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Americanism Committee
Chairman: Debra Knickerbocker
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Patriotic Days of the United States of America
President’s Day – 3rd Monday in February
Armed Forced Day - 3rd Saturday in May
Memorial Day - The last Monday in May (half-staff until noon)
Flag Day / Army Birthday - June 14th
Independence Day - July 4th
Coast Guard Birthday – August 4th
POW/MIA Day – 3rd Friday in September
Patriot Day - September 11th
Constitution Day - September 17th
Air Force Birthday – September 18th
Navy Birthday - October 13th
Election Day - Tuesday following the first Monday of November
Marine Corp Birthday – November 10th
Veterans Day - November 11th
Pearl Harbor Day – December 7th
Bill of Rights day – December 15th
Space Force Birthday December 30th
Do not forget to Look up these holidays and read all
about them and why we recognize these days as
special days to remember and share what you have
learned.
I compiled this list to include in student’s gift bag during Covid when we, in Southington,
distributed activity bags for all students. They were very well received!
2025-2026
Hi everyone,
I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season. Attached to this bulletin is the information and cover sheet for the Americanism Essay It’s time to get them out to your schools, churches and libraries. If you have any problems? Please feel free to give me a call. Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas ! I hope to see you January.
I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season. Attached to this bulletin is the information and cover sheet for the Americanism Essay It’s time to get them out to your schools, churches and libraries. If you have any problems? Please feel free to give me a call. Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas ! I hope to see you January.
I would like to thank everyone who sent me cards and emails and best wishes throughout these last months. I appreciate each and every one of you. Thank you for your patience as well. Even though I am still mending, I will do my best to get back on track and to keep communication going. Feel free to contact me at any time.
It’s time to get back on track and MAKE YOUR MARK in your town! Let them know who you are, what unit you are in, and what you do for our veterans and your community. Let’s share our knowledge and innovative ideas to help each other along!
Congratulations to the Award-winning units. Your hard work has not gone unnoticed. All of you work very hard, and our Veterans and military appreciate it! I hope you are all gearing up for fall and coming to your meetings with new ideas to promote Americanism. It’s not too early to start planning for promoting the essay contest. If any unit or district would like me to come and share information and brainstorm, please let me know. Wear your auxiliary shirts to identify who you are. CONTINUE our branding by wearing your shirt everywhere. Let people know who we are. People will ask about your shirt. Get the word out. Fly your flag everyday! Together we can make it bigger and better! Get the word out for Americanism and Patriotism in YOUR town.
It’s time to get back on track and MAKE YOUR MARK in your town! Let them know who you are, what unit you are in, and what you do for our veterans and your community. Let’s share our knowledge and innovative ideas to help each other along!
Congratulations to the Award-winning units. Your hard work has not gone unnoticed. All of you work very hard, and our Veterans and military appreciate it! I hope you are all gearing up for fall and coming to your meetings with new ideas to promote Americanism. It’s not too early to start planning for promoting the essay contest. If any unit or district would like me to come and share information and brainstorm, please let me know. Wear your auxiliary shirts to identify who you are. CONTINUE our branding by wearing your shirt everywhere. Let people know who we are. People will ask about your shirt. Get the word out. Fly your flag everyday! Together we can make it bigger and better! Get the word out for Americanism and Patriotism in YOUR town.
2024-2025
Top o’ the Mornin’! Hope you are keeping warm! We are on our way to warmer weather, keep the faith. HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY! Be safe and enjoy! An Irish Proverb I came across I want to share: Sometimes in the waves of change, we find our true direction.
Dates TO REMEMBER:
o February 26 – 1 st District Americanism Program/ District Mtg, Post 142, Hartford
o March 15 th - 106th Birthday of The American Legion
o March 10th - Department Americanism Essay Contest Deadline
o March 17 th - St. Patrick’s Day (the most important day in my opinion)
o April 15th - Purple Up! Day for Military Children
‘Essay Contest- By now you should have a plan on how and when your committee will read
and submit the Essay winners to Me- Dept. of CT Chairman by March 10th, 2025.
April is Purple Up! Month - get ready- How will you get the word out? Will you hold an
event? Please share your ideas.
Be prepared: Star Spangled Kids is not recognized until September, but you might want to
think about it now. See attachment from national on how to promote ‘Star Spangled Kids’.
Units that attended the Mid-Winter conference received a sample SSK kit. Those that were not there, will receive it in the mail sometime in the next couple of weeks. Please send me your Americanism chairman name and address.
Reminder: Order your hand flags now for the upcoming months and patriotic holidays. Be
prepared!
Fly your flag everyday.
The flag photo contest is still moving along. I have a handful of photos. Keep sending those
pics. All will be on display at the 2025 Convention in July.
The message for the Month: Plan ahead! “It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark!”
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Hello Everyone,
Trying to stay warm and healthy will be the goal for most of us this month!
I am sorry to say, the flag contest will be postponed until July Convention. There is only a small handful of photos submitted and I would really like to see a lot more participate! Please “Send Me Pictures” of your favorite American Flag flying, or yard display, etc. NOT of people. The DISPLAY board will be at Convention to place your vote. So please EMAIL me your photo (texting me one from now on will no longer be used) It is far too much work to transfer all the photos to my computer. Please email pictures only. I will send a notice out early Feb. to everyone that has already submitted. If you do not get a verification by Feb 15th from me, then
reach out to me.
Essay Contest- The time is NOW! Well? Who has sent these out? Please let me know if and where you are sending the essay notices. I would love to see what is and is not working and how many units are involved. It is difficult to get participation so maybe we need to reinvent our approach. Let’s get the notice out to your schools and town. It’s a great way to get kids involved. Call me if you need help getting started. Also, if you have suggestions for a better title next year. I would be happy to share that with National. Department Essay deadline for your winners is March 15, 2025. NO EXCEPTIONS!
Order your hand flags now for the upcoming months and patriotic holidays. Be prepared!
Challenge! National Americanism Chairman has issued a challenge to all Units. The best overall creative video, topic ‘You’re a Grand Old Flag’ due to Dept by March 15, 2025. See attachedfor details.
Fly your Flag! Feb 17th – President’s Day
Eileen D’Andrea 203-621-4258 [email protected]
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HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
I hope the new year brings you happiness and good health!
“Send Me Pictures” of your favorite American Flag flying, or yard display, etc. is now a CONTEST! There will be a DISPLAY board at Mid-winter conference to place your vote. So please send me photos, by text or email by JANUARY 20th and they will be included! There have not been many submissions, so this contest is in jeopardy, please join in!
Essay Contest- The time is NOW! Let’s get the notice out to your schools and town. It’s a great way to get kids involved. Call me if you need help getting started. Department deadline for your winners is March 15th, 2025. Get working on those Star-spangled Kids kits. Decide how you want to involve your youth in your community. I will have kit ideas at Mid-Winter, or call me to discuss.
Order your hand flags now for the upcoming months and patriotic holidays. Be prepared!
Fly your Flag! Jan. 15- Martin Luther King Day
Eileen D’Andrea
203-621-4258
[email protected]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello All! I hope you all are enjoying this fall weather and having a productive and successful month of October. What did your unit do this month for Americanism? Did you get the info to your schools for the Americanism essay Contest? Please, take a look at the calendar to see what dates of significance are coming up. Do you have plans for Veterans Day? Fly your flag, hand out hand flags to ceremony attendees, plan an event, or work with the legionnaires to
recognize our veterans on Nov 11. This year, back by popular request, I am asking units to have members take pictures of American Flags hanging in their community or wherever you see one. There will be another photo contest at Mid-Winter Conference in January. If you label your photos with your town name, that would be even better. I will try to include the title when printed this year. I am not a computer guru but getting better at photoshop fixes. I will share our
collection with Dept and National! Let’s put CT on the map for PATRIOTISM!! Please, when possible, no people in the photo, as we need a sign off to publish peoples pictures.
Reminder! If you haven’t done it yet, now is when to finish putting together your essay contest papers. Essay form for students was in the PIC papers.
I HAVE ALSO ATTACHED: 5 WAYS TO REMEMBER VETERANS ON VETERANS DAY and PATRIOTIC CALENDAR DATES (1 file).
I am still missing many email addresses for unit chairman or president. PLEASE, I want to be able to communicate with everyone directly.
If you would like me or my committee to come and visit your meetings, or guide you please reach out. When emailing me please be sure to mark the subject line Americanism so it doesn’t get buried. Thank you and looking forward to working with you! Be sure Dept has an email for you. I am hoping to send emails out this year, as new ideas or thoughts come up.
Eileen D’Andrea, Americanism Chairman, Dept of CT.
Cell: 203-621-4258, email: [email protected]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello everyone! Welcome back to a new year!! Let’s make this year the best ever!
I hope you all enjoyed the summer break, now it’s time to get back on track and MAKE YOUR MARK in your town! Let them know who you are, what unit you are in, and what you do for our veterans and your community. Let’s share our knowledge and innovative ideas to help each other along!
Dates TO REMEMBER:
September : FOCUS: Star Spangled Kids Month
2 – Labor Day
5 – International Day of CHARITY
10 – World Suicide Prevention Day
11- Patriot Day
18 - U.S. Air Force Day Weekly Observances – I am including these so that maybe they might spark an idea or two;
8 to 14: National Suicide Prevention Week, National Assisted Living Day
16 to 22: National Rehabilitation Week
Congratulations to the Award-winning units. These will be formally announced at PIC. I hope you are all gearing up for fall and coming to your meetings with new ideas to promote Americanism. Its not too early to start planning for promoting the essay contest. If any unit or district would like me to come and share information and brainstorm, please let me know so that I can schedule a visit to help you out.
Flag photo Contest- has started again! I was asked to continue our flag contest again. SO NOW is a good time to start taking pictures! There really never is a bad time, but of course patriotic holidays are the best time. Did your unit participate in any parades? Please send pictures!!
Wear your auxiliary shirts to identify who you are. CONTINUE our branding by wearing your shirt while running errands, etc. Let people know who we are. People will ask about your shirt. Get the word out.
Fly your Flag! Everyday.
Has your unit considered who will be the Chairman for next year. Together we can make it bigger and better! Get the word out for Americanism and Patriotism in YOUR town.
CONGRATULATIONS to the Convention Flag Contest- 1st place-Tracy Garrigus, Unit 72, 2nd place-Judy Lehosky, Unit 104, 3rd place-Gladys DiDia, Unit 12 Looking forward to seeing everyone at PIC (Program Information Conference)!
Eileen D’Andrea
203-621-4258
[email protected]
Dates TO REMEMBER:
o February 26 – 1 st District Americanism Program/ District Mtg, Post 142, Hartford
o March 15 th - 106th Birthday of The American Legion
o March 10th - Department Americanism Essay Contest Deadline
o March 17 th - St. Patrick’s Day (the most important day in my opinion)
o April 15th - Purple Up! Day for Military Children
‘Essay Contest- By now you should have a plan on how and when your committee will read
and submit the Essay winners to Me- Dept. of CT Chairman by March 10th, 2025.
April is Purple Up! Month - get ready- How will you get the word out? Will you hold an
event? Please share your ideas.
Be prepared: Star Spangled Kids is not recognized until September, but you might want to
think about it now. See attachment from national on how to promote ‘Star Spangled Kids’.
Units that attended the Mid-Winter conference received a sample SSK kit. Those that were not there, will receive it in the mail sometime in the next couple of weeks. Please send me your Americanism chairman name and address.
Reminder: Order your hand flags now for the upcoming months and patriotic holidays. Be
prepared!
Fly your flag everyday.
The flag photo contest is still moving along. I have a handful of photos. Keep sending those
pics. All will be on display at the 2025 Convention in July.
The message for the Month: Plan ahead! “It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark!”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello Everyone,
Trying to stay warm and healthy will be the goal for most of us this month!
I am sorry to say, the flag contest will be postponed until July Convention. There is only a small handful of photos submitted and I would really like to see a lot more participate! Please “Send Me Pictures” of your favorite American Flag flying, or yard display, etc. NOT of people. The DISPLAY board will be at Convention to place your vote. So please EMAIL me your photo (texting me one from now on will no longer be used) It is far too much work to transfer all the photos to my computer. Please email pictures only. I will send a notice out early Feb. to everyone that has already submitted. If you do not get a verification by Feb 15th from me, then
reach out to me.
Essay Contest- The time is NOW! Well? Who has sent these out? Please let me know if and where you are sending the essay notices. I would love to see what is and is not working and how many units are involved. It is difficult to get participation so maybe we need to reinvent our approach. Let’s get the notice out to your schools and town. It’s a great way to get kids involved. Call me if you need help getting started. Also, if you have suggestions for a better title next year. I would be happy to share that with National. Department Essay deadline for your winners is March 15, 2025. NO EXCEPTIONS!
Order your hand flags now for the upcoming months and patriotic holidays. Be prepared!
Challenge! National Americanism Chairman has issued a challenge to all Units. The best overall creative video, topic ‘You’re a Grand Old Flag’ due to Dept by March 15, 2025. See attachedfor details.
Fly your Flag! Feb 17th – President’s Day
Eileen D’Andrea 203-621-4258 [email protected]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
I hope the new year brings you happiness and good health!
“Send Me Pictures” of your favorite American Flag flying, or yard display, etc. is now a CONTEST! There will be a DISPLAY board at Mid-winter conference to place your vote. So please send me photos, by text or email by JANUARY 20th and they will be included! There have not been many submissions, so this contest is in jeopardy, please join in!
Essay Contest- The time is NOW! Let’s get the notice out to your schools and town. It’s a great way to get kids involved. Call me if you need help getting started. Department deadline for your winners is March 15th, 2025. Get working on those Star-spangled Kids kits. Decide how you want to involve your youth in your community. I will have kit ideas at Mid-Winter, or call me to discuss.
Order your hand flags now for the upcoming months and patriotic holidays. Be prepared!
Fly your Flag! Jan. 15- Martin Luther King Day
Eileen D’Andrea
203-621-4258
[email protected]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello All! I hope you all are enjoying this fall weather and having a productive and successful month of October. What did your unit do this month for Americanism? Did you get the info to your schools for the Americanism essay Contest? Please, take a look at the calendar to see what dates of significance are coming up. Do you have plans for Veterans Day? Fly your flag, hand out hand flags to ceremony attendees, plan an event, or work with the legionnaires to
recognize our veterans on Nov 11. This year, back by popular request, I am asking units to have members take pictures of American Flags hanging in their community or wherever you see one. There will be another photo contest at Mid-Winter Conference in January. If you label your photos with your town name, that would be even better. I will try to include the title when printed this year. I am not a computer guru but getting better at photoshop fixes. I will share our
collection with Dept and National! Let’s put CT on the map for PATRIOTISM!! Please, when possible, no people in the photo, as we need a sign off to publish peoples pictures.
Reminder! If you haven’t done it yet, now is when to finish putting together your essay contest papers. Essay form for students was in the PIC papers.
I HAVE ALSO ATTACHED: 5 WAYS TO REMEMBER VETERANS ON VETERANS DAY and PATRIOTIC CALENDAR DATES (1 file).
I am still missing many email addresses for unit chairman or president. PLEASE, I want to be able to communicate with everyone directly.
If you would like me or my committee to come and visit your meetings, or guide you please reach out. When emailing me please be sure to mark the subject line Americanism so it doesn’t get buried. Thank you and looking forward to working with you! Be sure Dept has an email for you. I am hoping to send emails out this year, as new ideas or thoughts come up.
Eileen D’Andrea, Americanism Chairman, Dept of CT.
Cell: 203-621-4258, email: [email protected]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello everyone! Welcome back to a new year!! Let’s make this year the best ever!
I hope you all enjoyed the summer break, now it’s time to get back on track and MAKE YOUR MARK in your town! Let them know who you are, what unit you are in, and what you do for our veterans and your community. Let’s share our knowledge and innovative ideas to help each other along!
Dates TO REMEMBER:
September : FOCUS: Star Spangled Kids Month
2 – Labor Day
5 – International Day of CHARITY
10 – World Suicide Prevention Day
11- Patriot Day
18 - U.S. Air Force Day Weekly Observances – I am including these so that maybe they might spark an idea or two;
8 to 14: National Suicide Prevention Week, National Assisted Living Day
16 to 22: National Rehabilitation Week
Congratulations to the Award-winning units. These will be formally announced at PIC. I hope you are all gearing up for fall and coming to your meetings with new ideas to promote Americanism. Its not too early to start planning for promoting the essay contest. If any unit or district would like me to come and share information and brainstorm, please let me know so that I can schedule a visit to help you out.
Flag photo Contest- has started again! I was asked to continue our flag contest again. SO NOW is a good time to start taking pictures! There really never is a bad time, but of course patriotic holidays are the best time. Did your unit participate in any parades? Please send pictures!!
Wear your auxiliary shirts to identify who you are. CONTINUE our branding by wearing your shirt while running errands, etc. Let people know who we are. People will ask about your shirt. Get the word out.
Fly your Flag! Everyday.
Has your unit considered who will be the Chairman for next year. Together we can make it bigger and better! Get the word out for Americanism and Patriotism in YOUR town.
CONGRATULATIONS to the Convention Flag Contest- 1st place-Tracy Garrigus, Unit 72, 2nd place-Judy Lehosky, Unit 104, 3rd place-Gladys DiDia, Unit 12 Looking forward to seeing everyone at PIC (Program Information Conference)!
Eileen D’Andrea
203-621-4258
[email protected]