Friday parade part of Legion convention

Ernest DeNault Robertson Post 14 of Jamestown will be host to the 2012 American Legion State Convention Thursday through Sunday at the Jamestown Civic Center.

Also meeting in conjunction with the convention will be the American Legion Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion, 40 & 8 and the American Legion Riders.

The weekend will begin with the preconvention golf tournament at the Jamestown Country Club on Thursday. Registration for the convention will begin at 10 a.m. Friday at the Civic Center.

The American Legion Band will highlight the Friday night parade from the Catholic Church parking lot to the Civic Center. The parade will also feature the Jamestown Drum and Bugle Corp and the Jamestown High School Band. Any local group is also invited to join the Legion dignitaries in the parade. Call 320-3015 to enter the parade.

After the parade, Department Commander Robert Krause of Gwinner, N.D., will call the joint meeting of the groups to order at 7:30 p.m.

Friday and Saturday will feature meetings of the different committees and groups and Saturday there will be a go-getters picnic at the Sertoma Shelter at McElroy Park.

The American Legion Auxiliary will hold its meetings in the Exchequer Room of the Civic Center. State President Betty Malkowski of Belfield will be chairing the meetings. Myrna Ronholm of Jamestown is the State Secretary.

The convention banquet is at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, attended by members of all the Legion family. This year’s banquet speaker will be the national American Legion Vice Commander David N. Voyles. Voyles hails from Amazonia, Mo., and has held many leadership positions at his local post, the Missouri Department and several national positions. He was elected as a national vice commander in 2011 during the 93rd national convention in Minneapolis. Voyles served in the U.S. Army and is a decorated Vietnam War veteran, earning a Bronze Star, an Army Commendation Medal with the valor device and a Vietnam Campaign Medal.

The convention concludes Sunday with a memorial service at 8 a.m., a joint session at 9 a.m. and then separate general sessions of the Legion and Legion Auxiliary.

Tags: community, life, clubs