggy and I attended had great attendance. I want to thank the department vice commanders for filling in the conferences that I was unable to attend.

This is the time of year when our membership numbers start to slow down, and I cannot stress enough how important it is for the districts to start your revitalizations, armory visits, and student veteran organizations at your local colleges. Our department membership director and vice commanders are here to help but you must ask for their assistance. We have met all of the national goals so far, so let’s keep up the great work.

The Minnesota Legislature is back in session, in some form or another. I cannot thank Department Legislative Chairwoman Kristy Janigo enough for all the work she has done to present our Legislative Agenda in Minnesota, but also for all the planning she has organized for the Washington Conference, set for Feb. 22-26.

Our national commander will visit Minnesota March 23-29. The schedule is out and any post that wishes to present a donation to him can make it out to: The American Legion Veterans & Children’s Foundation, and in the memo section please write, “Commander’s Fund.”

Peggy and I want to remind and invite you to my Testimonial Dinner, which will be on Saturday, April 5, at the Northern Lights Hotel & Casino. Please see the registration form in this month’s publication.

On Feb. 2, I will have the honor of presenting a certificate of 71 years continuous membership to Leonard A. Wilde of Plainview Post 179. He will be 100 years old. Congratulations, Leonard.

Carl Moon of Zimmerman  Post 560 is the commander of The American Legion Department of Minnesota. His theme is “ACT: Accountability, Communication and Transparency.”