American Legion Post 50 SAL 50 New York USA
| June 21, 2010 WVOX 1460 AM WVOX.com The Sons of the American Legion Report Special Guest: Mark E. Arneson National Commander Sons of American Legion |
The "Sons of the American Legion Radio Report" can be heard live on WVOX
1460 AM in Westchester County and around the world on WVOX.com. The show is
held every Monday from 2:30 to 3:00 PM.
The host of the program is Kenneth G. Kraetzer, Commander of Sons of the American
Legion in Pelham, NY; Historian for Westchester County, and Vice Commander for
New York State. Please contact Ken at 914-450-9554 with any questions or
comments about this radio and Internet production.
The intro music, "To The Colors" has been provided courtesy of the US Navy band
based at Newport, RI.
The co-host on this segment was John Chuhran, a New Rochelle based PR executive
and Sons of the American Legion member.
Good Morning Westchester Host Bob Marrone joins the program on holidays to host
calls from US service members deployed overseas.
.
The Mark Arnesons Saga
Mark Arneson-"A true American Legion Family family"
After graduating from The Citadel in 1990, becoming the first generation of college graduates in his
family, Mark Arneson became involved with the Sons of The American Legion out of respect and
honor for his father’s serve to this country, and for the dedication that his parents showed for The
American Legion.
His eligible for membership in The Sons of the American Legion through his father, Vern Arneson,
who served in the United States Army during the Korean War, and is a Past Commander of Post 1 in
Atlanta; his mother Bernice, is also a Past President of Unit 1. His wife, Cappi, and three daughters,
Morgan 11, Ashley 7, and Reagan less than a year; are all members of Unit 127 Buford. Mark is a
true American Legion Family member.
Mark has served the Sons of The American Legion for 18 years, holding both elected and appointed
offices on all levels. In 1990, he was elected to his first office, Sgt-at-Arms, and then as Commander
in 1993 and 1994, served as both Adjutant and Finance Officer from 1995- 1998.
After Post 1’s home was sold, Mark transferred to Buford Squadron 127, closer to his home, and has
served as Judge Advocate since that time.
While at Squadron 1, Mark served as 5th District Jr. Vice Commander from 1992-1994, and was
elected as District Commander for the 1994-1995 year. During this time the 5th District grew to
holding 50% of the Detachment’s total membership (in 2007 about 25%).
Seeing Mark’s leadership skills, the Detachment of Georgia tapped him early. During his second
Detachment Convention, Mark was elected to serve as Alternate National Executive Committeeman
for 1992-1993. In 1993, he was elected to serve as Detachment Finance Officer AND as Deputy
VAVS Representative to the Decatur VA Hospital. After serving 3 years as Finance Officer, Mark was
elected to serve as Detachment Sr. Vice Commander for 1996-1997 and then as Detachment
Commander for 1997-1998. In 2002, the Detachment elected him again to serve as Finance Officer,
and he still holds that position today. Mark also served on the Georgia Boys State staff in 1992,
1993, 2003 and 2004, the first SAL member to do so in Georgia.
The National Organization also took notice of Mark early on. While serving as Alternate NEC, Mark
was appointed to serve on the National Community Service Committee. Then for 1993-1994, he was
appointed to serve on the National Americanism Commission, and then as Chairman from 1994-
1998. In 2002-2003, he served on the National Legislative Commission, then as Vice Chairmen of the
Finance Commission from 2003-2004, and his last appointment was as Chairman for the Child
Welfare Foundation Committee from 2004-2006, during which time the Sons of The American Legion
went over the $3 million mark in contributions to the Foundation. In 2006, the Southern Area showed
their confidence in Mark by electing him to serve as National Vice Commander South, which the South
was number 1 in membership for all but 4 weeks during his term.
Marc was elected National Commander for the year 2009-2010 at the National Convnetion held in
Louisville, Kentucky during August 2009. . He is the first SAL National Commander from Georgia.
With the ideology of “There is no ‘I’ in team”, his goals for the National Organizations are actually
simple:
1) Expand and enhance our commitment to the our Veterans by getting more involved with the VA
Hospitals and the development of VA&R programs; and
2) increase participation in Children and Youth activities. Granted these goals are not new, but are
the main foundations of the Sons of The American Legion
Mark Arneson-"A true American Legion Family family"
After graduating from The Citadel in 1990, becoming the first generation of college graduates in his
family, Mark Arneson became involved with the Sons of The American Legion out of respect and
honor for his father’s serve to this country, and for the dedication that his parents showed for The
American Legion.
His eligible for membership in The Sons of the American Legion through his father, Vern Arneson,
who served in the United States Army during the Korean War, and is a Past Commander of Post 1 in
Atlanta; his mother Bernice, is also a Past President of Unit 1. His wife, Cappi, and three daughters,
Morgan 11, Ashley 7, and Reagan less than a year; are all members of Unit 127 Buford. Mark is a
true American Legion Family member.
Mark has served the Sons of The American Legion for 18 years, holding both elected and appointed
offices on all levels. In 1990, he was elected to his first office, Sgt-at-Arms, and then as Commander
in 1993 and 1994, served as both Adjutant and Finance Officer from 1995- 1998.
After Post 1’s home was sold, Mark transferred to Buford Squadron 127, closer to his home, and has
served as Judge Advocate since that time.
While at Squadron 1, Mark served as 5th District Jr. Vice Commander from 1992-1994, and was
elected as District Commander for the 1994-1995 year. During this time the 5th District grew to
holding 50% of the Detachment’s total membership (in 2007 about 25%).
Seeing Mark’s leadership skills, the Detachment of Georgia tapped him early. During his second
Detachment Convention, Mark was elected to serve as Alternate National Executive Committeeman
for 1992-1993. In 1993, he was elected to serve as Detachment Finance Officer AND as Deputy
VAVS Representative to the Decatur VA Hospital. After serving 3 years as Finance Officer, Mark was
elected to serve as Detachment Sr. Vice Commander for 1996-1997 and then as Detachment
Commander for 1997-1998. In 2002, the Detachment elected him again to serve as Finance Officer,
and he still holds that position today. Mark also served on the Georgia Boys State staff in 1992,
1993, 2003 and 2004, the first SAL member to do so in Georgia.
The National Organization also took notice of Mark early on. While serving as Alternate NEC, Mark
was appointed to serve on the National Community Service Committee. Then for 1993-1994, he was
appointed to serve on the National Americanism Commission, and then as Chairman from 1994-
1998. In 2002-2003, he served on the National Legislative Commission, then as Vice Chairmen of the
Finance Commission from 2003-2004, and his last appointment was as Chairman for the Child
Welfare Foundation Committee from 2004-2006, during which time the Sons of The American Legion
went over the $3 million mark in contributions to the Foundation. In 2006, the Southern Area showed
their confidence in Mark by electing him to serve as National Vice Commander South, which the South
was number 1 in membership for all but 4 weeks during his term.
Marc was elected National Commander for the year 2009-2010 at the National Convnetion held in
Louisville, Kentucky during August 2009. . He is the first SAL National Commander from Georgia.
With the ideology of “There is no ‘I’ in team”, his goals for the National Organizations are actually
simple:
1) Expand and enhance our commitment to the our Veterans by getting more involved with the VA
Hospitals and the development of VA&R programs; and
2) increase participation in Children and Youth activities. Granted these goals are not new, but are
the main foundations of the Sons of The American Legion
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