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The Homecoming for South Dakota American Legion State Commander Wayne "Red" Vetter, hosted by Hunt-Newell American Legion Post #213 in Cresbard, on Saturday, August 9, 2003 has been declared an enormous success. Attendance was estimated at 350-400. Legionnaires, Auxiliary and SAL members from across the state, along with the local Cresbard populace, joined forces on Saturday to participate in the celebration.

Lt. Col. Jon Spangler, USAF Reserve, a native of Faulkton, was the guest speaker. Lt. Col. Spangler saw duty as a special mission pilot at Andrews AFB, flying Air Force Two and was on duty at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 when it was attacked by terrorists. He recalled for those in attendance, how Commander Vetter had watched out for him when he was growing up. Lt. Col. Spangler remarked that although he had met and talked with a lot of very important and influential people, such as Vice Presidents, Senators, Cabinet members, actors, singers, etc, his "heroes are pig farmers, truck drivers, boxing coaches, cattle ranchers, dairy farmers, mechanics, small town bankers and businessmen and officers of the law." He went on to say, "My heroes are people who give of themselves to support a cause worthy of their talents. My heroes are people like Red Vetter."

Adjutant Ron Boyd, who served as Master of Ceremonies for the program, read congratulatory messages from Senator Tim Johnson and Congressman Bill Janklow. A representative from Senator Daschle's office was present to read a congratulatory message from the Senate Minority Leader.

Attendees also heard congratulatory remarks from South Dakota American Legion Auxiliary President Irene Sears of Rapid City, Commander of the South Dakota American Legion Detachment of the Sons of The American Legion John Dewell of Pierre and President of the South Dakota Junior American Legion Auxiliary Lindsey Dolan of Beresford.

One of the main events during the program was the turn-in of membership by the Posts in conjunction with the first National Membership Target Date. Department Headquarters tallied the membership turn-in at the event at just a little over 1,600 members. This turn-in of membership pushed the Department over the 35% Target Date goal set by National.

Thank you to all who worked so hard to help make our goal for this important target date. 

Department Commander Wayne "Red" Vetter has announced that Midwinter 2004 will be held in Chamberlain/Oacoma at the Cedar Shore Resort.

The event will commence Friday, February 6, 2004 and run through Sunday, February 8, 2004.

Confirmation has been received from National Headquarters that the National Commander of The American Legion will be in attendance for the three-day event.

Plans thus far are that the three-day event will closely follow the schedule of events for the 2003 Midwinter. The Administrative and Executive Committee meetings will be scheduled for Friday, February 6. The Go-Getters functions will be held on Friday evening, February 6 and the Joint Legion/Auxiliary Banquet will be Saturday evening, February 7.

A wide variety of breakout sessions are being planned for the day on Saturday.

The hotel has been instructed, by State Headquarters, that no one is to be allowed to reserve more than 2 rooms when calling for reservations. If you are informed of this restriction by the hotel staff, don't complain to them, contact State Headquarters. The hotel staff are only doing what they were instructed to do when we contracted with them. 

Department Commander Wayne "Red" Vetter has announced the schedule for the 2003 Fall District Conferences. The schedule is as follows:

Dist. 1 - Friday, Sept. 26, Garretson Post #23

Dist. 2 - To Be Announced

Dist. 3 - Thursday, Sept. 25, Raymond Post #209

Dist. 4 - Thursday, Sept. 18, Wilmot Community Center

Dist. 5 - Saturday, Sept. 20, Refield Post #92

Dist. 6 - Sunday, Sept. 21, Artesian Post #47

Dist. 7 - Sunday, Sept. 28, Avon Post #150

Dist. 8 - Thursday, Sept. 11, Witten Post #167

Dist. 9 - Saturday, Sept. 12, Philip Post #173

Dist. 10 - Saturday, Sept. 13, Highmore City Hall

Dist. 11 - Friday, Sept. 5, Bison Post #255

Dist. 12 - Saturday, Sept. 6, Spearfish Senior Center

Dist. 13 - Sunday, Sept. 7, Hill City Continental Café

Dist. 14 - Friday, Sept. 19, Frederick Post #273 

Past Department Commander Robert C. "Bob" Gabrielson who passed away, Sunday, August 3, 2003 in the Chamberlain Hospital was laid to rest, Friday, August 8, 2003 at Black Hills National Cemetery. Wake and funeral services were held at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Hoven on August 6 and 7, respectively.

PDC Gabrielson served The American Legion for 58 years with dedication and devotion. He served as Commander of John J. Peters Post Nr. 159 in Hoven, Potter County Commander, District 10 Commander, Department Assistant Adjutant 1954-1957, Department Vice Commander 1970-1971, Department Commander 1971-1972 and National Vice Commander 1982-83. He subsequently served as Chairman of the National Aerospace Committee for several years. Gabrielson also served for many years as a member of the Board of Directors for SD American Legion Boys State and as the counselor in charge of Journalism City.

PDC Gabrielson further served the veterans of South Dakota as the South Dakota American Legion Legislative Lobbyist from 1972 to 1996 and as a member and Chairman of the South Dakota State Veterans Commission. His service on the South Dakota Veterans Commission spanned 28 years from 1968 to 1997.

PDC Gabrielson celebrated his 78^th birthday on July 7, 2003 and was an active member of The American Legion for 58 years.

Cards and memorials may be sent to PDC Gabrielsons widow, Jackie, at PO Box 217, Hoven, SD 57450-0217. 

Enclosed with this Up To Now! is a Post-by-Post and District-by-District composite of the membership standings at the Commander's Homecoming Target Date.

Three Posts are the initial winners in the 2004 membership awards program. These three Posts have all met or exceeded their 2004 membership goals. The winning Posts are:

• Pukwana Post #201 - 111.1 percent of goal
• Allen Post #317 - 105.26 percent of goal
• Witten Post #167 - 104 percent of goal
• Claremont Post #262 - 102.99 percent of goal
• Rosholt Post #48 - 100% of goal
• Virgil Post #268 - 100% of goal

District 7 Commander Merle Stone of Wagner had the District with the highest percentage of 2004 membership turned in by the Commander's Homecoming. District 7 had 1,249 members, or 53.28% of its 2,344 member assigned goal.

District 3 Commander Wolfgang Migge was in second place with 52.47 percent, followed by District 14 Commander Tom Jurek with 52.16 percent.

The appropriate awards will be presented in February, 2004 during the Midwinter Conference at the Cedar Shore Resort in Chamberlain/Oacoma.

2004 membership stands at 12,001 or 45.09 percent of goal. 

The following 16 Posts have not yet certified or have discrepancies in their certification document:

Harrisburg Post #45*, Renner Post #307, Parker Post #30*, Aurora Post #230*, Roslyn Post #253*, Rosebud Post #125, St. Francis Post #297, Parmelee Post #295, Mission Post #287*, Bullhead Post #82, Little Eagle Post #239*, Faith Post #106*, New Underwood Post #256, Pine Ridge Post #251, Oglala Post #321, and Manderson Post #302*.

An asterisk (*) indicates that the Post has certified its officers, but there is a discrepancy in the information provided. Those Posts have been contacted and advised of the discrepancy. 

South Dakota American Legion Baseball fans have witnessed a great deal of baseball action since the last edition of the Up To Now! was distributed. At press time two weeks ago the State "B" Tournament was just starting in Parkston. Since then, both the State "B" and the State Championship Tournament have been completed.

In the State "B" Tournament in Parkston, the team from Freeman Post #248 emerged victorious and carried home the State "B" Championship Title. Parkston Post #194 came in as the State "B" Runner-Up.

Individual game scores for the State "B" were as follows: Game #1-Freeman 8 - Dell Rapids 6, Game #2-Vermillion 9 - Miller/Wessington 11, Game #3-Winner/Colome 12 - Milbank 8, Game #4-Groton 8 - Parkston 7, Game #5-Milbank 11 - Dell Rapids 1, Game #6-Parkston 16 - Vermillion 4, Game #7- Freeman 23 - Winner/Colome 6, Game #8-Groton 13 - Miller/Wessington 16, Game #9-Winner/ Colome 10 - Parkston 14, Game #10-Groton 8 - Milbank 18, Game #11- Miller/ Wessington 10 - Freeman 20, Game #12-Miller Wessington 2 - Parkston 7, Game #13-Milbank 11 - Freeman 7, Game #14-Milbank 0 - Parkston 5, Game #15-Freeman 7 - Parkston 0.

The Tournament Player of the Year Trophy was awarded to Travis Lester of Milbank. The Big Stick Award went to Dustin Schrader of Winner/Colome with a batting average of .642. The Porter T. Talcott Sportsmanship Award was presented to the team from Miller/ Wessington. Freeman chose to advance to the South Dakota American Legion State Championship Tournament in Pierre. Runner-up Parkston will participate in The American Legion Central Plains Division II National Tournament in Viroqua, Wisconsin, August 14-17.

In State Championship Tournament play in Pierre, Sioux Falls West, sponsored by Sioux Falls Post #15 emerged as the 2003 State American Legion Baseball Champions while Rapid City Post #22 placed second.

Individual games in the State Championship were as follows: Game #1-Freeman 5 - Brookings 4, Game #2-Spearfish 2 - Sioux Falls West 12, Game #3-Rapid City Post #22 4 - Aberdeen 2, Game #4-Yankton 5 - Pierre 13, Game #5-Aberdeen 6 - Brookings 1, Game #6-Spearfish 3 - Yankton 6, Game #7-Rapid City Post #22 11- Freeman 0, Game #8-Sioux Falls West 9 - Pierre 5, Game #9-Freeman 3 - Yankton 9, Game #10-Aberdeen 5 - Pierre 7, Game #11-Rapid City Post #22 2- Sioux Falls West 6, Game #12-Rapid City Post #22 7 - Pierre 4, Game #13-Yankton 3 - Sioux Falls West 13, Game #14-Rapid City Post #22 10 - Sioux Falls West 11.

The Tournament Player of the Year Trophy was awarded to Corey Benson of Sioux Falls West. The Big Stick Award went to Justin Rippentrop of Sioux Falls West with a batting average of .684. The Porter T. Talcott Sprotsmanship Award was presented to the team from Yankton.

Sioux Falls West now advances to The American Legion National Regional, Central Plains Region 6 Tournament in Ne Ulm, Minnesota. That tournament will be played August 14-18, 2003 at Johnson Field in New Ulm. Sioux Falls West, representing South Dakota will compete against the State American Legion Champions from Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and Wisconsin.

The winning team from the Central Plains Region 6 Tournament will advance to The American Legion World Series which will be held August 22-26 at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. 

Several Posts are sending 2004 memberships to State Headquarters in Watertown with incorrect funds for the number of membership cards submitted.

The required disbursement to State Headquarters for membership dues in The American Legion is $19.00 per member. $10.00 is retained by the Department and $9.00 is forwarded to National.

There is a chart in The 2003-2004 Post Adjutant's Administrative and Awards Manual that shows you exactly how much money must be sent for 1 to 100 members. If you are unsure of the amount to send, please consult this chart.