January 20, 2025 • 29 mins
Join me, Jerry Allhands, as we uncover the heartwarming impact of community support on veterans in Mississippi. Discover the inspiring history of the Sons of the American Legion at the James Buster Keaton Post 1990, and learn about the crucial role the younger generation plays in sustaining this legacy. Personal stories reveal how these efforts provide essential aid to veterans who may not actively seek assistance, highlighting the vital connection between community engagement and veteran welfare.
As we navigate through the benefits offered by the Sons of the American Legion, we find a vibrant blend of camaraderie and leadership opportunities. Listen to first-year commanders share their transformational journeys, accentuating the leadership training that empowers members to find their voice and make meaningful connections. The organization is more than just a support network; it’s a family-like atmosphere where members, including male descendants of veterans, can thrive, learn from past leaders, and honor their forebears' sacrifices.
Feel the emotional uplift as we explore the profound community outreach efforts at the Veterans Hospital in Oxford. The simple joy of karaoke visits leaves lasting impressions on residents and staff alike, demonstrating the power of companionship. Our journey concludes with a heartfelt tribute to the dignity of VA home residents at the Nesbitt Post 1990, underscoring the importance of family visits. Stay connected and join our next episode, where we look forward to featuring the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 1990.
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.
I'm your host, Jerry Allhands,a veteran of the US Air Force
and Army and a Mississippi PastDepartment Commander of the
American Legion.
You're invited to join me as wetravel across the state of
Mississippi, visiting theAmerican Legion posts in each
community.
Together we'll get to know theAmerican Legion family,
(00:22):
including the American LegionAuxiliary, the Sons of the
American Legion and the LegionRiders.
As we travel the state we'llvisit with other groups and
organizations that are servingAmerica's veterans and their
families.
Last week we were in beautifulOxford, Mississippi, at the
State Veterans Home, where wesat down with American Legion
Auxiliary National PresidentTrish Ward, and before we get
(00:45):
into today's show, here is amoment of that conversation.
It means so much to me to haveyou here today and to have you
in Mississippi, and I knowyou've been here for several
days.
I hope you've enjoyed yourselfand we've treated you well and
hopefully you'll come back to us.
Trish Ward (00:59):
Thank you so much for that.
Yes, it's been an amazing 120days.
I was installed as nationalpresident at our convention in
New Orleans, louisiana, onAugust 28, 2024.
So I've been doing this nowjust about 120 days Plus.
I've traveled to 18 differentdepartments and, of course, here
(01:20):
in the American Legion familywe call our states departments,
so I've been to 18 states.
I've been three times to ournation's capital, which was
absolutely amazing, as I laid awreath of remembrance at the
Tomb of the Unknown
Jerry Allhands (01:36):
This week we return to Nesbitt in northwest
Mississippi to visit with theSons of the American Legion at
DeSoto County, Post 1990.
I'm in Nesbitt, Mississippi, atPost 1990.
It's the James Buster KeatonPost and it's a pleasure to be
here with three fine men todaywho are with the Sons of the
American Legion.
Phil Garcia (01:55):
My name is Phil Garcia and I am with the Post.
I guess you'd call the Adjutantfor the Sons, or Treasurer and
Past Commander for the sons atthe post and Chaplain for the
sons at this post also.
Jerry Allhands (02:13):
And center directly across from me is.
Brandon Noe (02:15):
My name is Brandon Noe, Squadron Commander at post
1990.
I kind of came in here flyingby the seat of my pants and
hopefully just plan to do somegood here with this squadron.
Jerry Allhands (02:30):
I like it, and to my far right is of course the
one and only Danny Bassett.
Danny Baser (02:37):
Baser.
Jerry Allhands (02:38):
Baser See that's why I do this.
Baser, say it right.
Actually I was the squadronadjutant and finance officer for
six years here prior to thesetwo guys.
Currently the detachmentadjutant for the Sons of
American Legion from MississippiStarted that in 2020, so been
(03:01):
doing that for about five yearsnow and I was the past
detachment commander for the 23year.
You've done it all I'm I'm donesome of it, yeah phil, would
you uh open this with a prayerand my heavenly father, we take
a moment to remember our pow'sand mia's, lord.
Phil Garcia (03:22):
We lift them up to you, we.
We lift our families up to you,lord.
We lift all the veteransserving wherever they may be,
serving, abroad or in thiscountry.
We lift up to you all of ourinjured, all of our sick, all of
our families who have lostloved ones in the service to our
country.
We pray that we have donethings that are pleasing and
(03:42):
bring honor to the AmericanLegion.
We ask these things in Jesus'name, for God and country, amen.
Jerry Allhands (03:48):
So Sons of the American Legion?
What is the Sons of theAmerican Legion?
Brandon Noe (03:52):
Well, to base back to history, back to 1990 in the
Paris Accords, the Sons of theAmerican Legion was founded by
veterans' children, of coursesons, obviously to help with the
veterans that came backoverseas that were wounded,
injured, because, let's be fair,the government didn't take care
of them at that time.
(04:13):
So the sons stepped into thepost to help, as well as with
the auxiliary, to support theveterans that come home wounded
or say they had family troublesor something.
They stepped in to help help.
And we try to continue thattradition today, which it is
getting a little more difficult.
The younger generation doesn'tnecessarily know about the sons
(04:36):
and we have to spread that wordso we can still keep these
activities going.
I mean, there's a lot of peoplethat need help and,
specifically in the veterancommunity, there's a lot of
people that won't ask for it.
So you kind of have to find itand that's where it all really
comes from is being able to stepup and do something about it.
Jerry Allhands (04:54):
And who can.
Who can join the sons what?
What makes a person eligiblefor it?
Brandon Noe (04:58):
All the way up to a great grandson.
Of course, currently it isstill male only, but grandson,
great-grandson, a son.
I don't think spouses areeligible.
Stepson, yeah, stepson, okay,and you do have to prove
eligibility, obviously throughDD-214 or if it's unavailable,
(05:24):
there's other ways that you canget information, like sending in
to, uh, st Louis, to theNational Archives, and get
information that way as wellright and if?
Jerry Allhands (05:34):
um?
Brandon Noe (05:35):
well, you said son grandson, great grandson, how
old uh well, my son is uh sevenyears old and he is a junior
member here at this post.
He does attend meetingssometimes and you know he's.
To me it's important that helearns uh how, how to give back
to his community, and I thinkmore people should do that.
(05:58):
It's, it's an upbringing.
It's lost.
Nowadays everybody wants toquick pacifier to the the kids
here's your video games, butlet's teach them something
important.
Jerry Allhands (06:09):
Give me an example of something important.
What do they do?
Brandon Noe (06:12):
Well, we have actually a veteran that is a
member of the Sons organizationwho will not ask for anything
and he's not doing so.
Well, when things get tight forhim, we all step up, pitch in
and we help him.
We do whatever he needs done.
When I leave here, I'm gonna gosee, I'm gonna go check on him.
(06:33):
Just nobody else is doing it.
Might as well get it done.
Give me an example.
So I know currently he istrying to fix his motorcycle,
but he has just had pretty heavysurgery and they're waiting on
the results back from that.
But he can't do anything andthis guy's always been so
(06:53):
independent.
Well, if I go over there and Isee what he's trying to do, I
can kind of take over for himand let him just tell me what he
wants done.
Get it done.
Or if we have somebody that say,say, they can't pay their bills
, they can't, they can't buygroceries, well, that's what we
raise money for.
We spend that money on that.
(07:13):
It's, you know, to helpveterans and our communities.
You know, and another big oneis the child welfare foundation
and bringing up money for that,which I believe the name was
changed to the Child Well-BeingFoundation Recently yeah, very
recently, but I mean raisingmoney for them so these kids can
get whatever they need, whetherit be clothes, education,
(07:36):
housing, food, toys Personally Idon't care.
Kids should always have whatthey need, and it's not their
fault that somebody else screwedup in life.
So let's help them out too.
Do everything you can with whatyou can, and if you feel like
you can't do anything, you'rewrong.
There's always something youcan do.
Danny Baser (07:55):
Something else, Jerry, just what he was talking
about.
The guy that we're going tovisit today Brandon wasn't here
then, but this very same fellowa few years ago had a serious
surgery and could not get aroundand we donated a wheelchair to
him and we went to his house andbuilt him a walk ramp, spent
(08:16):
the whole Saturday and built theramp and repaired his back
steps and and did all that forhim.
So wow, okay, Okay.
Jerry Allhands (08:25):
How many people show up to an event like that
building the ramp, anything?
Danny Baser (08:28):
like that In the past.
We've usually had probablyanywhere from 8 to 10.
I think that day helping thereabout 8 to 10 of us.
Jerry Allhands (08:37):
Mm-hmm, how do you raise the funds for these
events?
Danny Baser (08:43):
Well, we do have some donations, but in the past
we used to do fundraisers.
Every year we uh, for the past,uh, about seven years now,
we've been doing a chilicook-off in february.
Uh, we've raised at, we'veraised at that event.
One event, our high, all-timehigh, was close to six thousand
dollars, wow and uh.
So we've raised money there.
(09:04):
We've had, you know, doingcooks here at the Post, burger
cooks, you know, just raisingmoney that way.
We've also had a few other,just, you know, charity events,
you know, just to raise money.
We do auctions.
You know we've gone andcollected lots of items, donated
(09:24):
items, bought some items and dosome auctions there.
We've done raffles, you know,and so we've raised money and
collected and stayed funded todo these things.
Jerry Allhands (09:35):
So the funds that are raised, that comes
strictly from y'all raising themoney or out of your own
personal pockets to go back,personal pockets to go back and
does.
Is there, I guess what I'mlooking for is is there anything
that you do in the communitythat is not for veterans?
Brandon Noe (09:55):
that's not for the children of veterans, it can be.
I mean, sometimes we will do,you know, like rides to go to
different, you know, justchecking on people, cause I
believe, uh, uh, the gentlemanwe're going to see today is not
a veteran, right.
Danny Baser (10:10):
I'm going to check on boots.
Yeah, he's not.
He's not a veteran, he's amember, he's a member of Sons
Okay.
Brandon Noe (10:16):
So I mean it's just checking in on people and being
being a voice of reason or evenjust somebody to listen to you,
if you even just somebody tolisten to you, if you're having
a bad day, sometimes that's allit takes to you know, kind of
make a difference in someone'slife is just be there to listen.
Sure, I mean what's thecampaign for the American Legion
?
Jerry Allhands (10:33):
Be the one, be the one and there's a phone
number for that, be the one.
Brandon Noe (10:36):
There absolutely is , we're talking about the
subject, that's 988.
Jerry Allhands (10:41):
And if you're not familiar with it, be
familiar with it.
Be the one is something you'regoing to hear about just about
every time we have one of thesepodcasts, and it is a I'm not
going to say suicide awareness,because it's much more than that
.
It's much more than that.
It's an opportunity for someoneto call and just, you know, hey
, I need to vent, I need to getthis off my chest, I need some
help or I just need an ear, youknow, and 988 is something where
(11:05):
, if a vet calls up, um, I thinkyou press the button number one
and it goes straight to aveteran you know somebody will
understand your situation.
But back to the sal, the sons ofthe american legion.
Um, what, how many members doyou have in your local?
Brandon Noe (11:19):
I believe we're at 50 54 yeah, I think so.
Danny Baser (11:22):
Yeah 54 members.
Phil Garcia (11:25):
Well, just signed up two more.
Brandon Noe (11:27):
Oh, 56, then Wow, and I think I'm signing one up
tomorrow.
Danny Baser (11:31):
Okay, three of them are juniors under 18.
Jerry Allhands (11:36):
Steadily growing .
Danny Baser (11:37):
Yeah.
Jerry Allhands (11:37):
I like that, All right.
And what would a veteran?
Or the child or stepchild of aveteran?
Why would they want to join theSAO?
What would entice me to comeand become a member?
Brandon Noe (11:52):
Well, you get to learn more about.
You know what your father oryour mother did, you know for
our country.
You get to learn what they dofor your community.
You get to learn there'shistory involved in it.
You get to learn order anddiscipline.
Then there's other benefits toit, like there are the American
Legion, college scholarships,there is Boys State Legion,
(12:14):
baseball programs.
There's so many differentthings that a child can actually
go do later in life with it.
And should they decide that theywant to be more of a member in
the Legion and continue forwardor say they become a veteran
when they get back out, they cantake that much like Danny here
has taken it and you have and goto state and do real good work
(12:38):
for these people.
So you're teaching themsomething that's bigger than
oneself and I think that's veryimportant in youth these days
which, again, like I say it,just gets cast back, you know,
to the back burner, becauseeverybody's like oh, let's just
give them something to be quiet.
No, I want them heard.
I want to hear the youth oftoday.
(12:59):
It's important because they'renot like we were.
Yeah, you know I I just readthis morning where some woman
was arrested for letting her kidwalk a mile down the road when
he's 10.
When I was 10 years old, I usedto disappear into the woods all
day.
Hey, you better be home when itgets dark that was the rule be
home for dark, you know and ifyou weren't there dark, you
better have some fish you know,another thing is just
(13:21):
camaraderie yeah and friendshipand family.
Danny Baser (13:24):
You know we've had people come in that are just
kind of lonely.
You know they're eligible andthey come in and oh, I like it
here.
You know, well, come join us.
You know, be a brother, and soa lot of it's just that too.
Jerry Allhands (13:39):
So give me an example of what a typical
meeting is like for the SAL.
Brandon Noe (13:42):
Well, we'll start off talking.
You know, first things first isPledge of Allegiance.
Then we'll have our prayer, ledby our chaplain, of course, and
we'll call everything to order,talk about our finances, how
much we have raised, how much wehave spent, let us know what
our final number is, and thenwe'll go uh into old business,
kind of reminding people what wespoke about at the last meeting
(14:02):
, uh events that have happenedin between the last meeting and
now, and some events from beforethe last meeting.
You know, should they be deemedimportant, then we'll talk
about new business and open upthe floor to anybody who has an
idea, a thought, or evensomebody who just wants to
change something.
(14:23):
Somebody needs somebody thathas.
You know you find somebody thatneeds help.
You know you can bringeverything to the table so that
we may all talk about it.
If you're silent, you have novoice.
You have to talk, right.
Right right, so, and then, oncewe get through that point, then
we'll have our closing prayerand close down the meeting.
Jerry Allhands (14:43):
And the meeting lasts typically how long?
Brandon Noe (14:44):
About an hour, usually Hour, hour and a half,
depending on what's on the table.
Jerry Allhands (14:50):
Yeah, well, let's say that you become aware
that somebody has an issue thatneeds some help with.
How is their paperwork?
Is the name brought up?
Is it voted on?
I mean, how do you come to aconclusion that we're going to
go help Joe down the street here?
Brandon Noe (15:03):
Everything comes to a majority vote.
When somebody needs some help,or whatever it may be, we bring
it to the membership, we talkabout it.
Then we'll raise it to a vote.
If the majority rules that thevote is good and that's what we
want to do, then we do it right.
Then and there.
If it's funding, our adjutantwill take care of the money
(15:24):
there and get it set where itneeds to go.
And if it's some work thatneeds to be done, we see who
wants to volunteer and go do thework and God bless them for it.
You know we need the help.
It's always good to step uplike that.
Jerry Allhands (15:39):
Okay, how long have you been in the SAO?
Brandon Noe (15:43):
Coming up on two years.
This is my first year as acommander and it's still a
learning curve.
There's a lot more to it thanI'd imagined, but I think I'm
doing okay.
Jerry Allhands (15:54):
Sounds like it.
What do you think?
Danny Baser (15:56):
He has some learning to do.
Brandon Noe (15:57):
He has some learning to do.
Danny Baser (15:58):
I definitely have that, but he's doing a very good
job yeah he's doing a good jobbecause he's the only one who
stepped up for it.
Jerry Allhands (16:04):
No, because he's the only one who stepped up for
it, so he wasn't volunteeredinto the position.
Danny Baser (16:09):
He volunteered for it, all right.
Jerry Allhands (16:12):
Sounds great.
I've enjoyed what he's saying.
He sounds very knowledgeableand that's a great thing to do.
Brandon Noe (16:17):
There's between knowledge and what you can pick
up in a book.
Jerry Allhands (16:20):
Ah, so there you go, training.
How do you get trained in theSAL?
Is there a class that you go to?
Brandon Noe (16:26):
There was so so training.
How do you get trained in theSAL?
Is there a class that you go to?
There was, so you have yourbasic training course at
legionorg.
I took that and that's where Ilearned a lot of the history and
what they have done over time.
And then, of course, talking topast commanders and, of course,
danny here and Phil, takingeverybody's experience and
taking notes from that and doingwhat they did.
(16:48):
That worked.
Jerry Allhands (16:49):
As long as it works, hey, don't fix it if it
ain't broke right there you gowell, like the American Legion
has training Tuesdays, does theSAL have the same kind of a
thing where you go online andget trained?
Danny Baser (17:00):
some of those training.
Some of those trainings applyto the SAL.
Some of that applies to the SALNot all of it does, but some of
it does and we do getinvitations to go to it.
Sometimes it's not communicatedreal well, but some of that
training does apply to us.
Jerry Allhands (17:18):
And with the training that the state offers,
that we've done in the past.
You guys are always welcome toattend that.
Danny Baser (17:24):
That's true.
That's true.
A lot of the training there foradjutants and commanders
applies to the sal.
The structure of the sal ispretty much the same as the uh,
the legion structure you know so, uh, a lot of it does same
apply right and phil.
Jerry Allhands (17:39):
How long have you been with the sal?
Phil Garcia (17:42):
uh about eight years seven.
Danny Baser (17:47):
I think you're six or seven.
Phil Garcia (17:50):
Seven.
Jerry Allhands (17:51):
Seven years yeah .
Danny Baser (17:52):
I'm eight years, and I think you're right at six.
Jerry Allhands (17:56):
Are any of the three of you veterans as well?
No, no.
Danny Baser (17:59):
No, none of us are veterans.
Jerry Allhands (18:00):
Well then.
Danny Baser (18:04):
Actually, in our 55 members we got.
I think we got at least 12 or13 dual members Okay.
Jerry Allhands (18:10):
All right.
And how do you go aboutrecruiting a new member?
They just come up to you on thestreet and say, hey, I want to
join, or how do you do it?
Brandon Noe (18:18):
Well, I think it's because we are seen in public a
lot.
Of course, we go to differentevents and fundraisers for other
organizations as well, like theCVMA or the what is the CVMA?
Combat Veterans MotorcycleAssociation.
There's a bunch of vets thatlike to ride or we'll do other
fundraisers for the what is it?
Phil Garcia (18:41):
called VFW, vfw Okay.
Brandon Noe (18:44):
And people will see you in public.
If you do a poker run, for thateverybody's wearing their vest
and it's got your name and sonsand all that kind of stuff on it
and they ask well, what is this, am I eligible?
Then you can answer questionsright then and there, as long as
you're knowledgeable enoughabout it.
But it's not too much that youreally need to know.
If you're a member, you shouldprobably know these things
anyway, because somebodyprobably know these things
(19:12):
anyway, because somebody had totell you at some point.
Jerry Allhands (19:13):
So you just relay the information and you
know, see if that person isinterested in doing something
bigger than themselves, you know, doing a better work.
What's the um, what's theaverage dues?
Brandon Noe (19:17):
well, I mean everybody's got to pay a due
right.
Danny Baser (19:19):
Thirty dollars a year, I believe thirty dollars
yeah, it's fifteen dollars thathas to be paid to the state and
then $5 of that goes to national.
But it's actually different atdifferent posts.
Here at our post, we have athree-tier due system where
juniors are only $15.
Jerry Allhands (19:39):
And what constitutes a junior 18 and
under.
Okay.
Danny Baser (19:43):
That's what we do here.
18 and under is a junior andthat's a minimum $15.
$20 for veterans, who areeligible to be dual members and
$30 for our regular members.
Jerry Allhands (19:55):
Okay.
Danny Baser (19:55):
Now some other posts are different.
Some of them don't charge anyextra, they're just straight to
flat $15.
Some of them are $25.
We've got a few that are even$40.
Jerry Allhands (20:04):
You can't get supper for $30 anymore, so
that's pretty good, All right.
What is the between the threeof you?
What is probably the one eventthat you've done in the
community that stands out foryou the most?
Brandon Noe (20:20):
I think it has to be whenever we all run down to
the Veterans Hospital down inOxford and go down there and
spend time with those guys.
I think it has to be wheneverwe all run down to the Veterans
Hospital down in Oxford and godown there and spend time with
those guys.
And you know, was it last week?
Y'all went down and did karaoke.
I myself wasn't present, but Isaw pictures and heard stories
and they went down there andspent time with these guys that
(20:41):
you know.
Nobody else is going down thereand visiting them.
We'll go down there and cut upwith them and our gentlemen do
that.
Ladies and gentlemen here at thePost went down there, brought
snacks and, like I said, theyhad karaoke down there.
Everybody was just having agood time.
It means the world.
You know, it doesn't seem likemuch, but it means the world to
somebody that hasn't seen afriendly face in a while.
(21:03):
And we all need that, a littlebit of interaction, and I think
that, right, there is a reallybig one that's.
I mean, who else is doingsomething like that?
Jerry Allhands (21:13):
Right.
What was your impression of theVA home?
Brandon Noe (21:18):
Every time I've ever been to a VA home, it's sad
.
You just feel like the peoplethat are working there aren't.
They're just there for a check,you know, because most of these
there aren't just there for acheck, because most of these
guys aren't people, aren'tveterans, they're just there to
do a job and I feel like they'reunderpaid for some of it maybe,
and that's kind of a buster tomorale.
(21:40):
They're just not happy to bethere and of course things roll
downhill to be there and then ofcourse, things roll downhill
for the people that have to bethere end up getting less so
fine treatment with that firstimpression of, well, let's say,
staff, employees, whatever youwant to call it.
Jerry Allhands (22:00):
Do you think that's why it's so important for
people like yourselves to goand visit?
Danny Baser (22:06):
at the homes.
Jerry Allhands (22:06):
I, I think so.
Brandon Noe (22:08):
I do.
I think it makes a bigdifference.
I mean, just like with the Bethe One campaign, being one to
make a difference, well, you canbe one and many at the same
time and just show up with asmile on your face, and that
will make somebody's day better.
Jerry Allhands (22:22):
On your most recent visit to Oxford.
You're how many of theresidents there got involved
with what you were doing?
Were they able to come out andmeet you, or did you have to go
room to room?
How was it?
Phil Garcia (22:35):
Well, we had probably 20 to 30 that came and
sat around I would say more like20, brought in their
wheelchairs or however.
They could get into the meetingarea where we had the karaoke
going and all, and then somewould float in and out every
once in a while.
Some of the caretakers therewould bring them and they
(22:56):
wouldn't stay, but they wouldcome and it was just really a
blessing to see these peoplethat in some ways are
incapacitated, but yet when theyget in there and you start
entertaining them, their smileson their face, they wiggle in
their wheelchairs and, you know,do whatever they can.
That's what's really rewarding.
Jerry Allhands (23:17):
So your visit was very inspirational for the
residents, but what about thestaff?
Did it help improve theattitude?
Phil Garcia (23:25):
And I'm doing air quotes here for those who can't
see it I think it probably did,because we had quite a few of
them that came in with into thearea where we were doing the
karaoke.
We even had a few of themsaying some karaoke songs and we
got to interact with some ofthem.
We took gifts down for theveterans and, uh, it's just a
very rewarding thing to to dothat's great.
Jerry Allhands (23:48):
The um.
You know the, the VA home arenot institutions where you get
put in there.
The resident there requests togo there.
They have to fill out somepaperwork, they have to pay to
be there.
So we expect the staff to treatthem with respect and dignity
and to do their jobs.
And I'm glad you pointed thatout because, brandon, I visited
that home.
(24:08):
In fact I've been to all ofthem across the state because
Brandon and I I visited thathome.
In fact I've been to all ofthem across the state and I find
personally that the VA homesare much more amenable than a
lot of your private homes.
Yeah, okay For me personally, Iwould encourage and I and I hope
you will as well to encouragefamily members to visit often
(24:28):
anybody who's in a retirementhome or nursing home, or
whatever term they choose to use, because, just exactly like you
said, you're going to sit therefor 24 hours a day and unless
somebody interacts with you, youcan get really depressed, and
it goes the same way with peoplewho are working there.
Well, guys, I really appreciateyou being here today.
Is there anything else thatyou'd like to share about the
(24:50):
Sons of the American Legion thatwe've not talked about today?
Phil Garcia (24:53):
Well, the one thing that I was talking about why
you would want to be a son, andeverything I always point out to
them is if you have forefathersand people that served, what
better way to honor them intheir service?
I like that.
Jerry Allhands (25:08):
So where are you ?
Here in Nesbitt?
I mean, I'm we're, we're inthis, this room, you're above
the, uh, the american legionhall.
But where in nesbitt?
If I wanted to come and findyou, where would I go?
How, how would I get?
Brandon Noe (25:19):
here.
Easiest way is if you mostpeople come through on 55.
So if you get off at thenesbitt exit and turn towards
highway 51, go straight across51.
You dead end into the post.
Jerry Allhands (25:32):
You can't miss it that way.
Brandon Noe (25:33):
Yeah, you're dead straight into the front Buster
Keaton wall.
Jerry Allhands (25:36):
So for those of us who are, let's say,
physically challenged aboutfinding that right or that left
street, what's the streetaddress?
Danny Baser (25:45):
Do we know?
1505 Gwinn Nesbitt, mississippi, which is actually part of
Hernando?
Jerry Allhands (25:52):
You know, I did notice it as I was coming into
town.
There was a welcome to Hernando.
I'm like this is Nesbitt youknow.
Danny Baser (25:58):
Yeah, this is well.
Nesbitt is a small town, butwe're not incorporated, and so
when Hernando expanded theircity limits, they took us all in
here.
So, we're actually part ofHernando but we do have our
Nesbitt Post Office still existsjust up the road, but it's 1505
Gwynn Road, nesbitt,mississippi, 38651.
(26:19):
And we're open every day, Ithink, from 1 o'clock until
about 7, 8, or 9.
Trish Ward (26:24):
7 at least.
Danny Baser (26:25):
So if you have any questions about anything to do
with the Legion, you can come inand get a question asked to the
attendant down there andthey'll get the right person to
help you.
Jerry Allhands (26:36):
I like that.
Is there a phone number?
Danny Baser (26:38):
Yes, there is, I have it.
Brandon Noe (26:41):
I don't normally just call whoever I need to talk
to.
Jerry Allhands (26:47):
You know, back in the day when we were younger,
you knew your phone number, youknew everybody else's.
I got a cell phone.
Now I don't have to remembernumbers for anything.
Phil Garcia (26:55):
We do so much communication now, though,
between you know text messagingand everything, and some of the
older people that we come incontact with, they don't do that
, so you got to have a phonenumber there you go.
Danny Baser (27:08):
The number is 662-429-9020.
American Legion Post 1990.
Our official name is DeSotoPost 1990.
Jerry Allhands (27:19):
Your official name.
Danny Baser (27:19):
Okay, we got Buster Keaton on the front, but the
American Legion National Noticeis DeSoto Post 1990.
Jerry Allhands (27:26):
Phil, would you close us with a prayer?
Phil Garcia (27:28):
Lord, just be with us as we leave this meeting and
Lord, we thank you for thisopportunity to gather as free
people and Lord, we thank youfor the veterans that gave us
this opportunity and made thesacrifices for us to have these
opportunities.
Lord, just be with us as weleave, lead God and direct us,
give us safe passes wherever wemay travel.
(27:49):
These things we ask in Jesus'name for God and country, amen.
Amen.
Jerry Allhands (27:54):
And that was our visit with the Sons of the
American Legion at Post 1990 inNesbitt, mississippi.
Be sure to join us next Mondaymorning as we pay one last visit
to Nesbitt and hear from theAmerican Legion Auxiliary Unit
1990.
A very special thank you toJonathan Michael Fleming for his
musical talents.
You can find his CDs and videoson Spotify, amazon Music and
(28:18):
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
would like to become a supporterof this podcast, please send an
(28:39):
email to jdallhands atoutlookcom.
That's jdallhands at outlookcom, and we will get back to you as
soon as possible.
And we will get back to you assoon as possible.
This has been a production ofAll Hands Media LLC, with
offices in Rinalar, mississippi.
All Rights Reserved.
Brandon Noe (28:57):
Hard work, we're fired up.
Hard work everybody's on theplane.
Hard work we do it for play.
Hard work, it's what they say.
Hard work I earn my pay.
Hard work, work, hard work,hard work, Hard work I'm a pain.
Hard work, work, hard work,work, hard work, work.
This is the Veterans Sound Off Podcast.
I'm your host, Jerry Allhands,a veteran of the US Air Force
and Army and a Mississippi PastDepartment Commander of the
American Legion.
You're invited to join me as wetravel across the state of
Mississippi, visiting theAmerican Legion posts in each
community.
Together we'll get to know theAmerican Legion family,
(00:22):
including the American LegionAuxiliary, the Sons of the
American Legion and the LegionRiders.
As we travel the state we'llvisit with other groups and
organizations that are servingAmerica's veterans and their
families.
Last week we were in beautifulOxford, Mississippi, at the
State Veterans Home, where wesat down with American Legion
Auxiliary National PresidentTrish Ward, and before we get
(00:45):
into today's show, here is amoment of that conversation.
It means so much to me to haveyou here today and to have you
in Mississippi, and I knowyou've been here for several
days.
I hope you've enjoyed yourselfand we've treated you well and
hopefully you'll come back to us.
Trish Ward (00:59):
Thank you so much for that.
Yes, it's been an amazing 120days.
I was installed as nationalpresident at our convention in
New Orleans, louisiana, onAugust 28, 2024.
So I've been doing this nowjust about 120 days Plus.
I've traveled to 18 differentdepartments and, of course, here
(01:20):
in the American Legion familywe call our states departments,
so I've been to 18 states.
I've been three times to ournation's capital, which was
absolutely amazing, as I laid awreath of remembrance at the
Tomb of the Unknown
Jerry Allhands (01:36):
This week we return to Nesbitt in northwest
Mississippi to visit with theSons of the American Legion at
DeSoto County, Post 1990.
I'm in Nesbitt, Mississippi, atPost 1990.
It's the James Buster KeatonPost and it's a pleasure to be
here with three fine men todaywho are with the Sons of the
American Legion.
Phil Garcia (01:55):
My name is Phil Garcia and I am with the Post.
I guess you'd call the Adjutantfor the Sons, or Treasurer and
Past Commander for the sons atthe post and Chaplain for the
sons at this post also.
Jerry Allhands (02:13):
And center directly across from me is.
Brandon Noe (02:15):
My name is Brandon Noe, Squadron Commander at post
1990.
I kind of came in here flyingby the seat of my pants and
hopefully just plan to do somegood here with this squadron.
Jerry Allhands (02:30):
I like it, and to my far right is of course the
one and only Danny Bassett.
Danny Baser (02:37):
Baser.
Jerry Allhands (02:38):
Baser See that's why I do this.
Baser, say it right.
Actually I was the squadronadjutant and finance officer for
six years here prior to thesetwo guys.
Currently the detachmentadjutant for the Sons of
American Legion from MississippiStarted that in 2020, so been
(03:01):
doing that for about five yearsnow and I was the past
detachment commander for the 23year.
You've done it all I'm I'm donesome of it, yeah phil, would
you uh open this with a prayerand my heavenly father, we take
a moment to remember our pow'sand mia's, lord.
Phil Garcia (03:22):
We lift them up to you, we.
We lift our families up to you,lord.
We lift all the veteransserving wherever they may be,
serving, abroad or in thiscountry.
We lift up to you all of ourinjured, all of our sick, all of
our families who have lostloved ones in the service to our
country.
We pray that we have donethings that are pleasing and
(03:42):
bring honor to the AmericanLegion.
We ask these things in Jesus'name, for God and country, amen.
Jerry Allhands (03:48):
So Sons of the American Legion?
What is the Sons of theAmerican Legion?
Brandon Noe (03:52):
Well, to base back to history, back to 1990 in the
Paris Accords, the Sons of theAmerican Legion was founded by
veterans' children, of coursesons, obviously to help with the
veterans that came backoverseas that were wounded,
injured, because, let's be fair,the government didn't take care
of them at that time.
(04:13):
So the sons stepped into thepost to help, as well as with
the auxiliary, to support theveterans that come home wounded
or say they had family troublesor something.
They stepped in to help help.
And we try to continue thattradition today, which it is
getting a little more difficult.
The younger generation doesn'tnecessarily know about the sons
(04:36):
and we have to spread that wordso we can still keep these
activities going.
I mean, there's a lot of peoplethat need help and,
specifically in the veterancommunity, there's a lot of
people that won't ask for it.
So you kind of have to find itand that's where it all really
comes from is being able to stepup and do something about it.
Jerry Allhands (04:54):
And who can.
Who can join the sons what?
What makes a person eligiblefor it?
Brandon Noe (04:58):
All the way up to a great grandson.
Of course, currently it isstill male only, but grandson,
great-grandson, a son.
I don't think spouses areeligible.
Stepson, yeah, stepson, okay,and you do have to prove
eligibility, obviously throughDD-214 or if it's unavailable,
(05:24):
there's other ways that you canget information, like sending in
to, uh, st Louis, to theNational Archives, and get
information that way as wellright and if?
Jerry Allhands (05:34):
um?
Brandon Noe (05:35):
well, you said son grandson, great grandson, how
old uh well, my son is uh sevenyears old and he is a junior
member here at this post.
He does attend meetingssometimes and you know he's.
To me it's important that helearns uh how, how to give back
to his community, and I thinkmore people should do that.
(05:58):
It's, it's an upbringing.
It's lost.
Nowadays everybody wants toquick pacifier to the the kids
here's your video games, butlet's teach them something
important.
Jerry Allhands (06:09):
Give me an example of something important.
What do they do?
Brandon Noe (06:12):
Well, we have actually a veteran that is a
member of the Sons organizationwho will not ask for anything
and he's not doing so.
Well, when things get tight forhim, we all step up, pitch in
and we help him.
We do whatever he needs done.
When I leave here, I'm gonna gosee, I'm gonna go check on him.
(06:33):
Just nobody else is doing it.
Might as well get it done.
Give me an example.
So I know currently he istrying to fix his motorcycle,
but he has just had pretty heavysurgery and they're waiting on
the results back from that.
But he can't do anything andthis guy's always been so
(06:53):
independent.
Well, if I go over there and Isee what he's trying to do, I
can kind of take over for himand let him just tell me what he
wants done.
Get it done.
Or if we have somebody that say,say, they can't pay their bills
, they can't, they can't buygroceries, well, that's what we
raise money for.
We spend that money on that.
(07:13):
It's, you know, to helpveterans and our communities.
You know, and another big oneis the child welfare foundation
and bringing up money for that,which I believe the name was
changed to the Child Well-BeingFoundation Recently yeah, very
recently, but I mean raisingmoney for them so these kids can
get whatever they need, whetherit be clothes, education,
(07:36):
housing, food, toys Personally Idon't care.
Kids should always have whatthey need, and it's not their
fault that somebody else screwedup in life.
So let's help them out too.
Do everything you can with whatyou can, and if you feel like
you can't do anything, you'rewrong.
There's always something youcan do.
Danny Baser (07:55):
Something else, Jerry, just what he was talking
about.
The guy that we're going tovisit today Brandon wasn't here
then, but this very same fellowa few years ago had a serious
surgery and could not get aroundand we donated a wheelchair to
him and we went to his house andbuilt him a walk ramp, spent
(08:16):
the whole Saturday and built theramp and repaired his back
steps and and did all that forhim.
So wow, okay, Okay.
Jerry Allhands (08:25):
How many people show up to an event like that
building the ramp, anything?
Danny Baser (08:28):
like that In the past.
We've usually had probablyanywhere from 8 to 10.
I think that day helping thereabout 8 to 10 of us.
Jerry Allhands (08:37):
Mm-hmm, how do you raise the funds for these
events?
Danny Baser (08:43):
Well, we do have some donations, but in the past
we used to do fundraisers.
Every year we uh, for the past,uh, about seven years now,
we've been doing a chilicook-off in february.
Uh, we've raised at, we'veraised at that event.
One event, our high, all-timehigh, was close to six thousand
dollars, wow and uh.
So we've raised money there.
(09:04):
We've had, you know, doingcooks here at the Post, burger
cooks, you know, just raisingmoney that way.
We've also had a few other,just, you know, charity events,
you know, just to raise money.
We do auctions.
You know we've gone andcollected lots of items, donated
(09:24):
items, bought some items and dosome auctions there.
We've done raffles, you know,and so we've raised money and
collected and stayed funded todo these things.
Jerry Allhands (09:35):
So the funds that are raised, that comes
strictly from y'all raising themoney or out of your own
personal pockets to go back,personal pockets to go back and
does.
Is there, I guess what I'mlooking for is is there anything
that you do in the communitythat is not for veterans?
Brandon Noe (09:55):
that's not for the children of veterans, it can be.
I mean, sometimes we will do,you know, like rides to go to
different, you know, justchecking on people, cause I
believe, uh, uh, the gentlemanwe're going to see today is not
a veteran, right.
Danny Baser (10:10):
I'm going to check on boots.
Yeah, he's not.
He's not a veteran, he's amember, he's a member of Sons
Okay.
Brandon Noe (10:16):
So I mean it's just checking in on people and being
being a voice of reason or evenjust somebody to listen to you,
if you even just somebody tolisten to you, if you're having
a bad day, sometimes that's allit takes to you know, kind of
make a difference in someone'slife is just be there to listen.
Sure, I mean what's thecampaign for the American Legion
?
Jerry Allhands (10:33):
Be the one, be the one and there's a phone
number for that, be the one.
Brandon Noe (10:36):
There absolutely is , we're talking about the
subject, that's 988.
Jerry Allhands (10:41):
And if you're not familiar with it, be
familiar with it.
Be the one is something you'regoing to hear about just about
every time we have one of thesepodcasts, and it is a I'm not
going to say suicide awareness,because it's much more than that
.
It's much more than that.
It's an opportunity for someoneto call and just, you know, hey
, I need to vent, I need to getthis off my chest, I need some
help or I just need an ear, youknow, and 988 is something where
(11:05):
, if a vet calls up, um, I thinkyou press the button number one
and it goes straight to aveteran you know somebody will
understand your situation.
But back to the sal, the sons ofthe american legion.
Um, what, how many members doyou have in your local?
Brandon Noe (11:19):
I believe we're at 50 54 yeah, I think so.
Danny Baser (11:22):
Yeah 54 members.
Phil Garcia (11:25):
Well, just signed up two more.
Brandon Noe (11:27):
Oh, 56, then Wow, and I think I'm signing one up
tomorrow.
Danny Baser (11:31):
Okay, three of them are juniors under 18.
Jerry Allhands (11:36):
Steadily growing .
Danny Baser (11:37):
Yeah.
Jerry Allhands (11:37):
I like that, All right.
And what would a veteran?
Or the child or stepchild of aveteran?
Why would they want to join theSAO?
What would entice me to comeand become a member?
Brandon Noe (11:52):
Well, you get to learn more about.
You know what your father oryour mother did, you know for
our country.
You get to learn what they dofor your community.
You get to learn there'shistory involved in it.
You get to learn order anddiscipline.
Then there's other benefits toit, like there are the American
Legion, college scholarships,there is Boys State Legion,
(12:14):
baseball programs.
There's so many differentthings that a child can actually
go do later in life with it.
And should they decide that theywant to be more of a member in
the Legion and continue forwardor say they become a veteran
when they get back out, they cantake that much like Danny here
has taken it and you have and goto state and do real good work
(12:38):
for these people.
So you're teaching themsomething that's bigger than
oneself and I think that's veryimportant in youth these days
which, again, like I say it,just gets cast back, you know,
to the back burner, becauseeverybody's like oh, let's just
give them something to be quiet.
No, I want them heard.
I want to hear the youth oftoday.
(12:59):
It's important because they'renot like we were.
Yeah, you know I I just readthis morning where some woman
was arrested for letting her kidwalk a mile down the road when
he's 10.
When I was 10 years old, I usedto disappear into the woods all
day.
Hey, you better be home when itgets dark that was the rule be
home for dark, you know and ifyou weren't there dark, you
better have some fish you know,another thing is just
(13:21):
camaraderie yeah and friendshipand family.
Danny Baser (13:24):
You know we've had people come in that are just
kind of lonely.
You know they're eligible andthey come in and oh, I like it
here.
You know, well, come join us.
You know, be a brother, and soa lot of it's just that too.
Jerry Allhands (13:39):
So give me an example of what a typical
meeting is like for the SAL.
Brandon Noe (13:42):
Well, we'll start off talking.
You know, first things first isPledge of Allegiance.
Then we'll have our prayer, ledby our chaplain, of course, and
we'll call everything to order,talk about our finances, how
much we have raised, how much wehave spent, let us know what
our final number is, and thenwe'll go uh into old business,
kind of reminding people what wespoke about at the last meeting
(14:02):
, uh events that have happenedin between the last meeting and
now, and some events from beforethe last meeting.
You know, should they be deemedimportant, then we'll talk
about new business and open upthe floor to anybody who has an
idea, a thought, or evensomebody who just wants to
change something.
(14:23):
Somebody needs somebody thathas.
You know you find somebody thatneeds help.
You know you can bringeverything to the table so that
we may all talk about it.
If you're silent, you have novoice.
You have to talk, right.
Right right, so, and then, oncewe get through that point, then
we'll have our closing prayerand close down the meeting.
Jerry Allhands (14:43):
And the meeting lasts typically how long?
Brandon Noe (14:44):
About an hour, usually Hour, hour and a half,
depending on what's on the table.
Jerry Allhands (14:50):
Yeah, well, let's say that you become aware
that somebody has an issue thatneeds some help with.
How is their paperwork?
Is the name brought up?
Is it voted on?
I mean, how do you come to aconclusion that we're going to
go help Joe down the street here?
Brandon Noe (15:03):
Everything comes to a majority vote.
When somebody needs some help,or whatever it may be, we bring
it to the membership, we talkabout it.
Then we'll raise it to a vote.
If the majority rules that thevote is good and that's what we
want to do, then we do it right.
Then and there.
If it's funding, our adjutantwill take care of the money
(15:24):
there and get it set where itneeds to go.
And if it's some work thatneeds to be done, we see who
wants to volunteer and go do thework and God bless them for it.
You know we need the help.
It's always good to step uplike that.
Jerry Allhands (15:39):
Okay, how long have you been in the SAO?
Brandon Noe (15:43):
Coming up on two years.
This is my first year as acommander and it's still a
learning curve.
There's a lot more to it thanI'd imagined, but I think I'm
doing okay.
Jerry Allhands (15:54):
Sounds like it.
What do you think?
Danny Baser (15:56):
He has some learning to do.
Brandon Noe (15:57):
He has some learning to do.
Danny Baser (15:58):
I definitely have that, but he's doing a very good
job yeah he's doing a good jobbecause he's the only one who
stepped up for it.
Jerry Allhands (16:04):
No, because he's the only one who stepped up for
it, so he wasn't volunteeredinto the position.
Danny Baser (16:09):
He volunteered for it, all right.
Jerry Allhands (16:12):
Sounds great.
I've enjoyed what he's saying.
He sounds very knowledgeableand that's a great thing to do.
Brandon Noe (16:17):
There's between knowledge and what you can pick
up in a book.
Jerry Allhands (16:20):
Ah, so there you go, training.
How do you get trained in theSAL?
Is there a class that you go to?
Brandon Noe (16:26):
There was so so training.
How do you get trained in theSAL?
Is there a class that you go to?
There was, so you have yourbasic training course at
legionorg.
I took that and that's where Ilearned a lot of the history and
what they have done over time.
And then, of course, talking topast commanders and, of course,
danny here and Phil, takingeverybody's experience and
taking notes from that and doingwhat they did.
(16:48):
That worked.
Jerry Allhands (16:49):
As long as it works, hey, don't fix it if it
ain't broke right there you gowell, like the American Legion
has training Tuesdays, does theSAL have the same kind of a
thing where you go online andget trained?
Danny Baser (17:00):
some of those training.
Some of those trainings applyto the SAL.
Some of that applies to the SALNot all of it does, but some of
it does and we do getinvitations to go to it.
Sometimes it's not communicatedreal well, but some of that
training does apply to us.
Jerry Allhands (17:18):
And with the training that the state offers,
that we've done in the past.
You guys are always welcome toattend that.
Danny Baser (17:24):
That's true.
That's true.
A lot of the training there foradjutants and commanders
applies to the sal.
The structure of the sal ispretty much the same as the uh,
the legion structure you know so, uh, a lot of it does same
apply right and phil.
Jerry Allhands (17:39):
How long have you been with the sal?
Phil Garcia (17:42):
uh about eight years seven.
Danny Baser (17:47):
I think you're six or seven.
Phil Garcia (17:50):
Seven.
Jerry Allhands (17:51):
Seven years yeah .
Danny Baser (17:52):
I'm eight years, and I think you're right at six.
Jerry Allhands (17:56):
Are any of the three of you veterans as well?
No, no.
Danny Baser (17:59):
No, none of us are veterans.
Jerry Allhands (18:00):
Well then.
Danny Baser (18:04):
Actually, in our 55 members we got.
I think we got at least 12 or13 dual members Okay.
Jerry Allhands (18:10):
All right.
And how do you go aboutrecruiting a new member?
They just come up to you on thestreet and say, hey, I want to
join, or how do you do it?
Brandon Noe (18:18):
Well, I think it's because we are seen in public a
lot.
Of course, we go to differentevents and fundraisers for other
organizations as well, like theCVMA or the what is the CVMA?
Combat Veterans MotorcycleAssociation.
There's a bunch of vets thatlike to ride or we'll do other
fundraisers for the what is it?
Phil Garcia (18:41):
called VFW, vfw Okay.
Brandon Noe (18:44):
And people will see you in public.
If you do a poker run, for thateverybody's wearing their vest
and it's got your name and sonsand all that kind of stuff on it
and they ask well, what is this, am I eligible?
Then you can answer questionsright then and there, as long as
you're knowledgeable enoughabout it.
But it's not too much that youreally need to know.
If you're a member, you shouldprobably know these things
anyway, because somebodyprobably know these things
(19:12):
anyway, because somebody had totell you at some point.
Jerry Allhands (19:13):
So you just relay the information and you
know, see if that person isinterested in doing something
bigger than themselves, you know, doing a better work.
What's the um, what's theaverage dues?
Brandon Noe (19:17):
well, I mean everybody's got to pay a due
right.
Danny Baser (19:19):
Thirty dollars a year, I believe thirty dollars
yeah, it's fifteen dollars thathas to be paid to the state and
then $5 of that goes to national.
But it's actually different atdifferent posts.
Here at our post, we have athree-tier due system where
juniors are only $15.
Jerry Allhands (19:39):
And what constitutes a junior 18 and
under.
Okay.
Danny Baser (19:43):
That's what we do here.
18 and under is a junior andthat's a minimum $15.
$20 for veterans, who areeligible to be dual members and
$30 for our regular members.
Jerry Allhands (19:55):
Okay.
Danny Baser (19:55):
Now some other posts are different.
Some of them don't charge anyextra, they're just straight to
flat $15.
Some of them are $25.
We've got a few that are even$40.
Jerry Allhands (20:04):
You can't get supper for $30 anymore, so
that's pretty good, All right.
What is the between the threeof you?
What is probably the one eventthat you've done in the
community that stands out foryou the most?
Brandon Noe (20:20):
I think it has to be whenever we all run down to
the Veterans Hospital down inOxford and go down there and
spend time with those guys.
I think it has to be wheneverwe all run down to the Veterans
Hospital down in Oxford and godown there and spend time with
those guys.
And you know, was it last week?
Y'all went down and did karaoke.
I myself wasn't present, but Isaw pictures and heard stories
and they went down there andspent time with these guys that
(20:41):
you know.
Nobody else is going down thereand visiting them.
We'll go down there and cut upwith them and our gentlemen do
that.
Ladies and gentlemen here at thePost went down there, brought
snacks and, like I said, theyhad karaoke down there.
Everybody was just having agood time.
It means the world.
You know, it doesn't seem likemuch, but it means the world to
somebody that hasn't seen afriendly face in a while.
(21:03):
And we all need that, a littlebit of interaction, and I think
that, right, there is a reallybig one that's.
I mean, who else is doingsomething like that?
Jerry Allhands (21:13):
Right.
What was your impression of theVA home?
Brandon Noe (21:18):
Every time I've ever been to a VA home, it's sad
.
You just feel like the peoplethat are working there aren't.
They're just there for a check,you know, because most of these
there aren't just there for acheck, because most of these
guys aren't people, aren'tveterans, they're just there to
do a job and I feel like they'reunderpaid for some of it maybe,
and that's kind of a buster tomorale.
(21:40):
They're just not happy to bethere and of course things roll
downhill to be there and then ofcourse, things roll downhill
for the people that have to bethere end up getting less so
fine treatment with that firstimpression of, well, let's say,
staff, employees, whatever youwant to call it.
Jerry Allhands (22:00):
Do you think that's why it's so important for
people like yourselves to goand visit?
Danny Baser (22:06):
at the homes.
Jerry Allhands (22:06):
I, I think so.
Brandon Noe (22:08):
I do.
I think it makes a bigdifference.
I mean, just like with the Bethe One campaign, being one to
make a difference, well, you canbe one and many at the same
time and just show up with asmile on your face, and that
will make somebody's day better.
Jerry Allhands (22:22):
On your most recent visit to Oxford.
You're how many of theresidents there got involved
with what you were doing?
Were they able to come out andmeet you, or did you have to go
room to room?
How was it?
Phil Garcia (22:35):
Well, we had probably 20 to 30 that came and
sat around I would say more like20, brought in their
wheelchairs or however.
They could get into the meetingarea where we had the karaoke
going and all, and then somewould float in and out every
once in a while.
Some of the caretakers therewould bring them and they
(22:56):
wouldn't stay, but they wouldcome and it was just really a
blessing to see these peoplethat in some ways are
incapacitated, but yet when theyget in there and you start
entertaining them, their smileson their face, they wiggle in
their wheelchairs and, you know,do whatever they can.
That's what's really rewarding.
Jerry Allhands (23:17):
So your visit was very inspirational for the
residents, but what about thestaff?
Did it help improve theattitude?
Phil Garcia (23:25):
And I'm doing air quotes here for those who can't
see it I think it probably did,because we had quite a few of
them that came in with into thearea where we were doing the
karaoke.
We even had a few of themsaying some karaoke songs and we
got to interact with some ofthem.
We took gifts down for theveterans and, uh, it's just a
very rewarding thing to to dothat's great.
Jerry Allhands (23:48):
The um.
You know the, the VA home arenot institutions where you get
put in there.
The resident there requests togo there.
They have to fill out somepaperwork, they have to pay to
be there.
So we expect the staff to treatthem with respect and dignity
and to do their jobs.
And I'm glad you pointed thatout because, brandon, I visited
that home.
(24:08):
In fact I've been to all ofthem across the state because
Brandon and I I visited thathome.
In fact I've been to all ofthem across the state and I find
personally that the VA homesare much more amenable than a
lot of your private homes.
Yeah, okay For me personally, Iwould encourage and I and I hope
you will as well to encouragefamily members to visit often
(24:28):
anybody who's in a retirementhome or nursing home, or
whatever term they choose to use, because, just exactly like you
said, you're going to sit therefor 24 hours a day and unless
somebody interacts with you, youcan get really depressed, and
it goes the same way with peoplewho are working there.
Well, guys, I really appreciateyou being here today.
Is there anything else thatyou'd like to share about the
(24:50):
Sons of the American Legion thatwe've not talked about today?
Phil Garcia (24:53):
Well, the one thing that I was talking about why
you would want to be a son, andeverything I always point out to
them is if you have forefathersand people that served, what
better way to honor them intheir service?
I like that.
Jerry Allhands (25:08):
So where are you ?
Here in Nesbitt?
I mean, I'm we're, we're inthis, this room, you're above
the, uh, the american legionhall.
But where in nesbitt?
If I wanted to come and findyou, where would I go?
How, how would I get?
Brandon Noe (25:19):
here.
Easiest way is if you mostpeople come through on 55.
So if you get off at thenesbitt exit and turn towards
highway 51, go straight across51.
You dead end into the post.
Jerry Allhands (25:32):
You can't miss it that way.
Brandon Noe (25:33):
Yeah, you're dead straight into the front Buster
Keaton wall.
Jerry Allhands (25:36):
So for those of us who are, let's say,
physically challenged aboutfinding that right or that left
street, what's the streetaddress?
Danny Baser (25:45):
Do we know?
1505 Gwinn Nesbitt, mississippi, which is actually part of
Hernando?
Jerry Allhands (25:52):
You know, I did notice it as I was coming into
town.
There was a welcome to Hernando.
I'm like this is Nesbitt youknow.
Danny Baser (25:58):
Yeah, this is well.
Nesbitt is a small town, butwe're not incorporated, and so
when Hernando expanded theircity limits, they took us all in
here.
So, we're actually part ofHernando but we do have our
Nesbitt Post Office still existsjust up the road, but it's 1505
Gwynn Road, nesbitt,mississippi, 38651.
(26:19):
And we're open every day, Ithink, from 1 o'clock until
about 7, 8, or 9.
Trish Ward (26:24):
7 at least.
Danny Baser (26:25):
So if you have any questions about anything to do
with the Legion, you can come inand get a question asked to the
attendant down there andthey'll get the right person to
help you.
Jerry Allhands (26:36):
I like that.
Is there a phone number?
Danny Baser (26:38):
Yes, there is, I have it.
Brandon Noe (26:41):
I don't normally just call whoever I need to talk
to.
Jerry Allhands (26:47):
You know, back in the day when we were younger,
you knew your phone number, youknew everybody else's.
I got a cell phone.
Now I don't have to remembernumbers for anything.
Phil Garcia (26:55):
We do so much communication now, though,
between you know text messagingand everything, and some of the
older people that we come incontact with, they don't do that
, so you got to have a phonenumber there you go.
Danny Baser (27:08):
The number is 662-429-9020.
American Legion Post 1990.
Our official name is DeSotoPost 1990.
Jerry Allhands (27:19):
Your official name.
Danny Baser (27:19):
Okay, we got Buster Keaton on the front, but the
American Legion National Noticeis DeSoto Post 1990.
Jerry Allhands (27:26):
Phil, would you close us with a prayer?
Phil Garcia (27:28):
Lord, just be with us as we leave this meeting and
Lord, we thank you for thisopportunity to gather as free
people and Lord, we thank youfor the veterans that gave us
this opportunity and made thesacrifices for us to have these
opportunities.
Lord, just be with us as weleave, lead God and direct us,
give us safe passes wherever wemay travel.
(27:49):
These things we ask in Jesus'name for God and country, amen.
Amen.
Jerry Allhands (27:54):
And that was our visit with the Sons of the
American Legion at Post 1990 inNesbitt, mississippi.
Be sure to join us next Mondaymorning as we pay one last visit
to Nesbitt and hear from theAmerican Legion Auxiliary Unit
1990.
A very special thank you toJonathan Michael Fleming for his
musical talents.
You can find his CDs and videoson Spotify, amazon Music and
(28:18):
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
would like to become a supporterof this podcast, please send an
(28:39):
email to jdallhands atoutlookcom.
That's jdallhands at outlookcom, and we will get back to you as
soon as possible.
And we will get back to you assoon as possible.
This has been a production ofAll Hands Media LLC, with
offices in Rinalar, mississippi.
All Rights Reserved.
Brandon Noe (28:57):
Hard work, we're fired up.
Hard work everybody's on theplane.
Hard work we do it for play.
Hard work, it's what they say.
Hard work I earn my pay.
Hard work, work, hard work,hard work, Hard work I'm a pain.
Hard work, work, hard work,work, hard work, work.
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