Commander’s Comments - February 2026
Commander's Comments
I am very proud of such a great organization, I am equally proud of the officers and membership as well. It is important to acknowledge Claude Hessel our most recent commander and indeed the fine leadership he provided ...
So now we embark on a new beginning, facing challenges ahead, let us resolve to give our Legion," Our Post" our best efforts to aid and help our veterans ... This is at least my goal as your Commander.
Commander’s Comments - January 2026
On Tuesday, 6 January, at 4:30 PM, we will gather upstairs for our Executive Board/General Meeting. A Really Great Guy ... Dave Craigen, will take over as our New Commander. Dave was in the U.S. Air Force from August 1963 to August 1967. He graduated from Chico State and he worked as a manager for State Parks and Recreation for 5 years. Dave will start as Commander on 6 January 2026. He's very sharp, and will do a great Job!
The same day, Tuesday, 6 January, just after our Meeting, at 6:00 PM, our Auxiliary will host a Dinner, with Sausage Casserole, Green Beans, Salad, Bread and Dessert... for only $15. Call (530) 278-5343 for reservations. The Bar will be open at 5:00 PM. Karaoke happens on the 2nd and 4th Sundays, from 1:00 to 5:00 PM, in the Bunker Bar, with Larry Nicholl hosting it. We take a $5 donation at the door.
All for now ...
Claude
Commander’s Comments - December 2025
On Tuesday, 2 December, at 4:30 PM, we will gather upstairs for our Executive Board/General Meeting.
The same day [2 December], just after our Meeting at 6:00 PM, our Auxiliary will host a Dinner, with Pork Tenderloin, Cranberry, Glazed Carrots, Baked Potatoes, Salad & Dessert... for only $15. The Bar will be open at 5:00 PM.
On Saturday, 13 December, at 5:00 PM, we will have a "Country Christmas Hoedown Dance, featuring "Let The Horses Run" Band, upstairs in the Auditorium, for $15 at the door. Music begins at 6:00 PM, with dancing until 9:00 PM.
Karaoke happens on the 2nd and 4th Sundays, from 1:00 to 5:00 PM, in the Bunker Bar, with Larry Nicholl hosting it. We take a $5 donation at the door.
All for now ...
Claude
Commander’s Comments - November 2025
Our Executive Board and General Meeting will be held at 4:30 PM, Tuesday, 4 November, in the Remembrance Room, upstairs.
Our Auxiliary will put on a Spaghetti Dinner, with garlic bread, salad and desert, for only $15, Tuesday, 4 November, at 6:00 PM ... The door will open at 5:00. Kathy Madeiros, a great cook, will prepare it. Call and leave a message at: (530) 278-5343. See you there.
On Veterans Day, at 8:00 AM, Tuesday, 11 November, our Auxiliary will provide Breakfast, downstairs, for $10, FREE to Veterans, in the Grass Valley Veterans Building.
Our Veterans Day Program will follow, at 10:00 AM, upstairs, in the Auditorium. We're planning on having the Vice Mayor of Grass Valley, Haven Caravelli, speak. Our U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran, Tom Munroe, will speak. We will have the Nevada Union High School Band, Michael Baker will sing The American Trilogy, and Donna Mattson will sing "God Bless America," and a medley of Service songs.
Come out and enjoy it.
All for now ...
Claude
Commander’s Comments - October 2025
Our Executive Board will be meeting upstairs, in the Grass Valley Vets Building at 4:30 PM, on Tuesday, 7 October. Our Auxiliary will be serving Dinner at 6:00 PM.
Our Auxiliary will be serving Breakfast in the Grass Valley Vets Building on Veterans Day, Tuesday, at 8:00 AM, on 11 November. We will be having our Veterans Day Program upstairs, in the auditorium, at 10:00 AM.
Commander’s Comments - September 2025
Our Executive Board and General Meeting will be held at 4:00pm on Tuesday, 2 September, in the Remembrance Room, upstairs.
Our Auxillary will put on a Dinner [of] beef lasagna rolls, salad, garlic bread, and dessert for on $15 [per person]. Tuesday, 2 Spetember at 6:00pm. The door will open at 5:00pm. Kathy Madieros, a great cook, will prepare it.
Call and leave a message at: (530) 278- 5343. See you there.
All for now ...
Claude
Commander’s Comments - August 2025
Our County Veteran Service Officer, David West, held a Veterans Health Fair, Wednesday, July 23, in Grass Valley Veteran Memorial Building, with free lunch.
Our Executive Board and General Meeting will be held at 4:00 PM, Tuesday, 5 August,, in the Remembrance Room, upstairs. Our Auxiliary will put on Dinner, chicken a la king, egg noodles, peas, salad, bread and dessert, for only $15, Tuesday, 5 August, at 6:00 PM ... The door will open at 5:00. Kathy Madeiros, a great cook, will prepare it.
Call and leave a message at: (530) 278- 5343. See you there.
All for now ...
Claude
Commander's Comments - July 2025
Our Executive Board will meet at 4:00 PM, Tuesday, 1 July, in the Remembrance Room, upstairs.
Our Auxiliary will put on a Dinner, Bacon Wrapped Chicken, mac and cheese, broccoli, salad, bread and dessert, for only $15, Tuesday, 1 July, at 6:00 PM ... Door will open at 5:00. Kathy Madeiros, a great cook, will prepare it. Call and leave message at: (530) 278-5343. See you there.
Our Color Guard will participate in the 4th of July Grass Valley Parade ... thanks to our Honor Guard members, and Pete Vasilakos.
All for now ...
Claude
Commander's Comments - June 2025
Our Memorial Day Program was So well done! We had a large turnout, and the people told us how much they enjoyed it. Grass Valley and Nevada County honored Lou Canter, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, who was on the USS Arizona when it was hit in Pearl Harbor. After saving members aboard, he attended flight school, and flew seaplanes. He was shot down twice, but survived. He flew in the Korean War also. He lived to 102 years old ... What a hero. We had Brian A. Conforti, Major, U.S. Air Force, a U-2 Pilot, as keynote speaker. What a great job he did. Donna Mattson sang our Star Spangled Banner, and all the Service Songs, while Veterans came forward when their Service was sung. Barbra "Babs" Conner did a wonderful job singing a couple military related songs. Pete Vasilakos ran the Honor Guard, and saluted our Wreath. Thanks to Mike Hauser for putting the Program together.
The 1st Tuesday in June, 3 June, at 11:00 AM, we will have our monthly Executive Board Meeting. Come on out for it.
Our Auxiliary will put on a Spaghetti Dinner, for only $15, Tuesday, 3 June, at 6:00 PM. Door will open at 5:00. Kathy Madeiros, a great cook, will prepare it. Call and leave message at: (530) 278-5343. See you there.
All for now ...
Claude
Commander's Comments: May 2025
Our Memorial Day Program will be on Monday, 26 May, at
11:00AM, in Grass Valley Memorial Park. Auxiliary Chaplain, Pam Biertuempfel, will give a prayer. Donna Mattson will sing the "Star Spangled Banner." Various Veteran Organizations will come forward and salute their Wreath to honor fallen Veterans. Our keynote speaker will be Major Brian Conforti... retired
U.S. Air Force S-2 Pilot, Boys/Girls State leader, and Boy Scout Leader. The City of Grass Valley will present the naming of a nearby street after Lou Conter, who is a deceased WWII pilot, after surviving the attack on the USS Arizona, in Pearl Harbor.
Barbra "Babs" Conner will sing a few songs. And we will end with Veterans coming forward to be Honored.
See you there ...
Claude
Commander's Comments - March 2025
We had a most wonderful spaghetti dinner, with a large crowd, on 4 February thanks to the cook, Kathy, John Maderos' wife. We honored Oral Stallings, whose name was designated for the Bunker. Thanks for coming out for support.
Mike Hauser has put together our 50-year anniversary of Vietnam veterans day, at 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, 29 March 2025. Depending on the weather, it will either be behind the Grass Valley Veterans Hall parking lot, or in the building.
On Saturday, 22 February, we supported local boy scouts to bowl and have a pizza lunch in Oral's Bunker. Thanks to Mike Hauser, Laurie Stanton, and Linda Robertson.
Karaoke with Babs will take place in Oral's Bunker on Sundays, the 2nd and 23rd of March, from 1:00 to 5:00.
Our Auxiliary is planning to host a $15 corned beef dinner at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, 4 March. The cook will be Kathy Madeiros.
Our executive board meeting will be at 11:00 am, Tuesday, 4 March, in the Oral Stallings Bunker. Mike Hauser will run the meeting as I will be out of town
All for now,
Claude
Commander's Comments - February 2025
Mike Hauser has put together our 50 year anniversary of Vietman Veterans Day at 11:30am to 1:30pm on Saturday, 29 March 2025. Depending on the weather it will either be behind the Grass Valley Veterans Hall parking lot or inside the building. It will be hosted again by Bill Johnson (Bob Hope) coming from Las Vegas.
Our Executive Board meeting will be at 11:00am, Tuesday, 4 February in the bar.
We're planning a spaghetti dinner on Tuesday, 4 February 2025 at 5:00pm to honor Oral Stallings. We will rename our Bunker bar after Oral.
All for now,
Claude
Commander's Comments - January 2025
“Wreaths Across America Program” was cancelled on Saturday, 14 December, due to severe weather. People gathered the day after, Sunday, to distribute the wreaths on veteran graves.
A country dance & party is scheduled for 6:00PM, on Saturday, 21 December in the Grass Valley Veterans Hall Auditorium. “Robby James and the Streets of Bakersfield” will return, due to the work of Pete Vasilakos.
Mike Hauser has put together our 50 Year anniversary of Vietnam Veterans Day, at 11:30Am to 1:30PM on Saturday, 29 March 2025. Depending on weather, it will be behind the Grass Valley Vets Hall parking lot, or in the building. It will be hosted by Bill Johnson (Bob Hope) again coming from Las Vegas. You don’t want to miss it!
On Tuesday, 4 February 2025, we’re planning a spaghetti dinner to support Oral Stallings. Our Bar will be named… “Oral Stallings Bar,” in honor of our most active and hard working Vietnam Veteran for many years.
Our Executive Board/General Meeting time has been changed to 11:00 AM, starting on the 1st Tuesday, 7 January 2025.
All for now,
Claude
Commander's Comments - December 2024
What a most amazing Veterans Day program, in the Grass Valley Veterans Building, on 11 November 2024. We started off with scouts leading our pledge of allegiance. That was followed by Auxiliary Chaplain, Pam Biertuempfel, giving her invocation so well. Next was American Legion Finance Officer, John Madeiros, a Specialist 5 Army Medic who served 1968/1969 in Vietnam. He spoke so well, without any notes. Then, Ed Wydra, Major, U.S. Air Force (Retired)… KC-135 Pilot who also served in Vietnam, spoke most well. He was followed by Auxiliary Lady, Donna Mattson, singing service songs, as veterans responded by coming to the front of the auditorium when their service song was sung. Our Honor Guard shot three volleys, which was followed by taps played on two trumpets by the Nevada Union High School Band. That was followed with Paul McKim playing Amazing Grace so well on bagpipes. At the end of the program, Chicago Park Garden Club's Elsie Durgin and Carlotta Wixon-Welker, dedicated their Blue Star Veteran Plaque, sealed on the front of the Building. Adjutant Mike Hauser organized the scouts and the high school band… thanks Mike.
Our next Executive Board/General Meeting will be on Tuesday, 3 December 2024, at 5:00 PM, in the Bunker.
We will support and participate in "Wreaths Across America," at 12:00 noon, on Saturday, 14 December, at St. Patrick's Cemetery. Lou Conter, Lieutenant Commander U.S. Navy (Retired) will be honored. He saved lives as an E-5, 7 December 1941, on USS Arizona, when hit in Pearl Harbor. He later flew sea planes and was twice shot down in WWII. He served in the Korean War, and during Vietnam, retiring in 1966. He passed away last year at 101 years old.
We will host an American Legion Dance at 6:00PM, on Saturday, 21 December. We'll have a great band playing, "Robby James," thanks to Pete Vasilakos who put it together.
All for now,
Claude
Commander's Comments - November 2024
This year’s Veteran Stand Down, on 18, 19 October, was another success, thanks to Melise Munroe, members of our Auxiliary, and several Roamin Angels. Chris Crockett was there singing on Saturday, supporting our Veterans. Thanks to ALL who helped.
Barbara “Babs” Conner leads Karaoke most every 2nd and 4th Sundays, in the Bunker Bar, at 1:00 - 5:00 PM. Anyone may attend.
Our Auxiliary will serve breakfast downstairs, before the Veteran’s Day Program, at 8:00 AM, 11 November. It will be biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, and bacon…
Free to Veterans; $5 to Non-Veterans.
This year’s Veterans Day Program will take place at 10:00 AM, in Grass Valley Veterans Hall Auditorium, on Monday, 11 November. Local Boys and Girl Scouts will participate, along with the Nevada Union High School Band, led by Dave Fowler…thanks to coordination by Mike Hauser. We will have two Vietnam Veterans speak… John Madeiros and Ed Wydra. Our great singer, Donna Mattson, will perform. Chicago Park Garden Club will dedicate a Blue Star Memorial Veteran Plaque, at Program’s end, in front of the building.
So, come on out! See ya there.
Claude
Commander's Comments - October 2024
We sponsored Nevada County Health and Wellness on Thursday, 29 August, in Grass Valley Veterans Center Auditorium… it was a most supported event by many organizations. Thanks to Jean Hauser and John Abas for preparing the lunch. Thanks to Mike Hauser for coordinating it. And thanks to the Auxiliary for serving and cleaning up.
Our Honor Guard supported the Grass Valley 9/11 Program, on Mill Street.
We will be having an Executive Board Meeting at 5:00 PM on
Tuesday, 1 October, in the Bunker. Mike Hauser will be leading it.
We’re planning our Veterans Day Event, on Monday morning,
11 November, at 10:00AM - 11:00AM, in the Grass Valley
Veterans Building Auditorium.
Come on out
All for now,
Claude
Commander's Comments - September 2024
We supported the Injured Veterans Golf Tournament in Lake Wildwood on Wednesday, 31 July. It was “Sold Out,” and a real success! Our Color Guard was there for the opening.
We also supported the “Official Unveiling Ceremony” at McKnight Crossing, at 4:00 PM, on Thursday, 1 August.
Grass Valley will be hosting a “9/11 Ceremony,” on Wednesday morning, 11 September, on Mill Street.
We will be helping sponsor Nevada County Health and Wellness, at 11:00 AM, on Thursday, 29 August, at the Grass Valley Veterans Hall. We will be providing a Free BBQ Lunch, by Jean Hauser and John Abbas, and our Bar will be open. Our Auxiliary will be providing labor assistance.
The owner of Friar Tucks wants to do some free dinners for veterans. We’ll let you know when?
We’ll be having our Executive Board Meeting on Tuesday, 3 September, at 5:00 PM in the Bunker. See you there
All for now…
Claude
Commander's Comments - August 2024
We are once again supporting the “Injured Veterans Golf Tournament,” in Lake Wildwood. It’s been a huge success in past years. You can participate and golf in it for $140 per player. You can register at IVGT.us, or contact Dan Pray at danpray911@comcast.net, or Brad Crumpley at bradcrumpley@yahoo.com.
We are supporting the “Official Unveiling Ceremony” at McKnight Crossing, on Thursday, 1 August, Ceremony at 4:00 PM. There will be a Bud Anderson Statue unveiling. And it will also be at 10:00 AM, on Friday, 2 August.
Coming up will be our Executive Board Meeting, on Tuesday, 6 August, at 5:00 PM, in the Remembrance Room. Hope to see you there
All for now…
Claude
Commander's Comments - July 2024
Our 22 June Dance was a Great success, due to the hard work of several members
and Auxiliary… Pete Vasilakos, who organized it and helped set it up, with help
from “Friendship Girls;” Linda Robertson and Barbra “Babs” Conner, who set up,
worked and broke down the upstairs Bar; Laurie Stanton, who set up the on-line
ticket sales, and worked with Holli Woods and Theresa Roberts doing tickets at
the Front Desk. Ray’s “Dream And The Dreamer” Band were So good, with many dancers on the floor during each tune. And there was Felix Taco serving a very reasonable and good tasting dinner.
Thanks to all of you.
Our “Bunker” Bar did quite well at the last “Native Sons Dinner,” due to John Madeiros and Linda
Robertson.
The Auxiliary is planning a Dinner, on the 1st Tuesday, 6 August, at 6:00 PM. I’m sure it will be very
reasonable and good.
Coming up will be our Executive Board Meeting, on Tuesday, 2 July, at 5:00 PM, in the Bunker. Hope
to see you there.
All for now…
Have a Very Happy 4th of July
Claude
Commander's Comments - June 2024
Thanks to the hard work of our Adjutant, Mike Hauser, the Armed Forces Day Event at Grass Valley Airport was done so well and well attended. And there were over 50 classic cars there which people enjoyed seeing. The opening ceremony included the swearing into the military of many young boys and girls. A lot of people enjoyed flying on classic military airplanes.
We had a most good turnout for our Memorial Day Program at Grass Valley Memorial Park. There were several good speakers: U.S. Marine Veteran, Gary Miller, Grass Valley Mayor, Jan Arbuckle, Veteran Service Officer, David West, Navy Vietnam Veteran Corpsman, Rick Barringer. And what Great singers… Donna Mattson, Judy Gurley, Barbra “Babs” Conner, Terry Allwein, and Mike Baker, who also played taps on his trumpet. Several veteran and Veteran support groups dedicated Wreaths for our fallen Veterans. Our Color Guard and Honor Guard also did a very good job. Thank you all for your support. If you missed the Program, check it out on our website, which Laurie Stanton manages.
Our Executive Board will meet on Tuesday, 4 June, at 5:00 PM in the Bunker. Any member is welcome to join us there.
See you there.
Claude