March 15, 2025 • 35 mins
The powerful bonds of military family legacy come alive in this candid conversation with members of the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 6 from Corinth, Mississippi. Commander Randy Leos, alongside dual members Terry Phillips and Jim Horton, share their personal journeys into an organization that honors veterans through meaningful service.
"We're more than just a bunch of guys sitting in a room," Commander Leos explains, highlighting how the Sons support the broader American Legion family through everything from cooking events to parade participation. With 45 members on their roster, Squadron 6 represents one of the larger SAL units, though like many volunteer organizations, they face the challenge of converting membership into active participation.
The conversation reveals deeply personal motivations for joining – honoring fathers and grandfathers who served in conflicts from World War II through Vietnam. This sense of continuing family military legacy through service emerges as a powerful theme throughout the discussion. As Jim Horton eloquently states, "You have to be a member to understand it. We all work together. Sometimes we fuss maybe, but that's what families do."
From their adventures with a flaming barbecue grill at their first community fundraiser to their ambitious plans addressing veteran homelessness, Squadron 6 demonstrates how the Sons of the American Legion creates meaningful impact. Their participation in Veterans Day parades, wreath-laying ceremonies, and other community events showcases their commitment to honoring those who served.
Ready to discover how you can honor your family's military service while making a difference for veterans? Join the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 6 at their meetings every second Thursday at 6PM in Corinth, Mississippi, and become part of a legacy of service that spans generations.
Don't forget to subscribe and share with your friends and family. Drop us a line today at JDAllhands@outlook.com. If you'd like to become a sponsor of our show or advertise with us please send an email to jdallhands@outlook.com or call us at 662-902-6658.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jerry Allhands (00:00):
This is the Veterans Sound Off Podcast.
Hard work, work, let's get itgoing.
Let's go.
I'm your host, jerry Allhands,a veteran of the US Air Force
and Army and a Mississippi PassDepartment Commander of the
American Legion.
Each week, we will visit anAmerican Legion post and visit
with the Legion family there.
As we travel the state, we'llvisit with other groups and
(00:21):
organizations that are servingAmerica's veterans and their
families.
Be sure to subscribe to thispodcast and mark your calendars
as next Monday we return to inthe Upper Northeast corner of
the state and visit with theLegion Riders of Perry, a Johns
Post, number six.
This podcast series is madepossible by the financial
support of listeners such asyourself.
For more information on how youcan support our mission, please
(00:44):
call 662-902-6658.
Again, that's 662-902-6658.
On today's episode, we sit downwith members of the Sons of the
American Legion Squadron 6 inCorneth Mississippi.
(01:14):
Let's talk a little bit todayabout the Sons of the American
Legion.
We have traveled to NortheastMississippi and today we're
talking with the Sons of theAmerican Legion.
They're going to introducethemselves coming from my left
to the right, and we'll startwith Nacho Mama.
Randy Leos (01:29):
My name is Randy Leos.
Terry Phillips (01:34):
I'm the commander of Squadron 6, Post 6
in Corinth Mississippi, and I'mTerry Phillips.
Jim Horton (01:42):
I'm a dual member of both the Legionnaires and the
Sons of the American Legion andJim Horton.
I'm also a dual member of Post6 as well as Squad 6 of the
American Legion.
Jerry Allhands (01:52):
Could I get somebody to please begin our
show today with a?
Terry Phillips (01:57):
prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you, lord, for all the many
blessings you've given us.
Lord, forgive us of ourshortfallings.
Lord, thank you for theopportunity to be here today and
support the Sons of theAmerican Legion and the American
Legion and all the veterans.
Lord, be with us as we go aboutour day, keeping you foremost
(02:18):
in everything we do.
In Jesus Christ's name, we pray.
Amen.
Jerry Allhands (02:21):
All right, we're with the Sons of the American
Legion, squadron 6.
That's post-6.
In what city?
Again, corinth.
See, everybody said itdifferently.
Jim, how do you say it?
Jim Horton (02:34):
Corinth.
Jerry Allhands (02:36):
Terry Corinth, randy Corinth he and I got
something in common.
I ain't even going to try, Ilove it, it's Car-Rent, car-rent
.
Jim Horton (02:48):
See, now I can do Car-Rent.
Well, that's it.
Jerry Allhands (02:52):
Car-Rent Car-Rent.
I can do that.
Where's Tina?
Let's talk about the Sons ofthe American Legion.
What is the Sons of theAmerican Legion?
Randy Leos (03:04):
Well, we're part of the American Legion.
What is the Sons of theAmerican Legion?
Well, we're part of the Legionfamily.
The Sons are exactly what itsounds like we're the Sons of
Veterans.
To be a son, you either have tohave a father, grandfather,
that has served or is serving inthe military.
That's where we come in.
Our main job is to support theLegionnaires here at the post.
(03:25):
As far as you know, when wehave cooking events or any
events, we, you know.
Whatever we have to do we parkcars, sweep the floors.
Whatever you know we have to doto help the Legion, to help the
veterans, is what ourorganization really is about.
Jerry Allhands (03:41):
I know about that sweeping the floor business
.
Terry Phillips (03:43):
Yeah.
Jerry Allhands (03:44):
Yep, yep, definitely.
How does somebody become a sonof the American Legion?
Randy Leos (03:50):
Like I said before, you have to have a grandfather
or father that was in themilitary, either past or present
, and you come, you fill out theapplication form, we give it to
our adjutant, he sends it,reviews it, that you come back
with $20, and we pretty much getyou in there.
(04:10):
I mean, as long as yourbackground comes back.
You're actually from themilitary family.
Jerry Allhands (04:17):
All right, and does your parent, father, mother
?
Randy Leos (04:21):
My grandfather was a World War II veteran.
Jerry Allhands (04:24):
Okay.
Randy Leos (04:25):
What branch?
Jerry Allhands (04:25):
of service.
He was in the Army.
Randy Leos (04:26):
In the Army was a World War II veteran.
Okay, what branch of service hewas in the Army.
In the Army he was.
Jerry Allhands (04:29):
World War II.
Randy Leos (04:30):
World War II.
Yes, sir.
Your father, grandfather.
Jerry Allhands (04:32):
Grandfather Okay , I was going to say you look
awfully young.
Randy Leos (04:35):
Yeah, yeah, I like that.
We're a young family.
Terry Phillips (04:51):
Terry, what makes you eligible to be in the
Sons of the American Legion?
My father was in the Army andthen I joined the American
Legion and found out that I alsoqualified to be part of the
Sons of the American Legion.
So I'm a dual member because myfather was in the Army.
Jerry Allhands (05:03):
And you were in which branch.
Terry Phillips (05:04):
I was in the Army also, and you were in which
branch I was in the Army also.
What did you do?
Well, artillery and in the FireDirection Control Center, and
then ended up doing supply.
I was in for 30 years, bothwith the Army, the National
Guard and the Army Reserve, butall Army, all Army.
So you couldn't be special likeme.
Jerry Allhands (05:23):
You could have been Air Force and Army.
No, and the Army Reserve, butall Army, all Army.
So you couldn't be special likeme.
You could have been Air Forceand Army.
Terry Phillips (05:28):
No, I stayed all .
Jerry Allhands (05:29):
Army 30 years, 30 years.
Thank you for your service.
Thank you, appreciate you verymuch.
Jim?
What makes you eligible for theSAL?
Jim Horton (05:36):
My father, World War II veteran.
He was stationed in the Pacific.
What branch of service was hein?
Stationed in the Pacific?
What branch of service was hein?
He was in the Army, all right.
Jerry Allhands (05:46):
And I see you've got a Legion cap on, so what
branch of service were you in?
Jim Horton (05:51):
Navy, navy, yes, navy, yes.
Okay, about what years?
78.
83.
Yeah, 83.
Jerry Allhands (06:07):
He knows your years.
Jim Horton (06:08):
Yeah, he knows.
Jerry Allhands (06:11):
I like it Well.
Thank you for your service.
We appreciate you very much.
Tell me something about theSons of the American Legion that
nobody knows, Randy.
Randy Leos (06:20):
That nobody knows, that nobody knows.
Jerry Allhands (06:23):
Nobody.
Randy Leos (06:27):
Well, what nobody knows, that nobody knows Nobody,
yeah.
Well, what nobody knows is thatwe're really trying to be as
equal as we can to the rest ofthe Legionnaires here as far as
the Auxiliary, the Riders andthe Legionnaires, the Sons.
You know, when I come here, weweren't really doing much and I
(06:49):
want to change that and that'skind of, you know, what we got
in our mindset as sons is tochange.
You know that we can helpsupport the building.
You know, as far as expenses,we got a roof that we need to
put on and we just want to pullour weight, you know, and not be
equal with the legionnaires andeverybody, but show that we can
really help out.
You know, and that's what we'retrying to do.
(07:11):
So a lot of people don't knowthat they just, you know, I mean
, we're more than just a bunchof guys sitting in a room.
You know we're.
We want to, you know, be morepart of this than we actually
are how many members do you havein the?
There's 45 of us.
Jerry Allhands (07:26):
What 45?
You have 45 members, yeah.
Randy Leos (07:30):
In the SAL yeah.
Jerry Allhands (07:31):
In this squadron .
Randy Leos (07:32):
Yes, yes, we do.
Now how many members come tothe meeting?
All right Okay that's adifferent story.
You get five or six, all right,but we have 45 members that are
sal what are you doing tochange that as far as coming to
a meeting?
(07:53):
well, we're trying to get it.
You know, we're trying to getit's, it's, it's.
The problem is that everybodysays yeah, yeah, yeah, we'll be
there, we'll help you out, we'll, you know, do this and uh, then
we, you know, when it comes tomeeting time, nobody's there.
So what we're trying to do iswe're trying to get it out there
that, hey, we need help.
You know, I mean, uh, we do alot of uh, we've, we've recently
(08:13):
bought a, a barbecue, uh, pullbehind barbecue.
That we go to events, differentevents too.
We, we did it the first year,we did okay and um, so we need
people, you, to help us withthat stuff.
You know, I mean, there's acore of us that really are doing
most of the work when you knowwe need more help.
Jerry Allhands (08:32):
Okay.
Randy Leos (08:32):
That's basically it and trying to get help.
You know, I mean it's word ofmouth, you know, but, like I say
, it's just nobody's reallyinterested.
I guess I mean it's sad to say,but how do you communicate with
your membership?
We Facebook, you know I meanusually just by mouth.
You know, at the events.
You know we try to recruit aswell we can.
(08:54):
You know we get asked a lot ofquestions but getting them down
here is a challenge.
So I think if we get morethings going on here, like we
got line dancing, we've gotother events going on here that
you Line dancing.
Yeah, that's not me.
I'm from Chicago.
But you know it is what it isand it's fun, so I don't
(09:20):
participate.
Jerry Allhands (09:21):
Actually, you don't line dance.
Randy Leos (09:26):
I've never line danced, no.
Jerry Allhands (09:27):
I mean, I heard it's pretty easy.
They just draw a line on thefloor.
Randy Leos (09:29):
Well, it looks pretty simple, but you know, so
does driving, and there's a lotof accidents, so I don't think
we need to go to line dancing.
Jerry Allhands (09:38):
Well, can you sing?
Randy Leos (09:40):
Oh yeah, I can sing.
Sure, you know, I play someinstruments.
I play the radio, AM and FM,you know.
I mean just still stuff likethat.
Jerry Allhands (09:53):
So, in other words, if 45 members of the Sons
of the American Legion show upon a Thursday night, I would
sing.
You would sing and line dance,and line dance.
So there's the challenge, folks, if you are a Sons of the
American Legion, member ofSquadron 6 in Carneth
Mississippi.
Randy Leos (10:11):
I thought I was bad.
Jerry Allhands (10:13):
Y'all come on down here and this man from
Chicago will line dance.
Terry Phillips (10:20):
He will sing.
Jerry Allhands (10:21):
He will play an instrument that is not an AM FM
radio.
So there's the challenge.
Randy Leos (10:26):
Kazoo I got a kazoo.
Jerry Allhands (10:28):
All right, see, I just increased your membership
by one.
Randy Leos (10:33):
Thank you, Y'all don't know it.
On the video and on the audiohere, See I just increased your
membership by one.
Jerry Allhands (10:36):
Thank you.
Y'all don't know it on thevideo and on the audio here, but
somebody out in the other roomhas got barbecue going and
everybody's stomach in here isgrowling at about the same time,
so bear with us a little bit.
Let's talk again about themembership.
Here You've got 45 members,which is one of the largest
memberships of the SAL I havecome across yet in all the
interviews I've done that's whyI was stunned for a moment.
(10:56):
So congrats on that, and I'massuming a lot of these members
are dual members, I hope.
If not, 45 members in the SALis pretty good.
Getting five or six together isstill a pretty good deal of a
job, so good deal as well.
So look forward to that.
Why did you join the Sons ofthe American Legion?
Randy Leos (11:22):
Well, I was living in southern Illinois and I was
working with a lady that was incharge of the auxiliary for Post
280 in Benton, illinois, andshe invited me to come to the
post and she introduced me tothe commander and people like
that, and so I got to talking tothe commander of the post and
(11:43):
he asked me if I was interestedin joining the Suns and I told
him yeah, and so that same nighthe signed me up and I became a
member of the Suns and then ayear later I moved down here and
I joined the Suns here and Iwas here for a year.
I was the Sergeant at Arms whenI started and then I became
(12:04):
Commander.
This is my second year asCommander, so I'm pretty new to
this, and it was a way to helpveterans that you that you see,
you know I mean, uh, everybodytakes it uh for granted what we
got.
You know our freedoms, you know, hey, hey, we can do this.
We can say that, well, if itwasn't for these veterans, we
wouldn't be doing any of that,and so this is a chance to give
(12:26):
back to what they've done for us.
You know we can never equal thesacrifice they made, but at
least we can help them out asfar as food, clothing, maybe
even a house or something, Idon't know.
It's to give back to veterans.
That's the main reason I'm here.
It's not about this guy or thatguy, it's about the veterans.
(12:47):
That's what this is all aboutfor me.
Jerry Allhands (12:49):
I appreciate that, Terry.
Why did you join the Suns?
Terry Phillips (12:54):
Well, one of the things that I have found out is
a lot of people don't knowabout the sons of the American
Legion, and I really didn't knowabout it until I joined the
Legion.
But not only am I in the sonsbecause my father was in the
Army, but I have several otherrelatives that served and I see
(13:16):
it as a way to honor them myfather, my uncles that were in
World War II, korea, vietnam andso honor all of them by being
part of the Sons of the AmericanLegion.
Jerry Allhands (13:31):
You've enjoyed it.
Terry Phillips (13:32):
I have, I have, and one thing I'll say is that
the Sons participate ineverything that is done here at
this post, in this squadron.
It really is a family.
The Sons of the American Legion, the auxiliary, the riders, the
legionnaires, they all worktogether in every event that we
(13:53):
have.
Jerry Allhands (13:55):
Jim, why did you join the Suns?
Jim Horton (13:59):
Partly the same reasons that Terry did.
Also, like I said, my fatherbeing a World War II veteran,
it's kind of like my way ofhonoring him, as well as all the
other veterans.
I know we're all talking aboutfamily, but it really is, and
you have to be a member tounderstand it.
(14:20):
We all work together.
Sometimes we fuss maybe, butthat's what families do, so it's
no big deal there, you know,and it's nothing major.
Jerry Allhands (14:32):
How long have you been in the SAL?
Jim Horton (14:34):
I've been.
Let's see, we joined about thesame time, A little less than a
year.
Jerry Allhands (14:40):
Yes, so you're the newbies.
Yeah, we're the newbies Allright and Randy, you've been in
combined.
Randy Leos (14:49):
I've been in it for two years back home in Illinois.
I've been in it for two yearsback home in Illinois and then
this is my third year here thatI've been with.
So six years altogether.
Jerry Allhands (15:01):
Now you realize that, now that you're here, this
is home now, right?
Randy Leos (15:03):
Oh yeah, this is my home post.
Now you don't get to go backhome because you know I still
got my key card to get in overthere, All right, let's talk
about some of the events that'shappened in the past year that
the sal has been involved in.
Jerry Allhands (15:17):
What's, uh, what's the most?
What's the one event thatstands out the most for you,
randy?
Randy Leos (15:22):
well, it was, uh, it was last year.
We, uh, we first got our, uh,our grill.
And uh, we went out to iuka forour first uh event.
You got Days, I believe it wascalled, it was some festival,
anyway.
We went out there and our grillwas on a wooden frame and
anyway, so we start cooking and,sure enough, the grill gets hot
(15:43):
, so the wood starts burning andall we have is bottled water to
put this out with.
So me and Michael Bloom he'sour treasurer, our adjutant um,
we were on the grill and he said, uh, what are we going to do if
it burns?
And I said we're going to cookon the ground.
And uh, so we, we got that uh,so we had to take her home, and
(16:05):
pulling her home was a you know,I mean there's a fire, you know
.
And uh, so we get back homewith it.
And then I took it to my shopand I put all steel in there, so
we got rid of the fire hazard.
But that was our first go outand it was a good time.
Even with the fire, it was agood time.
So events like that stick outin my head.
(16:27):
And then we went on and did theGlow Hope.
That was a balloon thing hereat the airport and we did all
right there.
We did real well.
As far as raising money, whatis that?
At Glow Hope, they have airballoons.
It's for cancer and it was afestival they had out here at
the airport.
What's the name of that airport?
Roscoe Turner Airport.
(16:49):
They have it every.
Well, they didn't have it lastyear but they have it every year
and it's just to raise moneyfor cancer awareness and stuff
like that.
They have balloons, hot airballoons that you ride in for
rides and stuff like that, andwe sat out there with the
vendors.
It was good turnout, it's agood time, good cause, and
(17:13):
that's our festivities and stuff.
Jerry Allhands (17:14):
So, being around those hot air balloons, they
didn't let you have a barbecue,did they?
Randy Leos (17:17):
Oh yeah, we had ours going, oh yeah.
Terry Phillips (17:20):
We were burning, Burning yeah.
Jerry Allhands (17:23):
Terry, what stands out for you this past
year?
Terry Phillips (17:26):
Well, the suns being part of some of the other
events the freedom ride that wehad.
Some of the other events theFreedom Ride that we had,
putting flags out at theNational Cemetery, laying
wreaths, veterans Heritage andthe Veterans Day Parade.
(17:46):
The signs are part of all theevents that are going on.
Jerry Allhands (17:51):
Let's talk about the Veterans Day Parade.
How did you get involved withthat?
What did y'all do?
Terry Phillips (17:55):
We built a float and had both the float and
walkers and the float wasregarding our Wreaths Across
America.
That was the theme for ourfloat so that we could get word
out the auxiliary doing the raceacross America.
We were also walking andpassing out pins to veterans and
(18:21):
poppies to to ladies in thecrowd.
No burning barbecue no burningbarbecue and we also had our
riders participating that dayalso, so we had some motorcycles
in the in the veterans Dayparade also.
Jerry Allhands (18:35):
How many folks do you think were involved in
the parade itself?
Terry Phillips (18:38):
From all the different community.
Sure Gosh, I don't know, therewere hundreds.
And then there was, at the endof the parade, there was
speakers.
Both our chief of police andour sheriff spoke, and they're
both veterans and so theymembers of the american legion
too right uh if not, we'll fixthat I think they are and we try
(19:03):
to get them more active, but intheir roles in the community
they're they're very active, uh,otherwise involved there you go
jim.
Jerry Allhands (19:13):
What stands out for you?
This past year in the SAL, anevent.
Jim Horton (19:18):
Well, let's see, Based on the time I've been in
the parades, there's always, youknow good, the Suns is always
active in the parades, active inthe parades and they help with
a multitude of things that theLegion does as a whole.
(19:39):
They're always there, they'realways dependable.
You can count on them.
Jerry Allhands (19:44):
I like that, Randy, coming up this next year.
What's the plan for the SAL?
What big events you got comingup?
What's?
Randy Leos (19:52):
the plan for the SAL .
What big events you got comingup.
Well, recently it's you know, Ireally didn't realize it the
homeless problem that we'rehaving here for our veterans.
So I think, as a post, we'regoing to try to do something to
raise money for the homeless.
So that's number one on ourlist to our list to uh create
(20:14):
events to make money for thehomeless veterans that are here,
and not just here in our townbut, you know, in in other areas
as well.
Um, but I but I think our focusis going to be for the homeless
vets this year, um creatingwhat events we can create.
We've uh, me and uh noraMoreland, the commander of the
(20:36):
Legionnaires, have talked to agentleman about wrestling,
having a wrestling show here.
So hopefully, with stuff likethat, we can help out and raise
some money for these homelessvets that are on the street.
Jerry Allhands (20:48):
Bringing wrestling back to the
Mississippi.
Randy Leos (20:50):
Bringing it back home.
Yes, sir, yeah.
Jerry Allhands (20:53):
You know there's a problem there, right.
Uh-oh yeah yeah, junkyard Dog,he's gotten old.
Randy Leos (20:59):
He died like in 87.
I'm a wrestling nut dude, I gotold, but he would.
Yeah, he was great.
Oh, he was awesome.
Jerry Allhands (21:09):
Man, we could talk wrestling for a while and
get totally off the subject oh,we totally could.
Jim Horton (21:14):
Yes, we could then again.
Jerry Allhands (21:15):
Uh, um, we could talk about that burning
barbecue pit one more time well,it was, it was hot, it was hot
let's get it going, let's go.
let's pause for a moment to hearfrom some of the people who
have helped to make this episodepossible with their financial
support.
A very special thank you toDean and Judy Graves of Mount
Vernon, missouri, for theirfinancial support.
(21:36):
Dean passed away recentlywithout ever hearing the podcast
, but he believed in thisproject and his support helps to
make each episode possible, andfor that we say thank you, hi
this is Judy Graves of MountVernon, Missouri, inviting you
to listen to the next episode ofthe Veteran Sound Off podcast.
Nora Moreland (21:59):
Hello, my name is Nora Moreland.
I am a proud US Marine, thegranddaughter ofa World War II
US Navy veteran, Adelbert Shea,who served in the Pacific
Theater, the wife of a combatcorpsman and a mother of an
active-duty Marine.
I would humbly ask you tosponsor the Veterans Sound Off
(22:20):
podcast.
Each episode tells the storiesof what we in the American
Legion do locally and around theworld.
Thank you.
Wreaths Across America (22:28):
You can join in the mission to remember
our fallen heroes, honor thosewho currently serve and their
families, and teach youngergenerations about the value of
freedom.
A $17 donation to WreathsAcross America sponsors a fresh
balsam remembrance wreath.
These wreaths have become asymbol of America's respect for
those who have served and nolonger walk with us.
(22:49):
Sponsor a wreath today.
Visit wreathsacrossamericaorgor call 877-385-9504.
Jerry Allhands (22:58):
To buy a wreath.
Call Carlene Parker at662-415-6743.
Again, that's 662-415-6743.
Nora Moreland (23:11):
Hey, this is Kobe Stewart from Springfield
Missouri, inviting you to catchthe next episode of the Veterans
Sound Off podcast.
Jerry Allhands (23:18):
The Veterans Sound Off podcast is made
possible by you, the listener,and we need your help in keeping
this podcast series going.
Your continued financialsupport enables us to produce
these episodes.
Call 662-902-6658 today andwe'll give you all the details
on how you and or your businesscan become a sponsor.
And now back to this episode ofthe Veterans Sound Off Podcast.
(23:41):
Hard work, hard work, it's whatthey say Hard work, hard work.
Jim Horton (23:46):
I'm a pain Hard work , hard work.
Jerry Allhands (23:48):
We can.
We can talk wrestling for awhile and get totally off the
subject.
Jim Horton (23:51):
Oh, we totally could .
Randy Leos (23:52):
Yes, we could.
Jerry Allhands (23:53):
Then again we could talk about that burning
barbecue pit one more time.
Randy Leos (23:57):
Well, it was, it was hot, it was hot.
Jerry Allhands (24:02):
Man, we've got a lot coming up this next year.
Talk to me about SAL training.
How do you get trained in theSAL?
Randy Leos (24:09):
Yeah, there's a course that you can take.
You can go to the National whenthey have their meetings and
stuff and they offer differentcourses, like the commanders and
things like that.
Myself I really wasn't trainedor ready for to step in here,
(24:29):
you know, but I thought I coulddo it and I'm, I'm trying, you
know, and that's how you can do.
You know I'm, you know, kind oflearning on the fly.
There's a lot of things I don'tknow, but I've got.
John Peebles was here.
He was the commander when Ibegan and so if I had questions
I could call him, Michael Bloom,as well as Mike Hurst here.
Tina, all these guys havehelped me, you know I mean.
(24:51):
So, as far as training, yeah,you gotta you got, but you, you
know, I mean you can train, butthings change.
You know you got to be able toadjust and and move with the
flow of things.
You know I mean you can havesomething planned and something
could happen and you got to go adifferent way.
You know, I mean I don't carehow much you practice, train,
train, train.
You know I boxed before thisand you know I mean train, train
(25:14):
training is great, but when youget hit in the mouth.
Oh, the training goes out thewindow and you know there's
something different here.
You know, so you got to beexact.
Oh, there's a joke in theresomewhere.
Jerry Allhands (25:31):
I think I better leave that one alone.
Let's talk a little bit aboutwhat happens at an SAL meeting
here at the Post.
Randy Leos (25:39):
Well, first we have the family meeting out there,
then we get dismissed to our ownareas.
We usually go in, we come toorder and we discuss what past
business we had, what's comingup in the future, like for the
sons.
We cook for the sons of theConfederate veterans.
On Mondays we cook for them.
(26:00):
So we go over what we're goingto cook and things like that.
We discuss, you know, ways tomake some more money, of course
and that's usually about it, youknow and pretty much dismiss.
You know we pretty much get tobusiness and take care of it.
Jerry Allhands (26:16):
How long does an average meeting last for you?
Randy Leos (26:18):
It could go from a half hour to 45 minutes,
depending on what we'rediscussing, you know, because
sometimes, you know, there's alittle debate debate, so we've
got to go through our littlevoting.
So it depends on what thesituation is.
There's a lot of things we liketo discuss and talk about it.
Even if it didn't resolve,we'll resolve it at the next
(26:38):
meeting.
Jerry Allhands (26:40):
But you meet on the same night as the Legion,
yeah every second Thursday ofthe month at 6 o'clock.
Second Thursday of the month, 6o'clock.
Second Thursday of the month, 6o'clock.
Randy Leos (26:48):
Yeah, we eat at 6 and we start the meeting at 7.
Jerry Allhands (26:50):
Okay, give me the street address here 511
South Tate Street, corinthMississippi.
And the zip code 388-34.
Terry Phillips (27:02):
There you go.
Jerry Allhands (27:03):
GPS.
It's a wonderful thing.
It'll get you here.
You may get lost getting here,but you'll get here sooner or
later.
So is the guy who got lost oncebefore.
What's the future look like foryou with the SAL here?
Randy Leos (27:17):
The future here.
I'd like to keep doing what I'mdoing now.
Maybe one more year and thensomebody else should be ready to
step in and take over ascommander, but I would still
like to stay.
You know, of course I'm goingto stay and be a member of the
Suns, you know.
I mean this is pretty much youknow.
And so, yeah, my future here ispretty much staying here and
(27:40):
doing what I can do.
I'm also a rider, so Well, thatexplains the vest.
Jerry Allhands (27:45):
Yeah, I'm, also a writer.
Randy Leos (27:46):
Oh, that explains the vest.
Jerry Allhands (27:46):
Yeah, I was going to ask you about that.
Randy Leos (27:47):
Well, you know, Nora lets me wear it every now and
then, so I look important.
But yeah.
So yeah, I'm a writer.
Jerry Allhands (27:55):
Does your mother know that you're a writer?
Randy Leos (27:58):
Well, I don't want to talk about my mom now.
We'd have to do this in Spanish.
No, I believe.
Jerry Allhands (28:07):
Terry, how does the future look for you with
this al?
What do you see happening withthis unit, this squadron?
Terry Phillips (28:12):
I would like to say, both with the the squadron
and with the post some of themembers that are not active to
become active, uh, and alsobeing able to reach out to
others.
Like I said I, I was not reallyaware of the sons before I got
involved, and so I'd like to getthat awareness out there more
(28:34):
to some of the other people inthe community that have those
fathers, grandfathers or parentsthat were veterans.
Get them involved in the sons.
Jerry Allhands (28:46):
What could you do to reach out to the other 40
plus members of the squadron tolet them know you know, come on,
join us.
Yeah, I mean.
Terry Phillips (28:54):
I would like to for us to do a phone tree and
reach out to them and talk tothem about one of the things
that I feel would be helpful isto find out from them what they
would like to see the Suns doingand then get them involved in
participating in that.
You know those events.
(29:15):
I think giving them somethingto do specifically and get them
involved.
Jerry Allhands (29:21):
I like that.
Terry Phillips (29:22):
I may try that in my own post there.
Jerry Allhands (29:25):
I like that, Jim .
What do you see?
Jim Horton (29:28):
I see a bright future for Squad 6.
I'm proud to be a member of it.
I want to continue being one.
We're always trying to come upwith a new idea, a new project
that we could take hold, youknow, and I just see us moving
forward.
Jerry Allhands (29:45):
Randy, what would you say to somebody on the
street who is just you justhanded them a pamphlet of the
SAL and they are hesitant tojoin because they don't feel
like they've got time.
Randy Leos (30:00):
Well, I would.
First I would ask them, youknow, I mean, you know, are you
proud of, are you proud of, yourcountry?
Are you, are you proud of themen who fought to give you this?
You know, I mean, this is not,you know, just some organization
that we'd like to get togetherand play cards, and you know BS
around.
You know this is a serious deal.
(30:21):
You know, if you want to getinto something to really help
the community and help veterans,this is the organization for
you.
You know, I mean that's all youcan really say.
You know, I mean, if you can'tsee that, then I don't want you
as a member anyway.
You know, I mean seriously, ifyou're not here to help the
(30:42):
veterans, you know you've got tobe appreciative for what you've
got.
You know, every time you walkacross the street, every time
you get something to eat, everytime you make a phone call that
was paid for by veterans, youknow.
Jerry Allhands (31:00):
So, you know, come out and help us give them
back a little bit.
Terry's same question If youmet somebody on the street,
you've given them a pamphletabout the SAL and they're
interested in joining.
But they, you know, just I justdon't have the time, and you
know, would you encourage themto go ahead and join anyway?
Terry Phillips (31:11):
I would, because the things I've found over the
years, the, the people that arethe usually do the most, are
involved in a lot of differentthings.
I mean they, they're active,they're, they're busy.
They say they're busy, butthose are the people that if you
get them involved in youractivity, they'll do the work
(31:31):
also.
But like Randy had said about Ibelieve that service should be
the top thing for them, that ifthey want to provide a service
and if their parent, grandparent, was a veteran, then they
should have that feel that theywant to serve also, and they may
(31:56):
not have served in uniform, butthey can serve their country
and serve the veterans.
Jerry Allhands (32:00):
That did I like that, Jim, same question.
You're reaching out to somebodyand they're on the edge.
They want to join, but theydon't feel like they've got time
to share.
Jim Horton (32:12):
I think they should join.
I mean, you know everybody,sometimes they think they're
pressed for time, but there'salways a way to make time if
it's something that you're trulyinterested in and something you
want to do.
And the Suns is a great way tohonor the veterans.
It gives you something to focuson, it gives you a goal and
(32:36):
you're helping the veterans.
You know.
Anyway, you know which is, youknow, the main thing you want to
do.
Anyhow, that's why we're allhere, right?
So I think everybody needs tojoin.
Join, so give it some thoughtand come join us oh, yeah, and
come join us randy.
Jerry Allhands (32:54):
Uh, anything that we've not covered that you
feel like we need to cover?
Randy Leos (32:58):
um, not really.
I mean, we're all.
You know, this is a familyorganization.
You know Everybody here is onthe same page as far as helping
veterans and doing what we canto help the community as well.
Carleen Auxiliary, they do alot of work here and you know,
(33:20):
and the sons, we need to step upand start helping out a little
more, I think.
So that's really our goal, youknow, I mean so, but I think
that anybody that wants to joina good family, a good legion, a
good post, this is the post.
Jerry Allhands (33:35):
And Terry, if you would please give us a
closing prayer.
Terry Phillips (33:37):
Heavenly Father.
Thank you, lord, for thisopportunity to be here today
with our family.
Lord, we pray that you watchover us as we go about our day.
Keep us safe In Jesus Christ'sname.
We pray Amen.
Jerry Allhands (33:51):
Thank you so much for allowing me to be here
today.
I hope you've enjoyedyourselves and it wasn't that
hard on you.
I mean, we did catch a grill onfire.
I appreciate that one, and thatwas our visit with Squadron 6 of
the Sons of the American Legion, an integral part of the
American Legion family of thePerry A Johns Post 6 in Cornuth.
We want to say thank you to themembers of the Post 6 family
(34:13):
who made financial and physicalcontributions to the support of
this podcast.
If you would like to supportthis podcast, please call
662-902-6658 for moreinformation.
Be sure to join us next Mondaymorning as we return to Corinth
and visit with the Legion Ridersof Perry A Johns, post 6.
(34:33):
A very special thank you toJonathan Michael Fleming for his
musical talents.
You can find his CDs and videoson Facebook, instagram, amazon
Music and YouTube.
We hope you've enjoyed thisepisode and look forward to your
feedback and ask that yousubscribe to and share the
Veterans Sound Off podcast withyour friends and family.
If you have a comment,suggestion or questions or you
(34:55):
would like to become a supporterof this podcast, please call
662-902-6658 and we'll get backto you as soon as possible.
This has been a production ofAll Hands Media LLC, with
offices in Rinalara, mississippi.
All rights reserved.
This is the Veterans Sound Off Podcast.
Hard work, work, let's get itgoing.
Let's go.
I'm your host, jerry Allhands,a veteran of the US Air Force
and Army and a Mississippi PassDepartment Commander of the
American Legion.
Each week, we will visit anAmerican Legion post and visit
with the Legion family there.
As we travel the state, we'llvisit with other groups and
(00:21):
organizations that are servingAmerica's veterans and their
families.
Be sure to subscribe to thispodcast and mark your calendars
as next Monday we return to inthe Upper Northeast corner of
the state and visit with theLegion Riders of Perry, a Johns
Post, number six.
This podcast series is madepossible by the financial
support of listeners such asyourself.
For more information on how youcan support our mission, please
(00:44):
call 662-902-6658.
Again, that's 662-902-6658.
On today's episode, we sit downwith members of the Sons of the
American Legion Squadron 6 inCorneth Mississippi.
(01:14):
Let's talk a little bit todayabout the Sons of the American
Legion.
We have traveled to NortheastMississippi and today we're
talking with the Sons of theAmerican Legion.
They're going to introducethemselves coming from my left
to the right, and we'll startwith Nacho Mama.
Randy Leos (01:29):
My name is Randy Leos.
Terry Phillips (01:34):
I'm the commander of Squadron 6, Post 6
in Corinth Mississippi, and I'mTerry Phillips.
Jim Horton (01:42):
I'm a dual member of both the Legionnaires and the
Sons of the American Legion andJim Horton.
I'm also a dual member of Post6 as well as Squad 6 of the
American Legion.
Jerry Allhands (01:52):
Could I get somebody to please begin our
show today with a?
Terry Phillips (01:57):
prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you, lord, for all the many
blessings you've given us.
Lord, forgive us of ourshortfallings.
Lord, thank you for theopportunity to be here today and
support the Sons of theAmerican Legion and the American
Legion and all the veterans.
Lord, be with us as we go aboutour day, keeping you foremost
(02:18):
in everything we do.
In Jesus Christ's name, we pray.
Amen.
Jerry Allhands (02:21):
All right, we're with the Sons of the American
Legion, squadron 6.
That's post-6.
In what city?
Again, corinth.
See, everybody said itdifferently.
Jim, how do you say it?
Jim Horton (02:34):
Corinth.
Jerry Allhands (02:36):
Terry Corinth, randy Corinth he and I got
something in common.
I ain't even going to try, Ilove it, it's Car-Rent, car-rent
.
Jim Horton (02:48):
See, now I can do Car-Rent.
Well, that's it.
Jerry Allhands (02:52):
Car-Rent Car-Rent.
I can do that.
Where's Tina?
Let's talk about the Sons ofthe American Legion.
What is the Sons of theAmerican Legion?
Randy Leos (03:04):
Well, we're part of the American Legion.
What is the Sons of theAmerican Legion?
Well, we're part of the Legionfamily.
The Sons are exactly what itsounds like we're the Sons of
Veterans.
To be a son, you either have tohave a father, grandfather,
that has served or is serving inthe military.
That's where we come in.
Our main job is to support theLegionnaires here at the post.
(03:25):
As far as you know, when wehave cooking events or any
events, we, you know.
Whatever we have to do we parkcars, sweep the floors.
Whatever you know we have to doto help the Legion, to help the
veterans, is what ourorganization really is about.
Jerry Allhands (03:41):
I know about that sweeping the floor business
.
Terry Phillips (03:43):
Yeah.
Jerry Allhands (03:44):
Yep, yep, definitely.
How does somebody become a sonof the American Legion?
Randy Leos (03:50):
Like I said before, you have to have a grandfather
or father that was in themilitary, either past or present
, and you come, you fill out theapplication form, we give it to
our adjutant, he sends it,reviews it, that you come back
with $20, and we pretty much getyou in there.
(04:10):
I mean, as long as yourbackground comes back.
You're actually from themilitary family.
Jerry Allhands (04:17):
All right, and does your parent, father, mother
?
Randy Leos (04:21):
My grandfather was a World War II veteran.
Jerry Allhands (04:24):
Okay.
Randy Leos (04:25):
What branch?
Jerry Allhands (04:25):
of service.
He was in the Army.
Randy Leos (04:26):
In the Army was a World War II veteran.
Okay, what branch of service hewas in the Army.
In the Army he was.
Jerry Allhands (04:29):
World War II.
Randy Leos (04:30):
World War II.
Yes, sir.
Your father, grandfather.
Jerry Allhands (04:32):
Grandfather Okay , I was going to say you look
awfully young.
Randy Leos (04:35):
Yeah, yeah, I like that.
We're a young family.
Terry Phillips (04:51):
Terry, what makes you eligible to be in the
Sons of the American Legion?
My father was in the Army andthen I joined the American
Legion and found out that I alsoqualified to be part of the
Sons of the American Legion.
So I'm a dual member because myfather was in the Army.
Jerry Allhands (05:03):
And you were in which branch.
Terry Phillips (05:04):
I was in the Army also, and you were in which
branch I was in the Army also.
What did you do?
Well, artillery and in the FireDirection Control Center, and
then ended up doing supply.
I was in for 30 years, bothwith the Army, the National
Guard and the Army Reserve, butall Army, all Army.
So you couldn't be special likeme.
Jerry Allhands (05:23):
You could have been Air Force and Army.
No, and the Army Reserve, butall Army, all Army.
So you couldn't be special likeme.
You could have been Air Forceand Army.
Terry Phillips (05:28):
No, I stayed all .
Jerry Allhands (05:29):
Army 30 years, 30 years.
Thank you for your service.
Thank you, appreciate you verymuch.
Jim?
What makes you eligible for theSAL?
Jim Horton (05:36):
My father, World War II veteran.
He was stationed in the Pacific.
What branch of service was hein?
Stationed in the Pacific?
What branch of service was hein?
He was in the Army, all right.
Jerry Allhands (05:46):
And I see you've got a Legion cap on, so what
branch of service were you in?
Jim Horton (05:51):
Navy, navy, yes, navy, yes.
Okay, about what years?
78.
83.
Yeah, 83.
Jerry Allhands (06:07):
He knows your years.
Jim Horton (06:08):
Yeah, he knows.
Jerry Allhands (06:11):
I like it Well.
Thank you for your service.
We appreciate you very much.
Tell me something about theSons of the American Legion that
nobody knows, Randy.
Randy Leos (06:20):
That nobody knows, that nobody knows.
Jerry Allhands (06:23):
Nobody.
Randy Leos (06:27):
Well, what nobody knows, that nobody knows Nobody,
yeah.
Well, what nobody knows is thatwe're really trying to be as
equal as we can to the rest ofthe Legionnaires here as far as
the Auxiliary, the Riders andthe Legionnaires, the Sons.
You know, when I come here, weweren't really doing much and I
(06:49):
want to change that and that'skind of, you know, what we got
in our mindset as sons is tochange.
You know that we can helpsupport the building.
You know, as far as expenses,we got a roof that we need to
put on and we just want to pullour weight, you know, and not be
equal with the legionnaires andeverybody, but show that we can
really help out.
You know, and that's what we'retrying to do.
(07:11):
So a lot of people don't knowthat they just, you know, I mean
, we're more than just a bunchof guys sitting in a room.
You know we're.
We want to, you know, be morepart of this than we actually
are how many members do you havein the?
There's 45 of us.
Jerry Allhands (07:26):
What 45?
You have 45 members, yeah.
Randy Leos (07:30):
In the SAL yeah.
Jerry Allhands (07:31):
In this squadron .
Randy Leos (07:32):
Yes, yes, we do.
Now how many members come tothe meeting?
All right Okay that's adifferent story.
You get five or six, all right,but we have 45 members that are
sal what are you doing tochange that as far as coming to
a meeting?
(07:53):
well, we're trying to get it.
You know, we're trying to getit's, it's, it's.
The problem is that everybodysays yeah, yeah, yeah, we'll be
there, we'll help you out, we'll, you know, do this and uh, then
we, you know, when it comes tomeeting time, nobody's there.
So what we're trying to do iswe're trying to get it out there
that, hey, we need help.
You know, I mean, uh, we do alot of uh, we've, we've recently
(08:13):
bought a, a barbecue, uh, pullbehind barbecue.
That we go to events, differentevents too.
We, we did it the first year,we did okay and um, so we need
people, you, to help us withthat stuff.
You know, I mean, there's acore of us that really are doing
most of the work when you knowwe need more help.
Jerry Allhands (08:32):
Okay.
Randy Leos (08:32):
That's basically it and trying to get help.
You know, I mean it's word ofmouth, you know, but, like I say
, it's just nobody's reallyinterested.
I guess I mean it's sad to say,but how do you communicate with
your membership?
We Facebook, you know I meanusually just by mouth.
You know, at the events.
You know we try to recruit aswell we can.
(08:54):
You know we get asked a lot ofquestions but getting them down
here is a challenge.
So I think if we get morethings going on here, like we
got line dancing, we've gotother events going on here that
you Line dancing.
Yeah, that's not me.
I'm from Chicago.
But you know it is what it isand it's fun, so I don't
(09:20):
participate.
Jerry Allhands (09:21):
Actually, you don't line dance.
Randy Leos (09:26):
I've never line danced, no.
Jerry Allhands (09:27):
I mean, I heard it's pretty easy.
They just draw a line on thefloor.
Randy Leos (09:29):
Well, it looks pretty simple, but you know, so
does driving, and there's a lotof accidents, so I don't think
we need to go to line dancing.
Jerry Allhands (09:38):
Well, can you sing?
Randy Leos (09:40):
Oh yeah, I can sing.
Sure, you know, I play someinstruments.
I play the radio, AM and FM,you know.
I mean just still stuff likethat.
Jerry Allhands (09:53):
So, in other words, if 45 members of the Sons
of the American Legion show upon a Thursday night, I would
sing.
You would sing and line dance,and line dance.
So there's the challenge, folks, if you are a Sons of the
American Legion, member ofSquadron 6 in Carneth
Mississippi.
Randy Leos (10:11):
I thought I was bad.
Jerry Allhands (10:13):
Y'all come on down here and this man from
Chicago will line dance.
Terry Phillips (10:20):
He will sing.
Jerry Allhands (10:21):
He will play an instrument that is not an AM FM
radio.
So there's the challenge.
Randy Leos (10:26):
Kazoo I got a kazoo.
Jerry Allhands (10:28):
All right, see, I just increased your membership
by one.
Randy Leos (10:33):
Thank you, Y'all don't know it.
On the video and on the audiohere, See I just increased your
membership by one.
Jerry Allhands (10:36):
Thank you.
Y'all don't know it on thevideo and on the audio here, but
somebody out in the other roomhas got barbecue going and
everybody's stomach in here isgrowling at about the same time,
so bear with us a little bit.
Let's talk again about themembership.
Here You've got 45 members,which is one of the largest
memberships of the SAL I havecome across yet in all the
interviews I've done that's whyI was stunned for a moment.
(10:56):
So congrats on that, and I'massuming a lot of these members
are dual members, I hope.
If not, 45 members in the SALis pretty good.
Getting five or six together isstill a pretty good deal of a
job, so good deal as well.
So look forward to that.
Why did you join the Sons ofthe American Legion?
Randy Leos (11:22):
Well, I was living in southern Illinois and I was
working with a lady that was incharge of the auxiliary for Post
280 in Benton, illinois, andshe invited me to come to the
post and she introduced me tothe commander and people like
that, and so I got to talking tothe commander of the post and
(11:43):
he asked me if I was interestedin joining the Suns and I told
him yeah, and so that same nighthe signed me up and I became a
member of the Suns and then ayear later I moved down here and
I joined the Suns here and Iwas here for a year.
I was the Sergeant at Arms whenI started and then I became
(12:04):
Commander.
This is my second year asCommander, so I'm pretty new to
this, and it was a way to helpveterans that you that you see,
you know I mean, uh, everybodytakes it uh for granted what we
got.
You know our freedoms, you know, hey, hey, we can do this.
We can say that, well, if itwasn't for these veterans, we
wouldn't be doing any of that,and so this is a chance to give
(12:26):
back to what they've done for us.
You know we can never equal thesacrifice they made, but at
least we can help them out asfar as food, clothing, maybe
even a house or something, Idon't know.
It's to give back to veterans.
That's the main reason I'm here.
It's not about this guy or thatguy, it's about the veterans.
(12:47):
That's what this is all aboutfor me.
Jerry Allhands (12:49):
I appreciate that, Terry.
Why did you join the Suns?
Terry Phillips (12:54):
Well, one of the things that I have found out is
a lot of people don't knowabout the sons of the American
Legion, and I really didn't knowabout it until I joined the
Legion.
But not only am I in the sonsbecause my father was in the
Army, but I have several otherrelatives that served and I see
(13:16):
it as a way to honor them myfather, my uncles that were in
World War II, korea, vietnam andso honor all of them by being
part of the Sons of the AmericanLegion.
Jerry Allhands (13:31):
You've enjoyed it.
Terry Phillips (13:32):
I have, I have, and one thing I'll say is that
the Sons participate ineverything that is done here at
this post, in this squadron.
It really is a family.
The Sons of the American Legion, the auxiliary, the riders, the
legionnaires, they all worktogether in every event that we
(13:53):
have.
Jerry Allhands (13:55):
Jim, why did you join the Suns?
Jim Horton (13:59):
Partly the same reasons that Terry did.
Also, like I said, my fatherbeing a World War II veteran,
it's kind of like my way ofhonoring him, as well as all the
other veterans.
I know we're all talking aboutfamily, but it really is, and
you have to be a member tounderstand it.
(14:20):
We all work together.
Sometimes we fuss maybe, butthat's what families do, so it's
no big deal there, you know,and it's nothing major.
Jerry Allhands (14:32):
How long have you been in the SAL?
Jim Horton (14:34):
I've been.
Let's see, we joined about thesame time, A little less than a
year.
Jerry Allhands (14:40):
Yes, so you're the newbies.
Yeah, we're the newbies Allright and Randy, you've been in
combined.
Randy Leos (14:49):
I've been in it for two years back home in Illinois.
I've been in it for two yearsback home in Illinois and then
this is my third year here thatI've been with.
So six years altogether.
Jerry Allhands (15:01):
Now you realize that, now that you're here, this
is home now, right?
Randy Leos (15:03):
Oh yeah, this is my home post.
Now you don't get to go backhome because you know I still
got my key card to get in overthere, All right, let's talk
about some of the events that'shappened in the past year that
the sal has been involved in.
Jerry Allhands (15:17):
What's, uh, what's the most?
What's the one event thatstands out the most for you,
randy?
Randy Leos (15:22):
well, it was, uh, it was last year.
We, uh, we first got our, uh,our grill.
And uh, we went out to iuka forour first uh event.
You got Days, I believe it wascalled, it was some festival,
anyway.
We went out there and our grillwas on a wooden frame and
anyway, so we start cooking and,sure enough, the grill gets hot
(15:43):
, so the wood starts burning andall we have is bottled water to
put this out with.
So me and Michael Bloom he'sour treasurer, our adjutant um,
we were on the grill and he said, uh, what are we going to do if
it burns?
And I said we're going to cookon the ground.
And uh, so we, we got that uh,so we had to take her home, and
(16:05):
pulling her home was a you know,I mean there's a fire, you know
.
And uh, so we get back homewith it.
And then I took it to my shopand I put all steel in there, so
we got rid of the fire hazard.
But that was our first go outand it was a good time.
Even with the fire, it was agood time.
So events like that stick outin my head.
(16:27):
And then we went on and did theGlow Hope.
That was a balloon thing hereat the airport and we did all
right there.
We did real well.
As far as raising money, whatis that?
At Glow Hope, they have airballoons.
It's for cancer and it was afestival they had out here at
the airport.
What's the name of that airport?
Roscoe Turner Airport.
(16:49):
They have it every.
Well, they didn't have it lastyear but they have it every year
and it's just to raise moneyfor cancer awareness and stuff
like that.
They have balloons, hot airballoons that you ride in for
rides and stuff like that, andwe sat out there with the
vendors.
It was good turnout, it's agood time, good cause, and
(17:13):
that's our festivities and stuff.
Jerry Allhands (17:14):
So, being around those hot air balloons, they
didn't let you have a barbecue,did they?
Randy Leos (17:17):
Oh yeah, we had ours going, oh yeah.
Terry Phillips (17:20):
We were burning, Burning yeah.
Jerry Allhands (17:23):
Terry, what stands out for you this past
year?
Terry Phillips (17:26):
Well, the suns being part of some of the other
events the freedom ride that wehad.
Some of the other events theFreedom Ride that we had,
putting flags out at theNational Cemetery, laying
wreaths, veterans Heritage andthe Veterans Day Parade.
(17:46):
The signs are part of all theevents that are going on.
Jerry Allhands (17:51):
Let's talk about the Veterans Day Parade.
How did you get involved withthat?
What did y'all do?
Terry Phillips (17:55):
We built a float and had both the float and
walkers and the float wasregarding our Wreaths Across
America.
That was the theme for ourfloat so that we could get word
out the auxiliary doing the raceacross America.
We were also walking andpassing out pins to veterans and
(18:21):
poppies to to ladies in thecrowd.
No burning barbecue no burningbarbecue and we also had our
riders participating that dayalso, so we had some motorcycles
in the in the veterans Dayparade also.
Jerry Allhands (18:35):
How many folks do you think were involved in
the parade itself?
Terry Phillips (18:38):
From all the different community.
Sure Gosh, I don't know, therewere hundreds.
And then there was, at the endof the parade, there was
speakers.
Both our chief of police andour sheriff spoke, and they're
both veterans and so theymembers of the american legion
too right uh if not, we'll fixthat I think they are and we try
(19:03):
to get them more active, but intheir roles in the community
they're they're very active, uh,otherwise involved there you go
jim.
Jerry Allhands (19:13):
What stands out for you?
This past year in the SAL, anevent.
Jim Horton (19:18):
Well, let's see, Based on the time I've been in
the parades, there's always, youknow good, the Suns is always
active in the parades, active inthe parades and they help with
a multitude of things that theLegion does as a whole.
(19:39):
They're always there, they'realways dependable.
You can count on them.
Jerry Allhands (19:44):
I like that, Randy, coming up this next year.
What's the plan for the SAL?
What big events you got comingup?
What's?
Randy Leos (19:52):
the plan for the SAL .
What big events you got comingup.
Well, recently it's you know, Ireally didn't realize it the
homeless problem that we'rehaving here for our veterans.
So I think, as a post, we'regoing to try to do something to
raise money for the homeless.
So that's number one on ourlist to our list to uh create
(20:14):
events to make money for thehomeless veterans that are here,
and not just here in our townbut, you know, in in other areas
as well.
Um, but I but I think our focusis going to be for the homeless
vets this year, um creatingwhat events we can create.
We've uh, me and uh noraMoreland, the commander of the
(20:36):
Legionnaires, have talked to agentleman about wrestling,
having a wrestling show here.
So hopefully, with stuff likethat, we can help out and raise
some money for these homelessvets that are on the street.
Jerry Allhands (20:48):
Bringing wrestling back to the
Mississippi.
Randy Leos (20:50):
Bringing it back home.
Yes, sir, yeah.
Jerry Allhands (20:53):
You know there's a problem there, right.
Uh-oh yeah yeah, junkyard Dog,he's gotten old.
Randy Leos (20:59):
He died like in 87.
I'm a wrestling nut dude, I gotold, but he would.
Yeah, he was great.
Oh, he was awesome.
Jerry Allhands (21:09):
Man, we could talk wrestling for a while and
get totally off the subject oh,we totally could.
Jim Horton (21:14):
Yes, we could then again.
Jerry Allhands (21:15):
Uh, um, we could talk about that burning
barbecue pit one more time well,it was, it was hot, it was hot
let's get it going, let's go.
let's pause for a moment to hearfrom some of the people who
have helped to make this episodepossible with their financial
support.
A very special thank you toDean and Judy Graves of Mount
Vernon, missouri, for theirfinancial support.
(21:36):
Dean passed away recentlywithout ever hearing the podcast
, but he believed in thisproject and his support helps to
make each episode possible, andfor that we say thank you, hi
this is Judy Graves of MountVernon, Missouri, inviting you
to listen to the next episode ofthe Veteran Sound Off podcast.
Nora Moreland (21:59):
Hello, my name is Nora Moreland.
I am a proud US Marine, thegranddaughter ofa World War II
US Navy veteran, Adelbert Shea,who served in the Pacific
Theater, the wife of a combatcorpsman and a mother of an
active-duty Marine.
I would humbly ask you tosponsor the Veterans Sound Off
(22:20):
podcast.
Each episode tells the storiesof what we in the American
Legion do locally and around theworld.
Thank you.
Wreaths Across America (22:28):
You can join in the mission to remember
our fallen heroes, honor thosewho currently serve and their
families, and teach youngergenerations about the value of
freedom.
A $17 donation to WreathsAcross America sponsors a fresh
balsam remembrance wreath.
These wreaths have become asymbol of America's respect for
those who have served and nolonger walk with us.
(22:49):
Sponsor a wreath today.
Visit wreathsacrossamericaorgor call 877-385-9504.
Jerry Allhands (22:58):
To buy a wreath.
Call Carlene Parker at662-415-6743.
Again, that's 662-415-6743.
Nora Moreland (23:11):
Hey, this is Kobe Stewart from Springfield
Missouri, inviting you to catchthe next episode of the Veterans
Sound Off podcast.
Jerry Allhands (23:18):
The Veterans Sound Off podcast is made
possible by you, the listener,and we need your help in keeping
this podcast series going.
Your continued financialsupport enables us to produce
these episodes.
Call 662-902-6658 today andwe'll give you all the details
on how you and or your businesscan become a sponsor.
And now back to this episode ofthe Veterans Sound Off Podcast.
(23:41):
Hard work, hard work, it's whatthey say Hard work, hard work.
Jim Horton (23:46):
I'm a pain Hard work , hard work.
Jerry Allhands (23:48):
We can.
We can talk wrestling for awhile and get totally off the
subject.
Jim Horton (23:51):
Oh, we totally could .
Randy Leos (23:52):
Yes, we could.
Jerry Allhands (23:53):
Then again we could talk about that burning
barbecue pit one more time.
Randy Leos (23:57):
Well, it was, it was hot, it was hot.
Jerry Allhands (24:02):
Man, we've got a lot coming up this next year.
Talk to me about SAL training.
How do you get trained in theSAL?
Randy Leos (24:09):
Yeah, there's a course that you can take.
You can go to the National whenthey have their meetings and
stuff and they offer differentcourses, like the commanders and
things like that.
Myself I really wasn't trainedor ready for to step in here,
(24:29):
you know, but I thought I coulddo it and I'm, I'm trying, you
know, and that's how you can do.
You know I'm, you know, kind oflearning on the fly.
There's a lot of things I don'tknow, but I've got.
John Peebles was here.
He was the commander when Ibegan and so if I had questions
I could call him, Michael Bloom,as well as Mike Hurst here.
Tina, all these guys havehelped me, you know I mean.
(24:51):
So, as far as training, yeah,you gotta you got, but you, you
know, I mean you can train, butthings change.
You know you got to be able toadjust and and move with the
flow of things.
You know I mean you can havesomething planned and something
could happen and you got to go adifferent way.
You know, I mean I don't carehow much you practice, train,
train, train.
You know I boxed before thisand you know I mean train, train
(25:14):
training is great, but when youget hit in the mouth.
Oh, the training goes out thewindow and you know there's
something different here.
You know, so you got to beexact.
Oh, there's a joke in theresomewhere.
Jerry Allhands (25:31):
I think I better leave that one alone.
Let's talk a little bit aboutwhat happens at an SAL meeting
here at the Post.
Randy Leos (25:39):
Well, first we have the family meeting out there,
then we get dismissed to our ownareas.
We usually go in, we come toorder and we discuss what past
business we had, what's comingup in the future, like for the
sons.
We cook for the sons of theConfederate veterans.
On Mondays we cook for them.
(26:00):
So we go over what we're goingto cook and things like that.
We discuss, you know, ways tomake some more money, of course
and that's usually about it, youknow and pretty much dismiss.
You know we pretty much get tobusiness and take care of it.
Jerry Allhands (26:16):
How long does an average meeting last for you?
Randy Leos (26:18):
It could go from a half hour to 45 minutes,
depending on what we'rediscussing, you know, because
sometimes, you know, there's alittle debate debate, so we've
got to go through our littlevoting.
So it depends on what thesituation is.
There's a lot of things we liketo discuss and talk about it.
Even if it didn't resolve,we'll resolve it at the next
(26:38):
meeting.
Jerry Allhands (26:40):
But you meet on the same night as the Legion,
yeah every second Thursday ofthe month at 6 o'clock.
Second Thursday of the month, 6o'clock.
Second Thursday of the month, 6o'clock.
Randy Leos (26:48):
Yeah, we eat at 6 and we start the meeting at 7.
Jerry Allhands (26:50):
Okay, give me the street address here 511
South Tate Street, corinthMississippi.
And the zip code 388-34.
Terry Phillips (27:02):
There you go.
Jerry Allhands (27:03):
GPS.
It's a wonderful thing.
It'll get you here.
You may get lost getting here,but you'll get here sooner or
later.
So is the guy who got lost oncebefore.
What's the future look like foryou with the SAL here?
Randy Leos (27:17):
The future here.
I'd like to keep doing what I'mdoing now.
Maybe one more year and thensomebody else should be ready to
step in and take over ascommander, but I would still
like to stay.
You know, of course I'm goingto stay and be a member of the
Suns, you know.
I mean this is pretty much youknow.
And so, yeah, my future here ispretty much staying here and
(27:40):
doing what I can do.
I'm also a rider, so Well, thatexplains the vest.
Jerry Allhands (27:45):
Yeah, I'm, also a writer.
Randy Leos (27:46):
Oh, that explains the vest.
Jerry Allhands (27:46):
Yeah, I was going to ask you about that.
Randy Leos (27:47):
Well, you know, Nora lets me wear it every now and
then, so I look important.
But yeah.
So yeah, I'm a writer.
Jerry Allhands (27:55):
Does your mother know that you're a writer?
Randy Leos (27:58):
Well, I don't want to talk about my mom now.
We'd have to do this in Spanish.
No, I believe.
Jerry Allhands (28:07):
Terry, how does the future look for you with
this al?
What do you see happening withthis unit, this squadron?
Terry Phillips (28:12):
I would like to say, both with the the squadron
and with the post some of themembers that are not active to
become active, uh, and alsobeing able to reach out to
others.
Like I said I, I was not reallyaware of the sons before I got
involved, and so I'd like to getthat awareness out there more
(28:34):
to some of the other people inthe community that have those
fathers, grandfathers or parentsthat were veterans.
Get them involved in the sons.
Jerry Allhands (28:46):
What could you do to reach out to the other 40
plus members of the squadron tolet them know you know, come on,
join us.
Yeah, I mean.
Terry Phillips (28:54):
I would like to for us to do a phone tree and
reach out to them and talk tothem about one of the things
that I feel would be helpful isto find out from them what they
would like to see the Suns doingand then get them involved in
participating in that.
You know those events.
(29:15):
I think giving them somethingto do specifically and get them
involved.
Jerry Allhands (29:21):
I like that.
Terry Phillips (29:22):
I may try that in my own post there.
Jerry Allhands (29:25):
I like that, Jim .
What do you see?
Jim Horton (29:28):
I see a bright future for Squad 6.
I'm proud to be a member of it.
I want to continue being one.
We're always trying to come upwith a new idea, a new project
that we could take hold, youknow, and I just see us moving
forward.
Jerry Allhands (29:45):
Randy, what would you say to somebody on the
street who is just you justhanded them a pamphlet of the
SAL and they are hesitant tojoin because they don't feel
like they've got time.
Randy Leos (30:00):
Well, I would.
First I would ask them, youknow, I mean, you know, are you
proud of, are you proud of, yourcountry?
Are you, are you proud of themen who fought to give you this?
You know, I mean, this is not,you know, just some organization
that we'd like to get togetherand play cards, and you know BS
around.
You know this is a serious deal.
(30:21):
You know, if you want to getinto something to really help
the community and help veterans,this is the organization for
you.
You know, I mean that's all youcan really say.
You know, I mean, if you can'tsee that, then I don't want you
as a member anyway.
You know, I mean seriously, ifyou're not here to help the
(30:42):
veterans, you know you've got tobe appreciative for what you've
got.
You know, every time you walkacross the street, every time
you get something to eat, everytime you make a phone call that
was paid for by veterans, youknow.
Jerry Allhands (31:00):
So, you know, come out and help us give them
back a little bit.
Terry's same question If youmet somebody on the street,
you've given them a pamphletabout the SAL and they're
interested in joining.
But they, you know, just I justdon't have the time, and you
know, would you encourage themto go ahead and join anyway?
Terry Phillips (31:11):
I would, because the things I've found over the
years, the, the people that arethe usually do the most, are
involved in a lot of differentthings.
I mean they, they're active,they're, they're busy.
They say they're busy, butthose are the people that if you
get them involved in youractivity, they'll do the work
(31:31):
also.
But like Randy had said about Ibelieve that service should be
the top thing for them, that ifthey want to provide a service
and if their parent, grandparent, was a veteran, then they
should have that feel that theywant to serve also, and they may
(31:56):
not have served in uniform, butthey can serve their country
and serve the veterans.
Jerry Allhands (32:00):
That did I like that, Jim, same question.
You're reaching out to somebodyand they're on the edge.
They want to join, but theydon't feel like they've got time
to share.
Jim Horton (32:12):
I think they should join.
I mean, you know everybody,sometimes they think they're
pressed for time, but there'salways a way to make time if
it's something that you're trulyinterested in and something you
want to do.
And the Suns is a great way tohonor the veterans.
It gives you something to focuson, it gives you a goal and
(32:36):
you're helping the veterans.
You know.
Anyway, you know which is, youknow, the main thing you want to
do.
Anyhow, that's why we're allhere, right?
So I think everybody needs tojoin.
Join, so give it some thoughtand come join us oh, yeah, and
come join us randy.
Jerry Allhands (32:54):
Uh, anything that we've not covered that you
feel like we need to cover?
Randy Leos (32:58):
um, not really.
I mean, we're all.
You know, this is a familyorganization.
You know Everybody here is onthe same page as far as helping
veterans and doing what we canto help the community as well.
Carleen Auxiliary, they do alot of work here and you know,
(33:20):
and the sons, we need to step upand start helping out a little
more, I think.
So that's really our goal, youknow, I mean so, but I think
that anybody that wants to joina good family, a good legion, a
good post, this is the post.
Jerry Allhands (33:35):
And Terry, if you would please give us a
closing prayer.
Terry Phillips (33:37):
Heavenly Father.
Thank you, lord, for thisopportunity to be here today
with our family.
Lord, we pray that you watchover us as we go about our day.
Keep us safe In Jesus Christ'sname.
We pray Amen.
Jerry Allhands (33:51):
Thank you so much for allowing me to be here
today.
I hope you've enjoyedyourselves and it wasn't that
hard on you.
I mean, we did catch a grill onfire.
I appreciate that one, and thatwas our visit with Squadron 6 of
the Sons of the American Legion, an integral part of the
American Legion family of thePerry A Johns Post 6 in Cornuth.
We want to say thank you to themembers of the Post 6 family
(34:13):
who made financial and physicalcontributions to the support of
this podcast.
If you would like to supportthis podcast, please call
662-902-6658 for moreinformation.
Be sure to join us next Mondaymorning as we return to Corinth
and visit with the Legion Ridersof Perry A Johns, post 6.
(34:33):
A very special thank you toJonathan Michael Fleming for his
musical talents.
You can find his CDs and videoson Facebook, instagram, amazon
Music and YouTube.
We hope you've enjoyed thisepisode and look forward to your
feedback and ask that yousubscribe to and share the
Veterans Sound Off podcast withyour friends and family.
If you have a comment,suggestion or questions or you
(34:55):
would like to become a supporterof this podcast, please call
662-902-6658 and we'll get backto you as soon as possible.
This has been a production ofAll Hands Media LLC, with
offices in Rinalara, mississippi.
All rights reserved.
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