-- 2020 Post Activity --
Installation of Officers Meeting of August 30, 2020
Dr. John Gilbreath received Quilt of Valor for Service in WWII
June 3, 2020 - Work on the Legion Hall is coming along great. Stan and Richard were both hard at work this afternoon.
Word is they will be ready for a work party for clean-up soon. Take a look at the hallways and office.
Meeting of Thursday March 5, 2020
Program: “Legion Traveled Back in Time to The Witte Hardware Company”
Stan Witte, Post 129 Commander, presented a trip back in time to visit the evolution of the Witte Hardware Company. Stan an antique collector, and woodworking genius presented one hundred and seventy five years of history of the Witte Hardware Company to Legion members. Stan was in retail management until starting Stan Witte Construction Co in 1974, retiring in 2005. Services offered were home remodeling, new home construction and commercial building. After retiring from construction business, Stan started an Antique Furniture Restoration business. Hobbies and other interest including Woodworking as a Master Craftsman since 1989, Antique Car Collecting and restoration, Collector Petroleum oil cans and signs, Collecting items from The Witte Hardware Co and singing with A Capella Group. Stan is presented a program about The Witte Hardware Company originally stated in 1849. Stan’s ancestors were involved in the wholesale hardware business that served local hardware stores west of the Mississippi river to the Pacific coast until 1988 when it was sold to Orgill Bros. Distributing. Stan showed a sampling of his collection of various products the company produced including collectibles, locks, photos, signs and etc. Pork Loin Dinner plus trimmings were served to those who attended. Membership applications for Hanner-Sharp American Legion Post 129 are available from Stan Witte and Richard Opdyke Post 129 Adjutant at 611 S. Main, Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Left to right is Jim Vencill, member, Stan Witte Commander, Richard Opdyke Adjutant
Presentations:
Raymond D. Sharp received an American Legion Certificate for 50 years of service and Richard L. Heath received an American Legion Certificate for 75 years of service. The American Legion just celebrated the centennial 1919-2019 and Hanner-Sharp American Legion Post 129 just celebrated its one hundred years in 2020 since its charter was granted in 1920. Post 129 has almost 300 members and the national American Legion has almost 2 million members. Membership in the Legion has now been made open for all military veterans from all branches of service serving at home in USA or overseas. Contact Richard Opdyke for a membership application if interested.
Commander Stan Witte presents certificates for 50 Years of Service to Raymond D. Sharp, Left;
and 75 Years of Service to Richard L. Heath, Right.
50 Year Anniversary Challenge Coin (1969) presented by Commander Witte to Historian McClain.
Commander Witte and Adjutant Opdyke
Meeting of Thursday February 6, 2020 at Legion Building
6:00 pm Meet and Greet
6:30 pm Pork Loin Dinner with Salad, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Corn, Green Beans, Rolls, and Dessert
7:00 pm Presentation: “Envision Stillwater” presented by Candace Robinson, Drew beverage and Mary McCowen, Leadership Stillwater team
News Release:
“American Legion Post 129 Identifies Dreams and Aspirations for Stillwater”
“Envision Stillwater” project engaged American Legion Post 129 members to help identify their dreams and aspirations for this community. Candace Robinson has been in the Stillwater area since 2002. Graduate of Oklahoma State with a bachelor’s in applied Sociology. Before becoming the owner of a Farmers Insurance Agency, she served as Vice President of Member Relations at CREC. Co-presenters include Drew Beverage, part owner in the family business, Provalue.net internet company here in Stillwater; and Mary McGowen who works at OSU Foundation in donor relations. Envision Stillwater project is this year's final project for the Leadership Stillwater class of 2019. Leadership Stillwater is a Chamber of Commerce program designed to identify, motivate and place emerging community leaders to assist in developing their potential. This is accomplished by stimulating an interest in Stillwater and by providing a common meeting ground of shared concerns among leaders from all sectors of the community. LSW prepared Legion members to become more active in the Stillwater community. Handouts were given to Legion members to complete a 3 question survey on how Legion members envisioned what Stillwater Community should look like. Additional information about joining the Hanner-Sharp American Legion Post 129 in Stillwater can be obtained from Richard Opdyke at 405-372-7262 or go by 611 S. Main, Stillwater. Bobby Bryant Post 129 service officer is available on Wednesdays from9am-12noon and 1pm-4pm to help solve any military service problems for anyone.
From the left: Mary McGowen, OSU Foundation; Sonny Apman, Post 129 Chaplain;
Candace Robinson, Presenter “Envision Stillwater”; Drew Beverage, Provalue
Meeting of Thursday January 9, 2020 at Legion Building
Stillwater High School Update for American Legion Post 129
Mr. Uwe Gordon, Principal of Stillwater High School gave a very informative update on Stillwater High School activities. Wow! What amazing activities, events and amazing students in Stillwater High School. Gordon has both BS and MS from OSU College of Education and has been an educator for 36 years. Mr. Gordon taught at SHS for 14 years and has graduated about 4700 students during that time. For many years Mr. Gordon taught history at the Junior High before being selected as principal at SHS. The American Legion is very proud of the students and accomplishments Principal Gordon presented in his PowerPoint presentation. Wish all the parents and citizens of Stillwater had the same opportunity as Post 129 in seeing the great high school in Stillwater. Post 129 makes available two major programs for high school juniors: Boys State and the Oratorical Contest. Oklahoma American Legion Boys State is a non-partisan intensive week of leadership, government, and patriotism sponsored by the American Legion of Oklahoma. Delegates to Boys State have just completed their junior year of high school and have been selected by their local American Legion Post as a representative of the best of their community. Several from Stillwater High School have been selected to go to Washington, DC and attend the Boys Nation. http://okboysstate.com/ The American Legion Oratorical Contest exists to develop deeper knowledge and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution among high school students. Since 1938, the program has presented participants with an academic speaking challenge that teaches important leadership qualities, the history of our nation’s laws, the ability to think and speak clearly, and an understanding of the duties, responsibilities, rights and privileges of American citizenship. Several from Stillwater High School have won state and national scholarships. Scholarships awarded for First place in nation is $20,000, second place is $18,000 and third place is $16,000 plus Oklahoma and Post awards additional scholarship funds. https://okamlegion.org/oratorical Students interested should talk to High School Counselors or American Legion members for details. Membership in the American Legion Post 129 talk to Richard Opdyke, Adjutant 611 S. Main, Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Picture attached
Senator Tom Dugger, member, Jim Rutledge, Vice Commander, SHS Principal Uwe Gordon and Stan Witte, Commander
Thanks, Stan for a new accessible front door!