Happy New Year!!! Thank God that’s all over and we can get on to the work awaiting us! I hardly know where to start.

Christmas for the Children at Ft. Riley went off very well. It is so wonderful seeing the positive results from all those volunteers who have the need in themselves to seek a challenge, respond and produce such results and provided yet another example of positive teamwork.

The results for the 2011 Ft. Riley Warrior Transition Battalion "Big Red 1 Toy Run" were: The American Legion Family provided over 500 gifts for the Children (including some gift cards for older kids). Districts, Posts, Units, Squadrons, ALRs, and individual Legion Family members contributed and helped distribute an estimated $2000.00 in donated toys, and $5,438.00 in cash donations was used to purchase the remainder of the more than five hundred toys.

Seriously, what does it take to find such people willing to give so freely of themselves so genuinely? What magic is there that produces these golden humanitarians out of simple, ordinary folks? What is it that they see at the end of a challenge that makes them do it again, and again?

Why is it commonly known and accepted that only five percent of any group are those who can be counted on to perform the much needed work to be done? We all should be giving of our time, strength, and even finances if desired if we are even considering joining a "Service Organization". Why else then would you join? We join not because of those silly hats or those fashionable black vests, rather we join because we can and do make a difference.

What a waste of time it is to set in the back of an audience, bored to tears because you don’t know what it’s all about! Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing all those sweet faces, but come on guys and gals, show some ambition and interest! We need your help to continue all the needed programs and events which are so needed by our Children and our Troops and Veterans!

These beautiful people are depending on you and your interest in them! Hope and inspiration will be my motto this year, how about you?