President's Corner
November 2023
From your president, Bonnie Potter:
The end of the year is always a very busy time for Placer County Council.
On November 11th we will participate in the annual Auburn Veterans Day Parade and ceremony. Our parade entry will include several members walking or riding in a pickup truck provided by Don Anderson! We will also have our Sacramento Sea Cadets and the Luther Burbank NJROTC color guard marching with us!! We have many veterans in our council and, on behalf of all our Council members, thank you for your service!
On November 12th several board members will be at a ceremony for the Sacramento Sea Cadet unit we sponsor. Their Training Ship California, which is the unit of younger Navy League cadets ages 10 to 13, were Number 1 in the Nation! They were selected for the Morgan L. Fitch, Jr. Award which honors one of the founders of the Sea Cadet Corps and was a past National President of the Navy League. The Sacramento Division and TS California ranked 3rd for the Best Combined Unit of over 400 units across the country! Congratulations Sacramento Division and Training Ship California!!
Our November meeting will be held on Monday, November 20th. We will hear from one of our own, Jerry Mohlenbrok, Captain, US Coast Guard, retired. He will speak about his cruise on the Coast Guard Training Ship Eagle. We will also install our 2024 Officers and Directors. I will continue as Council President and congratulations to Vice President Becky Dunavent, Secretary Mona Anderson, Treasurer August Anema, and Directors Don Anderson, Natalie Brennan, Mike Holmes, Don Goard, Nancy Goard, Carol Ann Hackley, Janelle Kershaw, Alicia Wilbur and Greg Wilbur. I look forward to working with all of you in the upcoming year.
December 7th will mark the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. A remembrance ceremony is being planned for the New Auburn Cemetery. And we all know that 102-year-old Navy League member Lou Conter is the only remaining Arizona survivor. Details of the ceremony will be provided later.
Another event happening in December is the annual Army-Navy football game on December 9th. We are planning a game watching party at the Auburn Veterans Memorial Hall, with the doors opening at 11 am and kickoff at Noon. We are still working on the details of this fun event, so more information will be provided later. (Go Navy Beat Army!!).
Thank you to the many members who have purchased wreaths for the graves of our veterans buried in Auburn. I don’t have a final tally yet, but I know many of you have supported the program. The Wreaths Across America Remembrance Ceremony will take place on Saturday, December 16th at 0900 at the New Auburn Cemetery. I look forward to participating again this year as the Master of Ceremonies, and I hope to see many of you there. There is still time to purchase a wreath for a veteran’s grave. Visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org and under the red Sponsor Wreaths button click on “Local Sponsorship Group”, select the number of wreaths to sponsor, then type CA0221P for the group to support and Placer County Council of the Navy League should show up. When you click on that, Auburn Cemetery should show up as the location to support.
Our annual Christmas Party will be held on Monday, December 18th and once again we encourage you to bring an unwrapped toy/gift to donate to the Salvation Army for distribution to the children in our area. We will enjoy good food and fellowship and Paula Celick and Larry LaVerne will be entertaining us and leading us in singing Christmas carols. We always have a great time at our December meeting!
And, as always, let us take a few minutes each day to remember our courageous men and women in uniform, especially those deployed away from home during the holidays, who are willing to risk their lives to protect our way of life and our freedoms. Also, please remember their family members for the sacrifices they make so that their loved ones may serve. As we wrap up 2023, I wish you all the best during the holiday season and a Happy and Healthy New Year!
Cheers, Bonnie
Thank You Community Affiliates
The Placer County Council greatly appreciates our three Community Affiliates, TGH Aviation, Lasilla Funeral Chapels and Chapel of the Hills! Your generous support helps us accomplish the mission of the Navy League!!
To view the message in PDF, click here.
Upcoming Events
- Monthly Dinner Meeting
Monday, November 20, 2023; social hour begins at 5:30 pm; dinner/meeting begin at 6:30 pm.
Speaker: Captain Jerry Mohlenbrok, USCG (ret) presenting on the Coast Guard Training Ship Eagle.
Venue: Auburn Veterans Memorial Hall, 100 East Street, Auburn, CA.
Cost of the dinner is $19.00 and reservations are required.
Call 530-823-2820 for more information or to make a reservation.
Past Events
- Wreaths Across America Ceremony
Saturday, December 18, 2021
New Auburn Cemetery War Memorial
1040 Collins Drive, Auburn CA - Monthly Dinner Meeting
January 16, 2023
Speaker: Bonnie Potter, RADM, MC, USN (retired) will speak about the Navy Hospital Ships.
Venue: Auburn Veterans Memorial Hall - Monthly Dinner Meeting
February 20, 2023
Speaker: Steve Nash, Senior Regional Director of the US Naval Sea Cadet Corps will speak about the Sea Cadet program.
Venue: Auburn Veterans Memorial Hall - Monthly Dinner Meeting
Monday, May 15, 2023
Speaker: Richard "Steve" Johnson, Placer County Veteran Services Officer
Venue: Auburn Veterans Memorial Hall - Monthly Dinner Meeting
Monday, June 19, 2023; social hour begins at 5:30 pm; dinner/meeting begin at 6:30 pm
Speaker: Placer County Supervisor Cindy Gustafson and Placer County Probation Manager Aaron Johnson updating us on the homeless situation in Placer County
Venue: Auburn Veterans Memorial Hall, 100 East Street, Auburn, CA - Monthly Dinner Meeting
Monday, July 17, 2023; social hour begins at 5:30 pm; dinner/meeting begin at 6:30 pm.
Speaker: Bill Poindexter, Editor Gold Mountain California News Media, speaking on Changes in the News Media.
Venue: Auburn Veterans Memorial Hall, 100 East Street, Auburn, CA. - Monthly Dinner Meeting
Monday, August 21, 2023; social hour begins at 5:30 pm; dinner/meeting begin at 6:30 pm.
Speaker: Congressman Kevin Kiley giving an update on legislative activities.
Venue: Auburn Veterans Memorial Hall, 100 East Street, Auburn, CA.
The Navy League of the United States is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating our citizens about the importance of sea power to U.S. national security and supporting the men and women of the sea services and their families. Visit www.navyleague.org for the national updates.
