About 295

About US

The American Legion, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Post 295 has been serving the greater Gaithersburg-Germantown area since April 15th, 1983.

The Post received its permanent Charter on December 7th, 1983. Post 295 is a 501(c)19, Veterans Service Organization, incorporated in Maryland.

Post 295 is homeless, which means we do not have a Post Home* of our own. However, Post 295 has been successfully carrying out the programs of the American Legion since 1983 without a Post Home.

*Post 295 would gladly accept donations of property for the purpose of founding a Post Home.

Preamble to the Constitution of The American Legion

For God and Country

We associate ourselves together for the following purposes:
to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America;
to maintain law and order;
to foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism;
to preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in the great wars;
to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation;
to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses;
to make right the master of might;
to promote peace and goodwill on earth;
to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy;
to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.

POST HISTORY

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Post 295 received a Temporary Charter on April 15, 1983 and our permanent Charter on December 7th, 1984.

Post membership slipped to 27 members after achieving an all-time high of 277. That is until a turn around in 2002, when our current Post Commander transferred into the Post.

As of the end of the 2007-2008 Post 295's membership ended with 472 members. The membership increase can be directly attributed to Commander Bob Ouellette, who has been the Department of Maryland's Recruiter of the Year for 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008 and has recruited more than 50 members to achieve Gold Brigade for 6 straight years.

Post 295 Baseball continues to be our most successful programs. One of the highlights was the 2003 Maryland American Legion State Baseball Tournament, which we also won! By far the best program that we continue to support is American Legion Baseball which will be entering our 26th Season in 2009. Gaithersburg Post 295 has won the State Title in 2003, 2004 and 2008 and Montgomery County Championships in 1990, 1992, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008.

In 2003, we formed a Sons of the American Legion Squadron which has an active membership in support Post programs.

In 2003 we formed an American Legion Riders Chapter and have participated in Rolling Thunder ever since.

In 2006 we were able to assist in the the establishment of an American Legion Auxiliary Unit. Membership in the Unit is restricted to women only.

Members of the American Legion Family are recognized by the American Legion Department of Maryland and the National Organization. The awards presented to Post 295 members are listed here in the following order, National, Department, Post, Other.

Department Membership Recruiter of the Year

Description: This award is designed to recognize American Legion Member who has recruited the most members in the Department during the current Legion Year.

2004 ~ Robert (Bob) Ouellette

2005 ~ Robert (Bob) Ouellette

2007 ~ Robert (Bob) Ouellette

2008 ~ Robert (Bob) Ouellette

2009 ~ Robert (Bob) Ouellette

2010 ~ Robert (Bob) Ouellette

Gold Brigade Membership Award (For recruiting 50+)

Description: This award is designed to recognize American Legion Member who has recruited 50 or more members in the current Legion Year.

2000 ~ Robert (Bob) Ouellette

2004 ~ Robert (Bob) Ouellette

2005 ~ Robert (Bob) Ouellette

2006 ~ Robert (Bob) Ouellette

2007 ~ Robert (Bob) Ouellette

2008 ~ Robert (Bob) Ouellette

2009 ~ Robert (Bob) Ouellette

2010 ~ Robert (Bob) Ouellette

2011 ~ Robert (Bob) Ouellette

Four Star Department Commanders Trophy

Description: This award is designed to recognize American Legion Posts for being the 1st Post in Maryland to reach 4-Star (All Time High)

2005 ~ Bob Ouellette, Post Commander

2008 ~ Bob Ouellette, Post Commander

Three Star Department Commander’s Trophy

Description: This award is designed to recognize American Legion Posts for being the 1st Post in Maryland to reach 3-Star (Membership Goal + 1%)

2004 ~ Rudy Wagner. Post Commander

2005 ~ Bob Ouellette, Post Commander

Platinum Record Breaker

Description: This award is designed to recognize American Legion Posts for meeting or exceeding 120% of their membership goal.

2003 for Achieving 152%

2004 for Achieving 402% (not a typo!)

2005 for Achieving 177%

2007 for Achieving 153%

2008 for Achieving 137%

To date January 31, 2009 1246%

membership increase since 2002!

Four Star Award All Time High

Description: This award is designed to recognize every American Legion Post for meeting or exceeding the All Time Post membership high.

. 2004 ~ Rudy Wagner, Post Commander

2005 ~ Bob Ouellette, Post Commander

2007 ~ Bob Ouellette, Post Commander

2008 ~ Bob Ouellette, Post Commander

Three Star Award

Description: This award is designed to recognize every American Legion Post for meeting or exceeding the 100% of the previous years membership.

2003 ~Rudy Wagner, Post Commander

2004 ~ Rudy Wagner, Post Commander

ABBOTT CUP TROPHY

For Posts of 15 to 100 members

2003 ~Rudy Wagner, Post Commander

2004 ~ Rudy Wagner, Post Commander

Archer Membership Trophy

Description: This award is designed to recognize American Legion Posts for the current Legion Year.

2007 ~ Bob Ouellette, Post Commander

Spafford Memorial Trophy Southern Maryland District

2005 ~ Bob Ouellette, Post Commander

Southern Maryland District

Oyster Bowl

Description: This award is designed to recognize American Legion Posts in Southern Maryland District for having the highest membership percentage in each category by the cutoff date in January.

Category I (Posts under 100)

1st 2002-03 ~ Rudy Wagner, Post Commander

1st 2003-04 ~ Rudy Wagner, Post Commander

Category II (Posts under 101 to 200)

2nd Place 2004-05 ~ Bob Ouellette, Post Commander

1st Place 2006-07 ~ Bob Ouellette, Post Commander

Category III (Posts under 201 to 500)

2nd Place 2007-08 ~ Bob Ouellette, Post Commander

2nd Place 2008-09 ~ Bob Ouellette, Post Commander

National Honor Ribbon

Description: To be awarded annually to American Legion Posts for having 100 per cent, or more, of the post's previous year's membership enrolled for the coming year by December 31.

2005 ~ Bob Ouellette, Post Commander

National Emergency Fund

Donor Ribbon

Description: To be awarded annually to American Legion Posts for donating to the National Emergency fund.

2005 ~ Bob Ouellette, Post Commander

AMERICAN LEGION & SCOUTING SQUARE KNOT AWARD

Description: This award is designed to recognize American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary or Sons of The American Legion members who are actively involved in the Scouting program. This award is not meant to be a selective or limited award, but one that is available to any American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary or Sons of The American Legion member who completes the requirements for the award. The award is meant to recognize dedication and work required by an American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary or Sons of The American Legion member to assist in furthering the Scouting program in The American Legion.

Post 295 Recipients:

Chris Glass

American Legion Baseball

The American Legion Baseball Program is the corner stone of Post 295’s Children and youth Program. Youths from local high schools participate in baseball programs, ages range from 16 to 18.

Maryland State Champions

2003 ~ Rick Price, Coach

2004 ~ Rick Price, Coach

2008 ~ Rick Price, Coach

Montgomery County Legion

Baseball Champions

1990 ~ Rick Price, Coach

1992 ~ Rick Price, Coach

1999 ~ Rick Price, Coach

2003 ~ Rick Price, Coach

2004 ~ Rick Price, Coach

2005 ~ Rick Price, Coach

2006 ~ Rick Price, Coach

2008 ~ Rick Price, Coach

2009 ~ Rich Price, Coach

2010 ~ Rick Price, Coach

2011 ~ Rick Price, Coach

Legionnaire of the Year

Description: Given to the Legionnaire who exemplifies

the principles of the American Legion.

2005 ~ Bob Ouellette

2006 ~ Rick Price

Post Awards

Remind yourself that even though you hear regularly about deaths in the military, the vast majority of deployed troops are not harmed.
Keep up routines. Try to stick to everyday routines. Familiar habits can be very comforting.
Take time out for fun. Don't forget to do things that feel good to you. Take a walk, spend time with your pets, or play a game you enjoy.
Take time to listen to each other.
Emotions such as fear, anger, and feeling "numb" are normal and common reactions to stress. Family members need to make sure these emotions aren't turned against one another in frustration. It will help you to manage tension if you share feelings, recognize that they are normal, and realize that most family members feel the same way.
Limit watching news media programs. Families should minimize TV, radio and web exposure related to the war. News often uses fearful content and images to create a "story."