American Legion Post 57 News

In our February meeting, we were given a presentation by two students from Malta High School on their planned trip of 13 students to Washington D.C. to view how government works as promoted by the Close - Up org. We subsequently voted to donate $500.00 towards their trip of one week in mid-April. In our May meeting, they provided us a report on the knowledge gained and other highlights of their trip.

Among the more recent donations are $1000.00 to the Shooting Sports Program, $500.00 to The Boys and Girls Club, $100 to Malta's Walleyes Unlimited's scholarship program, and miscellaneous other donations. We also offered support for Boys State sponsorship to view and learn how various state and local government and jobs work, but no local student participation this year.

Due to the long winter, we moved our garage sale to a later date and the community responded with a variety of donated items to improve our treasury to provide for future donations to supporting local causes. We have provided (along with members of the VFW and Sons of the American Legion) military honors at local funerals, the Honor and Remember Flag Ceremony (Gold Star Mother) for Mellissa Sandvick on April 28th placed about 800 flags and held Memorial Day activities, and did other official volunteer contributions.

The American Legion is approaching its 100th Birthday, and as Malta held the first Montana convention on June 30th and July 1st of 1919; we are researching and wanting to put on a display of our history next summer. Any family or general pictures of the activities then, or pictures of interest in later years of Legion activities can be loaned to us or we would like a copy. We would be especially interested in a picture of the traveling trophy given to the American Legion by the Malta townspeople to be presented annually to the top drill team. Leave at the VFW / Legion or contact Ken Ruzicka at 654-7243 or Ken Wiederick at 399-3944.